Why We Make Music

A few years ago I read a wonderful speech given to parents of incoming students at Boston Conservatory by Dr. Karl Paulnack, Director of the Conservatory's Music Division. Among other things, he says:

I have come to understand that music is not part of "arts and entertainment" as the newspaper section would have us believe. It's not a luxury, a lavish thing that we fund from leftovers of our budgets, not a plaything or an amusement or a pass time.

Music is a basic need of human survival. Music is one of the ways we make sense of our lives, one of the ways in which we express feelings when we have no words, a way for us to understand things with our hearts when we can't with our minds.

These words are even more important for us now than they were six years ago when Dr. Paulnack uttered them.

It takes five minutes to read the entire speech.  Here is the complete text, on the Boston Conservatory website

And here is the career bio of this amazing musician.

Click here to download a formatted three-page printable copy (pdf).

‘Hindostannie Air’ - East Meets West in the Kingdom of Oudh

In its next concert on March 20 -- "Imaginary Intersections: Raga & Raj" -- the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival plans to take its audience on an imaginary journey back to late 18th-century India.

In the mysterious Kingdom of Oudh near Calcutta, the fashion of the 1780s turned toward the ‘Hindostannie Air’, leading British musicians to perform amorous melodies and dance tunes of North India on European instruments.

Barry Phillips, a Ravi Shankar trained composer/performer of classical Indian music, has created a new work for early instruments which re-imagines this historical East-West encounter (world premiere). The fruits of this unique project will be premiered by the Baroque Festival's resident ensemble Lux Musica on early European instruments (flute, violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord), together with Barry Phillips on cello, accompanied by tabla (traditional Hindustani drums), tambourine, and finger cymbals.

The development and presentation of this project has been made possible by a grant from the Creative Work Fund of San Francisco, jointly awarded to the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival and Barry Phillips as collaborating artist.

Barry Phillips has written this Artist Statement: "In the past 13 years of assisting Ravi Shankar compose and notate Indian classical music for western instruments in western and Indian notation, I have been personally trained by Mr. Shankar in Hindustani music, both in composition and performance. This eastern musical experience mixes with other musical experiences including my life-long love of the European Baroque — in particular, harpsichord music.
I see this project as an experiment in overlapping time frames, in particular the modern, the experience of mixing Indian and western music by Ravi Shankar and his teacher, Baba Alauddin Khan in the 1940's-50's, and the well-documented musical encounters of eighteenth century Europeans in India with their harpsichords, flutes and fiddles with Indian musicians. This would make the new work more than an historical recreation of an imaginary mixing of east and west in music in eighteenth century India (though this was surely a reality to some extent). From the current musical point of view, it will also be as if all of the above moments can exist freely together."

WHEN: Saturday, March 20, at 7:30pm
WHERE: First Congregational Church (900 High Street, Santa Cruz)  map
More info at www.scbaroque.org

Photo Credit: Lars Johannesson

FREE CONCERT to benefit Shelter Outreach Plus

“Music of the Ages”
This event is a great example of the way musicians and music lovers can come together to create a better, stronger community.

Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 3:00 pm
First United Methodist Church
Pacific Grove  (Click here for Google Maps)

An afternoon of great music with something for everyone. More than 40 musicians will come together for this free musical event, and 100% of all donations will go to help provide safe housing and compassionate support for homeless people in our community.

The concert of talented musicians features the well-known Kevin Jordan Wild Coast Brass Quintet, and organist Barbara Vella, performing great classical music by Mussorgsky, Monteverdi, Strauss, and contemporary composers.

The diverse program ranges from an upbeat arrangement of “La Bamba” with organ and jazz percussion, to high energy gospel choral arrangements from local composer Peter Williams. The amazing grand finale will be the stirring “Gloria” by Popular British composer John Rutter, accompanied by organ, brass ensemble, choir, handbells, and percussion. This work, comissioned by an American choir and first performed in 1974, has become a beloved choral favorite.

By bringing musicians and community together to help end the cycle of homelessness and domestic violence, the participants and organizers of this concert seek to serve a very real, very immediate need. Shelter Outreach Plus offers emergency shelter, transitional housing and other supportive services for men, women and children.

