Program Notes
By Robert A. Margo
As a classical instrument, the mandolin
has its origins in the eighteenth century, but it was around
the turn of the twentieth century that the instrument reached
its zenith of popularity in the Old and New Worlds. By World
War I interest in the mandolin had largely died out in America,
but the instrument retained a passionate following in other
countries, particularly in Europe and Japan. Beginning in the
1970s the United States has experienced a revival of interest
in classical mandolin. This evening's concert features the
Providence Mandolin Orchestra (Rhode Island), one of the leading
classical mandolin ensembles in the United States.
The repertoire for mandolin orchestra includes
arrangements and original works. Famous as the theme music
for a De Beers (diamond) commercial, “Palladio”,
by the British composer Karl Jenkins, has been expertly arranged
for mandolin ensemble by Alex Timmerman, director of the Dutch
ensemble ‘Het Consort’. Timmerman also arranged "Canzone" by
Jurrian Andriessen, a Dutch composer known for his film and
theatrical music. The Argentine composer Luis Gianneo made
extensive use of folk idioms such as in the "Cinco Piezas
[Five Pieces]" for violin and piano written in 1942. Mandolin
aficionados treasure a 1960s LP recording by the German mandolinist
Jacob Thomas that included Gianneo's setting of three of the
pieces ("Chacarera", "Vidala", and "Zapateado")
for solo mandolin and string orchestra which were presented
in a different order from the original and called the "Suite
Argentina" on the album jacket. The American composer
John Craton recently made his own arrangement of all five pieces
for solo mandolin and mandolin orchestra with the original
order and title restored, and it is the Craton version that
the PMO performs this evening. Although one does not normally
associate 1980s "glam" rock and roll with the mandolin,
Robert Kay's arrangement of Queen's classic "Bohemian
Rhapsody" is highly effective and surprisingly faithful
to the original.
The remaining works on the program are original
compositions for mandolin orchestra. Filled with piquant chords
and oblique melodic gestures, the three songs of "Gretel
Dreaming" can be performed with the melody line played
on violin (this evening by Rachel Panitch) or sung (by soprano).
Robert Schultz, the conductor of the West Australian Mandolin
Orchestra, has written many works for plucked strings. His "Lament
for the Death of Polite Language" bemoans the current
(mis)-use of the English language in daily life, "debased,
shallow in content, full of clichés." "Where," he
asks "is the new generation of poets?" The musical
language is hued with nostalgic Scottish melodies and harmonies,
wistfully recalling a richer and more colorful era of expression.
Written originally for the Sydney Mandolins, Betty Beath's "Lament
for Kosovo" has been performed worldwide in a later version
for string orchestra. The composer remarks that "Lament
for Kosovo" was "written … [at] a time when
the tragic events taking place in what was previously Yugoslavia
were constantly before us in graphic images; since then the
tragedy has widened to many parts of the world. Feelings of
deep sadness and anger were uppermost in my heart and mind … 'Lament
for Kosovo' expresses sorrow for the suffering of all innocent
people caught up in war and destruction." "Music
for Play" by Claudia Mandonico is a powerful three movement
that draws its inspiration from popular idioms as does Mark
Davis' homage to his pet cat, one of the PMO's signature pieces.
The Providence Mandolin Orchestra was founded
by the late Hibbard Perry in 1971. Since then, it has become
one of the leading American mandolin ensembles, with regular
appearances throughout the Eastern United States, Canada, and
Western Europe. The Providence Mandolin Orchestra is under
the direction of Mark Davis. Mr. Davis pursues an active career
as a solo and ensemble performer, educator, and conductor.
The Providence Mandolin Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the
support of the D'Addario Foundation.
Copies of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra's
CD Spectrum will be available for purchase at today’s
concert. Visit the website of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra
to purchase Spectrum on-line and to learn more about the orchestra:
www.mandolin-orchestra.org. Visit www.youtube.com/ProvidenceMandolin
to see videos of vintage and recent performances by the PMO. www.mandolin-orchestra.org.
Visit www.youtube.com/ProvidenceMandolin to
see videos of the PMO.
