By David Amos
SAN DIEGO — In two concerts titled Americana, the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra will present four of the many directions which American symphonic music took around the middle of the Twentieth Century. These four composers were masters of composition and orchestration; some are very popular today, and at least one of them has fallen into music history’s obscurity.
This is unfortunate, because Wallingford Riegger was a gifted composer and teacher who wrote in many forms and styles. He was one of Leonard Bernstein’s most respected musical friends. TICO will open the program with his most recognized work, the seven minute Dance Rhythms, a catchy and complex piece which is entertaining, off-beat, and is certain to keep your attention. It certainly kept ours, while we were rehearsing it!
The concerts on April 6 and 8 continue with the Ballet Suite from The Incredible Flutist, by Walter Piston. I am told that in the 1940’s and 50’s, two composers were held as the masters of modern symphonic music: Piston, and a composer played in TICO’s January concerts, Paul Creston. I also had the pleasure of conducting London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1990 in a recording of Piston’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra.
The Incredible Flutist Suite, is taken from a ballet which depicts a circus coming into a small American town. From the hushed beginning to the various dances of the circus’ participants, we reach the moment when the parade starts and circus marches into town. At this point, you will see orchestral musicians behaving in a manner you have never seen before! We certainly enjoyed rehearsing this section. It is followed by the magical, mystical flutist, who mesmerizes the crowd with his pure, silvery tones. It will be played by TICO’s principal flute, Steve Hardy. It is followed by a few dances. a minuet, a Spanish Dance, a Siciliana, and the concluding Polka.
After intermission, the orchestra will play A Lincoln Address, for Narrator and Orchestra, by Vincent Persichetti. He is one of my all-time favorite composers of the Twentieth Century, and I was privileged to record a complete compact disc of his music with the wind section of the London Symphony Orchestra.
The text is taken from Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, which many historians consider his best speech. Our guest narrator will be Dave Scott, the popular weekend weatherman for KUSI TV, cable 9. In our rehearsals, he has shown a rich flair for drama, and has brought out of the text some of Lincoln’s finest, most sensitive words, with relevance and depth.
Many may know Dave Scott as a fine trombonist, composer, and singer. He writes in the popular style, and his rich baritone voice is a pleasure to hear. On this program, however, he will only narrate the inaugural address, while the orchestra will provide the background and spirit of the text.
The concert will end with music that is recognized by practically everyone: Aaron Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo. Its four movements speak for themselves, and are frequently quoted in movies and TV commercials: Buckaroo Holiday, Midnight Nocturne, Saturday Night Waltz, and Hoedown. This cowboy music set to orchestra and composed in the 1940’s established Copland as one of our greatest composers. Not only he gave us memorable, entertaining music, but he established, or let’s say, cemented the American style. After Rodeo, Fanfare to the Common Man,
Appalachian Spring, and Billy the Kid, and other works, hardly any other composer who followed Copland and composing on similar subjects,could escape from his harmonies and style, which became an American icon with its sounds of the Open West, the prairies, cowboys, and yes, Americana!
For more information on both concerts, individual or group tickets, reservations, directions, or a season brochure, call 619-697 6001, or you can buy your tickets online at www.tiferethIsrael.com/TICO. Or you can purchase tickets at the door before concert times.
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Amos is conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra and has guest conducted professional orchestra around the world. He may be contacted via david.amos@sdjewishworld.com San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com