Help support Shelter Outreach Plus with your tax-deductible gifts, all of which will be put to work in our community. Join us for great music performed by gifted and big-hearted musicians, support your friends and your community, and then enjoy a reception following the concert!

Visit the Shelter Outreach Plus website: www.shelteroutreachplus.org

For concert information, contact:
Kathryn Abbott  KathrynJAbbott@sbcglobal.net
Phone: (831) 917-3528

Location Details
First United Methodist Church   (Click here for Google Maps)
915 Sunset Pacific Grove CA 93950 US
Church website: www.butterflychurch.org

Shakespeare's London - the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival

The 2010 Santa Cruz Baroque Festival continues its Grand Tour of Early Music Worlds with a concert featuring renowned early music soprano Julianne Baird.

Shakespeare's London
Saturday, February 20, 7:30pm
UCSC Music Center Recital Hall

Julianne Baird (soprano), Richard Savino (lutes), Linda Burman-Hall (virginals) and Audrey Stanley (Shakespearean reader)

Julianne Baird has been hailed as "one of the most extraordinary voices in the service of early music that this generation has produced. She possesses a natural musicianship which engenders singing of supreme expressive beauty."

This concert will recreate the London of Shakespeare's times with music by Elizabethan composers such as Thomas Morley and Robert Johnson, who worked with Shakespeare to produce their settings, and music of Baroque composers such as Matthew Locke and Thomas Arne.

Julianne Baird is joined by lutenist Richard Savino, and Linda Burman-Hall on virginals, together with poetic Shakespearean interludes by Audrey Stanley (founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare Santa Cruz).

Accompanying this event is a Locavore Artist Dinner with Julianne Baird and Audrey Stanley the following day on Sunday, February 21, at 5:30pm.

For more details visit the  SCBF website: www.scbaroque.org

Visit Julianne Baird's website here>>>

The Monterey Symphony Uncovers Hidden Russian Treasures

Monterey Symphony Orchestra Concert IV

HIDDEN RUSSIAN TREASURES

Saturday February 20
2:00 pm final rehearsal (Note new start time)
7:00 pm - Concert (Note new start time)
Sherwood Hall, Salinas

Sunday February 21, 3:00 pm
Monday February 22, 8:00 pm
Sunset Theater, Carmel

Dmitry Yablonsky, guest conductor

Returning to conduct the Monterey Symphony eleven years after his debut with us, Dmitry Yablonsky has led prestigious orchestras throughout Europe and Asia including the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Last year, Dmitry won a Grammy nomination for his recording of the Miklos Rosza Violin Concerto. His discography is extensive and popular. He is also one of the finest cellists of his generation performing the great concertos, chamber music, and recitals.

Glinka: Waltz-Fantasie
Shostakovich: Jazz Suite No.2
Shostakovich: Tahiti Trot
Scriabin: Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.29

More info on the Monterey Symphony Website

Music For Valentine's Day

There are some lovely concerts of romantic music
on both sides of the Monterey Bay this weekend.

Exotic Chamber Music

Saturday night and Sunday afternoon in Aptos the Santa Cruz Chamber Players present "Tales of Love and Exotic Places."

Lars Johannesson, artistic director, flute and piccolo
Kathleen Kasdorf, soprano
Amy Brodo, cello
Susan Bruckner, piano

Saturday, February 13, 8:00PM
Sunday, February 14, 3:00PM
Christ Lutheran Church, Aptos     (Click here for Google Maps)

Flute, Cello, Piano, and Soprano weave an atmosphere of romance; tropical, historical and fairytale… Exotic scenes of faraway places.

This program centers around the sensual and evocative Songs of Madagascar by Ravel and the lyrical, late-romantic style love songs by America’s Amy Beach.

Scenes of hummingbirds, an evocation to Brahma, and Sephardic melodies are united with other exotic instrumental elements to delight the senses.

From the real to the imaginative, the concert culminates with Elizabeth Raum’s beautiful setting and narrative of Cinderella’s fairytale love story.