The Providence Mandolin Orchestra
Director: Mark Davis
First Mandolin: Joshua Bell (concertmaster), Michael Cappelli,
Yvette Cote, Duane Golomb, Chang Lee, Rachel Panitz
Second Mandolin: Lynne Bell, Christine Chito, Owen Hartford, Paul
Wilde
Mandola: Will Melton, Gayle Raposa
Mandocello: Seth Gruenwald, Dan Moore, Matt Synder
Classical Guitar: Beverly Davis, John Dennewitz
Bass: Gino Cicchetti
Violin: Rachel Panitz
HET
CONSORT (with special guests,
The Providence Mandolin Orchestra)
The Zuiderkerk Zuiderkerkstraat
31 (8011 HE) Zwolle, Netherlands Saturday, July 5, 20.00
hours
Het Consort
Alex Timmerman, Director |
| |
| Variations on a Basque Melody |
Victor Kioulaphides |
| |
Arr. J. Craton |
| |
|
| Aria & Danza |
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) |
| |
Arr. A. Timmerman |
| |
|
| |
|
| **Bloeman van Spanje |
John Craton |
| Horned Red Poppy-Myrtle-Centaury-Broomrape-Bellflower-Wistaria |
arr. J. Craton |
| Mark Davis, duo classical
guitar |
|
| Beverly Davis, duo classical
guitar |
|
| |
Pause |
| |
| |
The Providence
Mandolin Orchestra
Mark Davis, Director |
| |
| The Cat in Springtime |
Mark Davis |
| |
|
| Gretel Dreaming: A Song Cycle |
Owen Hartford |
| Afternoon-Evening-Morning |
| Rachel Panitz, violin
solo |
|
| |
|
| Cinco Piezas |
Luis Gianneo (1897-1968) |
| Joshua Bell, mandolin
solo |
arr. J. Craton |
| Vidala-Cancion
Incaica-Chacarera-Cancion de Cuna-Zapateado |
| |
| Bohemian Rhapsody |
Queen |
| |
arr. R. Kay |
| |
|
Pause |
| |
Het Consort
and the Providence Mandolin Orchestra |
| |
| Lament for Kosovo |
Betty Beath |
| |
|
| Canzone I |
Jurriaan Andriessen (1925-1996) |
| |
Arr. A. Timmerman |
| |
|
Impressioni Orientale, Op. 146 |
Raffaele Calace (1863-1934) |
Fine |
| |
| *European Premiere **
World Premiere |
Program Notes
By Robert A. Margo
As a classical instrument, the mandolin
has its origins in the eighteenth century, but it was
around the turn of the twentieth century that the instrument
reached its zenith of popularity in the Old and New
Worlds. By World War I interest in the mandolin had
largely died out in America, but the instrument retained
a passionate following in other countries, particularly
in Europe and Japan. Beginning in the 1970s the United
States has experienced a revival of interest in classical
mandolin. This evening's concert features Het Consort
(Zwolle, Netherlands) and the Providence Mandolin Orchestra
(Rhode Island, United States), two of the leading classical
mandolin ensembles in the world.
The repertoire for mandolin orchestra
includes arrangements and original works. Victor Kioulaphides
is a composer and bassist living in New York City.
A prolific writer for the mandolin, his "Variations
on a Basque Melody" are based on a folk chant
from the Basque region of France and unfold in the
traditional Mediterranean manner of various figurations
around an underlying melody. Originally for solo mandolin,
the "Variations" have been orchestrated by
the American composer John Craton. The "Aria" from
the Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 is one of
Heitor Villa-Lobos' best-loved works, famous in the
original version for soprano and orchestra of cellos,
and in the later setting for soprano and classical
guitar that the composer prepared at the request of
Andres Segovia for Segovia's companion, the Brazilian
singer-guitarist Olga Coehlo. The Argentine composer
Luis Gianneo made extensive use of folk idioms in his
work such as the "Cinco Piezas [Five Pieces]" for
violin and piano written in 1942. Mandolin aficionados
treasure a 1960s LP recording by the German mandolinist
Jacob Thomas that included Gianneo's setting of three
of the pieces ("Chacarera", "Vidala",
and "Zapateado") for solo mandolin and string
orchestra which were presented in a different order
from the original and called the "Suite Argentina" on
the album jacket. John Craton recently made his own
arrangement of all five pieces for solo mandolin and
mandolin orchestra with the original order and title
restored. A prolific writer of chamber and vocal works
in various idioms and best known for his film and theatrical
music, Jurriaan Andriessen was a Dutch composer who
studied with his father Hendrik at the Utrecht Conservatory
and later in Paris with Olivier Messiaen. Although
one does not normally associate 1980s " glam" rock
and roll with the mandolin, Robert Kay’s arrangement
of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" is surprisingly
faithful to the original (and great fun for the performers!)
The remaining works on the program
are original compositions for mandolin orchestra, three
of which are European premieres and one world premiere.
