March 2015
SONNET
FOR SPRING from THE FOUR SEASONS
THE FOUR SEASONS, Antonio Vivaldi’s best
known work, consists of four concertos, each of which was inspired by a season
of the year, and each of which has the three-part-form of quick-slow-quick—the
composer’s favorite method of composition. To make the work attractive to the public, Vivaldi provided a sonnet,
probably written by himself, for each season. We saw the sonnet for WINTER in the February 2015 issue of Upbeat. Now we celebrate the coming
season with sonnet for SPRING. Perhaps these words (translated from
the Italian version) will enhance your
listening pleasure the next time you hear Vivaldi’s SPRING from the FOUR
SEASONS.
Allegro
Spring has arrived and the birds greet her festively with joyous
song as streamlets murmur softly
beneath her balmy breeze.
Thunder
and lightning have been chosen to announce her coming, throwing an ink-black mantle across the heavens.
And
then, when they fall silent, the birds return with charming song.
Largo
And now upon the lovely flowering heather, beneath the soft
rustle of leafy branches, the shepherd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.
Allegro
To the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs dance with the
shepherd
in honor of the
spring in all her splendor.
Transcribed
by Keith Kvenvolden from “Vivaldi (1678-1741)” by Jeroen Koolbergen (1996)
CONDUCTOR’S CORNER
Dear members of the
Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra,
Listed
below is the music for the orchestra's next three meetings. Please note that there will be sectional
seating for the Gabrieli Canzon Noni Toni, with those in Coro Primo on the
right as they face the conductor and those in Coro Secondo on the left. Please observe this seating arrangement when
you choose your place at the beginning of these three meetings. Please note as
well that sopranino and contrabass recorders, bass viola da gamba,
bassoon and krummhorns will be needed at all three
meetings, great bass recorders on March 4 and April 1 and dulcien on March 25.
March 4
Krieger: Partie
Gabrieli: Canzon Noni Toni
Guerrero: Adiós mi amor
Josquin: Adieu mes amors
Elfers and Johansson: Pippi Långstrump
March 25
Mainerio: Caro Ortolano
Gabrieli: Canzon Noni Toni
Jarzebski: Berlinesa
Krieger: Partie
April 1
Krieger: Partie
Gabrieli: Canzon Noni Toni
Guerrero: Adiós mi amor
Josquin: Adieu mes amors
Elfers and Johansson: Pippi Långstrump
I look forward to seeing you
at these upcoming meetings.
Sincerely, Fred Palmer
article: courtesy of Kathryn Canan
On Saturday, January 31, the Palo Alto,
CA based Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra (MPRO), led by Director Fred Palmer
and Assistant Director Greta Haug-Hryciw, sponsored a
workshop directed by Adam Gilbert entitled: “Villain et Courtoise:
Rustic and Bawdy Songs Dressed in Courtly Finery.” The workshop explored how
simple popular songs of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance became the basis
of elegant courtly love songs, sacred motets, and even masses, using the
intricate polyphony of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Dr. Gilbert first took one tune, Le Petit
Rouen, and showed how it could be used in progressively more complex styles
employing typical compositional techniques of the period. These styles included fauxbourdon, low contratenor, four part with altus, two parts in imitation with a bass, and a
complex trio with the descant and bass wandering around the tune in the middle
part.
With
that thorough introduction, the 52 workshop participants were better able to
understand the remaining pieces by composers such as Antoine Busnois, Josquin Desprez, Johannes Stokem, Jean Japart, and Henricus Isaac. Many
of these took songs topping the charts of the day, some with bawdy lyrics, and
transformed them into sophisticated and often sacred music. The final piece was
Dr. Gilbert’s own composition in 15th century style, commissioned by Dan
Bloomberg at a fundraising auction benefitting San Francisco Early Music
Society workshops. “A Fantasy over Mi Re Re Re Fa Mi Re ‘Irene’s Arête’” was based on the
vowels in the name of Dan’s wife, renowned mountain climber Irene Beardsley. The
piece was a lovely conclusion to a day full of excellent instruction, gorgeous
music and good friends.
Ed. note: ‘Irene’s Arête’ is the name of a challenging ridge in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, which was first conquered by Irene Beardsley and her climbing partner, John Dietschy.
Recorder
players from across North America celebrate March as "Play-the-Recorder
Month" (PtRM). Many ARS chapters plan special
concerts and presentations to illustrate the versatility and beauty of this
wonderful instrument. The third Saturday, March 21, is designated
"Recorder Day." ARS is encouraging individuals and chapters around
the world to play "Excellentia" by Gary Gazlay. "Excellentia"
was awarded honorable mention in the 2014 “ARS is 75!” composition contest. For
more information, http://www.americanrecorder.org/2015_play-the-recorder-month.php.
MPRO Holiday Concert DVDs are available from Mary Ashley.
The MPRO meeting scheduled for March 18 has been cancelled and rescheduled for March 4. This will avoid holding meetings on two consecutive Wednesdays in March.
The Board: President: Dana Wagner; Treasurer: LouAnn Hofmann; Recording Secretary: Helen Shamble; Membership: Chris Flake; Publicity: TBD; Graphics: Mary Ashley; Newsletter Editor: Mary Ann Field; Workshop Coordinator: Laura Gonsalves, Stuart Elliott; Hospitality: Judith Unsicker; Music Sales: Laura Gonsalves; Historian: vacant; Webmaster: Dan Chernikoff; Facilities Mgr: Grace Butler; Music Director: Fred Palmer; Assistant Music Director:Greta Haug-Hryciw. MPRO website: http://www.mpro-online.org