More info at www.scchamberplayers.org

Romantic Piano

 
On Sunday afternoon in Carmel's Sunset Center the amazing pianist Gustavo Romero plays an all-Chopin program.

Romero is a spectacular performer and Chopin is one of his specialties. Just look at this great program!

Prelude in C sharp minor, Op.45
Nocturne in B major, Op.62 (No.1)
Barcarolle in F sharp major, Op.60
Polonaise in F sharp minor, Op.44
Scherzo in B flat minor, Op.31
Intermission:
Ballade in A flat major, Op.47
Ballade in F major, Op.38
Ballade in F minor, Op.52
Ballade in G minor, Op.23

Sunday, February 14, at 3:0opm
Sunset Center, Carmel

Special ticket prices are available for students.

More info at www.carmelmusic.org

Visit the Gustavo Romero Website

"The Next Great Baritone": A Chat With Plácido Domingo

Now in his fifth decade at the Met, Plácido Domingo refuses to consider retirement.

His repertoire of 128 opera roles ( along with the fact that he once received 101 curtain-calls after an "Otello" performance in Vienna) has earned him a place in The Guinness Book of Records.

This month, the tenor adds two more firsts to his Met career, conducting Verdi’s Stiffelio and singing the (baritone) title role of Simon Boccanegra.

Read a recent interview here...

From PlaybillArts.com

The Met Opera will broadcast a performance of Simon Boccanegra in HDTV on Saturday morning, Feb 6, and a repeat broadcast on Wednesday evening Feb 24. This is a unique opportunity for music lovers in our region to hear this amazing singer as a baritone. For more information visit the ClassicalMusicMatters.com Online Calendar.

Brahms and Beethoven in Santa Cruz

BOLD & BEAUTIFUL

BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 4

BRAHMS
Piano Concerto
Jon Nakamatsu, Pianist (read his bio here)

Santa Cruz County Symphony
John Larry Granger, Conductor

No two composers reflect the heart and soul of symphonic music more than Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. With his own stamp of dramatic human energy, Beethoven from the first movement moves us with carefree abandon from the restraints of the Classical era to the delights of newly found Romanticism. Brahms expands Beethoven’s harmonic and rhythmic language in his profound First Piano Concerto, performed for us by Van Cliburn winner, Jon Nakamatsu.

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, January 30, 8pm
Mello Center, Watsonville, January 31, 2pm

Santa Cruz County Symphony Website: www.santacruzsymphony.com/

MORE CALENDAR DETAILS: www.classicalmusicmatters.com

A Grand Tour of Early Music Worlds

The 2010 Santa Cruz Baroque Festival begins on February 6!

The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival's 2010 season of "Musical Voyages" makes its first stop in 19th-century Wales, where Concert I, Holiday in Wales commemorates a fascinating event in English history.

In 1889, while a guest at the Palé Mansion in North Wales, Queen Victoria found herself transported by the music of famous Welsh gypsy and harpist John Roberts and his 9 sons, playing Welsh triple harps and English pedal harps.

Acclaimed harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton will recreate this magical atmosphere in an evening of Welsh airs and dances. In her own words: "Strike the Harp and Let's Be Merry!"

Fulton is recognized as an imaginative and engaging performer, and is a leading pioneer in the study and performance of historical harps.

This performance takes place at the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall on February 6, and begins at 7:30 pm. (Campus directions here)

Download a press release with more fascinating details of this concert, plus information and photos for each concert of the 2010 series.

For tickets visit the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival website or phone 831-457-9693.

Concert and venue details can also be found in our February Online Calendar

Some Enchanted Evening

An Elegant Evening
with Marcus Nance

Tuesday, January 26

Golden Bough Theater
Carmel-by-the-Sea

Marcus Nance is an extraordinary artist with a fabulous bass-baritone voice and amazing broadway credits.

Hear him Tuesday January 26, and enjoy a pre–concert wine reception at 7:00pm, the show at 7:30pm, and a dessert reception and a mini LIVE auction afterward.

This event benefits Pac Rep, Monterey Bay Symphony, and Monterey Bay Links, Inc.

For more information, click here