WMS Celebrates the Greatest Czech Composers in November Concert
The West Michigan Symphony will celebrate three of the greatest Czech composers on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19, with a program featuring Dvorak Symphony no. 8.
MUSKEGON, MI, November 05, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The West Michigan Symphony will celebrate three of the greatest Czech composers on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19, with a program featuring Dvorak Symphony no. 8.
The Symphony's incredible talent will shine as they revisit the wealth of music created in Prague, the capital of former Bohemia, around the turn of the century. Celebrated composers Antonin Dvorak, Bedrick Smetana and Leos Janacek contributed rich, exciting works honoring their culture and native land. The programs begin at 7:30 p.m. each night.
"These are the three most prominent Czech composers, and they have all had tremendous influence," said Music Director Scott Speck. "Czech nationalism was all about showing their countrymen that this heritage was equally worthy of celebration and glorification, not just a pale cousin to the stars of Germany and Austria: Beethoven and Brahms, for example.
"The West Michigan Symphony and I have not yet played these pieces together, and I programmed them because I thought our special brand of enthusiastic, involved music-making would lend itself well to this music. This is very warm-blooded music, full of emotion and feeling. That's our specialty."
Incredibly patriotic, the works of Dvorak repeatedly speak to his love of his native soil, but it was Symphony no. 8 that most reflects the passion he held for his country. Throughout his career, he freely incorporated folk elements into his music, utilizing characteristic peasant rhythms and melodic motives, and in Symphony no. 8 these folk elements can be heard in the rhythms and melodic movements. The work constantly shifts between major and minor modes, yet its predominant themes feature the flute and are reminiscent of birdsong.
Speck and the Symphony will begin the evening with Smetana's "Overture to the Bartered Bride." Another extremely nationalistic piece, the folk opera is set in early 19th century Bohemia and takes place during a village fair. It tells the story of a peasant girl who is to be married to a rich landowner against her will, but has a happy ending when she is able to marry her real love, even though he is a poor peasant.
The story unfolds with a flourish and one of the most exuberant canons in the literature, starting with violins and gradually moving down through the string section to the double basses. The oboe will make a tender, but thwarted appearance as the romance unfolds.
Folk music also influenced the works of Janacek, whose piece "Taras Bulba," follows the horror of World War I. Janacek set to music three episodes from Nikolay Gogol's fictionalized romantic novella, an account of the Cossack leader's violent life and fight against the Poles in 1682.
The three episodes contain distinctly different moods. Beginning with "The Death of Andriy," Janacek starts with an English horn solo, which is quickly followed with an increasing anxiety of the church bells and organ and the piece continues to build in anxiety, leading into "The Death of Ostap." The second episode builds in intensity as the story takes a deadly turn and then gradually slips into a Slavic folk song. Finally, in episode three, "The Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba," the anxiety rises once again and nervousness flutters across the stage. The piece concludes with full orchestral forces plus chimes and organ depicting a new era of peace.
Season and individual tickets can be purchased by calling the West Michigan Symphony ticket office at 231.726.3231. Several subscriber plans are available including the full series, masterworks series only, pop series only or flexible ticketing that allows concertgoers to create their own experience. For more information or to receive a 2011-2012 season brochure, contact 231.726.3231 or info@westmichigansymphony.org.
Student tickets are free for this concert only but are not available online. College students must present ID when they purchase tickets.
Single tickets for this concert are $15, $31 and $42 and may be purchased online at www.westmichigansymphony.org; in person at the West Michigan Symphony Ticket Office, Suite 409 (4th floor) in the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon; or by calling 231.726.3231.
Full repertoire for the November concerts:
Bedrich Smetana Overture to The Bartered Bride
Leos Janacek Taras Bulba
1. The Death of Andrei
2. The Death of Ostap
3. The Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba
Antonin Dvorak Symphony no. 8 in G major, Op. 88
1. Allegro con brio
2. Adagio
3. Allegretto Grazioso - Molto Vivace
4. Allegro ma non troppo
About West Michigan Symphony
As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region's cultural community for more than 70 years. Founded as the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, WMS now serves a regional audience with eight pairs of concerts annually, along with dozens of educational and outreach activities for children and adults. WMS oversees operations for the West Michigan Youth Symphony. For more information, visit www.westmichigansymphony.org.
Press Release Contact Information:
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