John Craton is a violinist and composer from Indiana
with an extensive catalog of widely performed works
for mandolin in solo and chamber music settings. His
new concerto for two guitars and mandolin orchestra, "Bloeman
van Spanje" (Spanish Flowers) is a six-movement
work inspired by the colorful flowers of Spain. It
receives its world premiere this evening. Influenced
by minimalism and related popular idioms, Mark Davis'
ode to his pet cat is one of the Providence Mandolin
Orchestra's signature pieces. Owen Hartford has written
many works for the Providence group during his long
tenure with the ensemble. Filled with piquant chords
and oblique melodic gestures, the three songs of "Gretel
Dreaming" can be performed with the melody line
played on violin (this evening by Rachel Panitch) or
sung (by soprano). Written originally for the Sydney
Mandolins, Betty Beath's "Lament for Kosovo" has
been performed worldwide in a later version for string
orchestra. The composer remarks that "Lament for
Kosovo" was "written … [at] a time
when the tragic events taking place in what was previously
Yugoslavia were constantly before us in graphic images;
since then the tragedy has widened to many parts of
the world. Feelings of deep sadness and anger were
uppermost in my heart and mind … 'Lament for
Kosovo' expresses sorrow for the suffering of all innocent
people caught up in war and destruction. The Italian
Raffaele Calace was a "triple threat" who
composed numerous works, performed widely and also
personally constructed some of the finest instruments
of his era. Written in February of 1925 during a sea
voyage on return from a highly successful concert tour
of Japan, "Impressioni Orientali" is, in
the words of Paul Sparks, author of The Classical
Mandolin, "a wonderfully exciting and atmospheric
piece strongly influenced by Middle Eastern scales
and drones that creates an extraordinary range of timbre" (p.
145).
The Providence Mandolin Orchestra was
founded by the late Hibbard Perry in 1971. Since then,
it has become one of the leading American mandolin
ensembles, with regular appearances throughout the
Eastern United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
The group has performed with noted soloists Carlo Aonzo,
Butch Baldassari, Robert Paul Sullivan, Anatoliy Trofimov,
Tamara Volskaya and Richard Walz. Its unique tonality
has inspired exciting new works including those by
Clarice Assad, Will Ayton, Michael Bell, Mark Davis,
Owen Hartford, Eva Kendrick, Barbara Kolb, Robert Martel,
Michael Nix, Stephen Funk Pearson, and Francine Trester.
Het Consort, an award-winning
mandolin chamber orchestra based in Zwolle, The Netherlands,
was founded in 1990. Contemporary composers who have
written for Het Consort include Annette Kruisbrink,
Marc Matthys, Luca Mereu, Victor Kioulaphides, John
Craton, and Jeff Hijlkema. Het Consort has performed
extensively throughout Europe including Belgium, the
Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain
and Italy, and has worked with many well-known musicians
including Peter Doberitz, Tove Flensborg, Ugo Orlandi,
Pavel Steidl, Michael Troster, Richard Walz, and Gertud
Weyhofen.
Mark Davis is Music Director
of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra. A highly-respected
concert artist in the field of guitar and mandolin
music for more than three decades, Mark Davis appears
on many CD recordings, including the Grammy-nominated
'Vienna Nocturne,' and has been a featured artist at
various international events such as the Festival Internacional
Musica de Plettro in Spain, and the Kobe International
Music Festival in Japan. Mark Davis directs a classical
guitar program at the Wheeler School in Providence,
Rhode Island.
Alex Timmerman is Music
Director of Het Consort. He studied classical guitar
with Pieter van der Staak, Jorge Oraison, and John
Mills. One of the world's premier experts on historical
plucked instruments, he is the author of De Mandoline
en de Gitaar door de Eeuwen heen (The Mandolin and
the Guitar Through the Centuries). Alex Timmerman has
taught mandolin and guitar at the Centrum voor Kunstzinnige
Vorming de Muzerie in Zwolle since 1999 and at the
ArtEZ High School for the Arts in Zwolle, Arnhem, and
Enschede (Netherlands) since 1997. In addition to his
teaching and performing activities, Timmerman works
for the musical instrument department of the Haags
Gemeentemuseum of The Hague.
Het Consort
Director: Alex Timmerman
First Mandolin: Sebastiaan de Grebber (concertmaster), Yolana
Döpp, Pauline Ulderink
Second Mandolin: Ferdinand Binnendijk, Marian van Dijk, Margareet
van Litsenburg
Octave Mandola: Helma Damman-Ruitenberg, Ruth Rouw
Mandoloncello: Niels Godart
Classical Guitar: Frido Kuijlman, Robert Streef, Tom Edskes
Chitarrone Moderno: Marianne Timmerman-Holander
The Providence Mandolin
Orchestra
Director: Mark Davis
First Mandolin: Joshua Bell (concertmaster), Michael Cappelli,
Yvette Cote, Duane Golomb, Chang Lee, Rachel Panitz
Second Mandolin: Lynne Bell, Christine Chito, Owen Hartford,
Paul Wilde
Mandola: Will Melton, Gayle Raposa
Mandocello: Seth Gruenwald, Dan Moore, Matt Synder
Classical Guitar: Beverly Davis, John Dennewitz
Bass: Gino Cicchetti
Violin: Rachel Panitz |
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