Conductor Dr. Janet Averett
The San Jose State University Orchestra on Wednesday will premiere two works by student composers, along with a little known Cimarosa concerto played by faculty Oboist Michael Adduci. The concert, conducted by Dr. Janet Averett, will end with the proverbial warhorse of Romantic-Classical masterpieces, Brahm's Symphony No. 2. Just last year, according to the American Orchestras Annual Ropert, the 132-year-old composition was performed by over 70 different professional orchestras and dozens of student and community ensembles. Those who do not know it are missing out on one of humanity's finest creations: the music speaks to the full gamut of human emotions, and does so with beauty, drama, and excitement.
Those who already heard the piece many times are invited to hear this particular orchestra's interpretation, but those who have already heard it several dozen times and are starting to tire of Brahms' rich mastery for the time being, there are two never-before-heard works on the program: Jason McChristian's Vis Machina and Beeri Moalem's (yours truly) Cairo: Accross the Wadi.
Vis Machina is based on the ancient form of a passacaglia: a repeated baseline progression treated with different variations. McChristian takes a modern look at this old form, orchestrating it for a full orchestra complemented by a battery of seven percussionists. Programattically, the piece is about a machine that strives (but fails) to achieve life. Throughout most of the work, mechanical gestures underscore the harsh percision and dreary repetition of a machine's life. Occasionally, it overheats and threatens to break down, and occasionally it breaks out of its daily rhythm, and sweet organic music is played; only to be shut down by the relentless brutality of the machine.
Cairo is based on ancient Muslim chants from the Middle East-- a surprising source of inspiration, even to myself, the composer, given my background as an Israeli Jew. I combined ethnic middle eastern techniques to the classical European orchestra in a piece that combines religious chant and secular dance. I created a little multimedia interpretation guide for the piece that includes pictures, videos, the score, and more of my ramblings. Check it out!
In addition to the premieres and the timeless masterpiece, come to hear great oboe playing-- Adduci plays with nuance, color, and a wide range of dynamics in the charming "Cimarosa Oboe Concerto" that is not really by Cimarosa. Intrigued? Come to the concert!
7:30 Wednesday, March 11, San Jose State University Orchestra
(Main Music Hall next to Event Center Arena off 7th St.)
Comments