The
performances by the Chamber Orchestra, Elizabeth
Macdonald, director, in the 2010-2011
season are: Wednesday, September 8, 2010, in the Tisch Commons of
the
Danforth University Center, and Monday, January
24, 2011 at Graham Chapel. The
September featured some pieces for harp and strings, with
soloist Dr. Sue Taylor, who teaches at University College and is harp
instructor at WU. The three pieces with the harp are Schoeberg's
Notturno, the Adagietto from the Fifth Symphony of Mahler, and Elgar's
Sospiri. Other works on the program are Alla marcia by the late
romantic Belgian composer Gilson (a U.S. premiere) and the lively Five
Dances by the Greek composer Skalkottas. The
January 24, 2011 is called "Follow the Fugue" and is dedicated to
fugues of various shapes and sizes, and though it is technical musical
subject it promises to be highly entertaining. Last
winter's performance, January 27, 2010 was a program of string
pieces by Tchaikovsky, including the Serenade for Strings.
There is a complete calendar of music events and information about music courses available on the department web site. For students interested in strings at Washington University,
there are several options to consider. Private lessons are offered for
violin, viola, cello, viola da gamba and bass. Advanced players should
consider
auditioning for the ensembles at WU. The symphony orchestra, conducted
by Dan Presgrave, meets weekly and gives four concerts per year. The chamber
orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Macdonald,
performs
two
concerts
per
year,
early
in
each semester. The small chamber ensembles
have weekly
coaching
and perform on and off campus, occasionally for professional
engagements. The music department was pleased to receive the following
letter from a WU alum who was in attendance at the February 2,2004
concert, Mr. R. Ballard, and who was moved to write: "Dear friends– I attended Monday's Chamber Orchestra
concert in Umrath Hall and was very pleased. The Chamber
Orchestra performed skillfully and had a rich, balanced sound; the room
acoustics were
good (nice for an elegant room not intended for musical presentations
and
without acoustic padding); and I had no idea that Washington University
owned
a harpsichord (I am not being frivolous). "As a student I did not participate with the Department
of Music
(I am a former bassoonist and piantist who was forced to concentrate on
his
engineering studies), but I am very happy to observe that Washington
University's
Department of Music has grown significantly since I was a student.
I
believe that Washington University's Department of Music is a
significant asset to the University that should receive greater
exposure and recognition. "I look forward to future concerts." Here is list of repertoire performed by the Washington
University Chamber Orchestra since 1994: Arensky: Variations on a theme of Tchaikovsky Arne: Thomas and Sally (complete opera) C.P.E. Bach: Symphony no.5 J.C. Bach: Concertato aria from La Clemenza di Scipione J.S. Bach: Concerto for 3 harpsichords, BWV 1064; Concerto for harpsichord in D minor, BWV 1052, Concerto in c minor for oboe and violin, Brandenburg Concertos no. 3 and 6; Coffee Cantata; Concerto in D mior for 2 violins Barber: Adagio for Strings Boyce: Double concerto in B minor Bridge: Irish Melody Biber: Battalia, Nightwatchman Conti: La Colpe Originale Corelli: Concerto grossi, op.6 no. 5,6,12 Corette: Phênix for four cellos Delius: Air and Dance Elgar: Sospiri Fischer: Suite no. 4 Fux: Ouverture in D minor Gabrielli: Canzoni (1597) Geminiani: Concerto grosso Grieg: Norwegian melodies, Varen, Hjertesar, Holberg Suite Grainger: Molly on the Shore Handel: Cantata, Silete vente, Largo from Xerxes, Queen of Sheba,Sinfonia from Jephtha,Overture to Alexander's Feast, Ouverture no.5, Concerto grosso op.6.no.6, Concerto Grosso op. 6 no. 4 Hanson: Serenade for flute and strings Harty: Londonderry Air Heinichen: Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Cello and Theorbo Ireland: A Downland Suite Lutoslawksi: Five Melodies Massenet: Menuet from Manon Mendelssohn: On wings of song McKay: Port Royal Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor, Divertimento K. 138 Mozart: Piano Concerto, K. 415 Purcell: Incidental Music to Indian Queen, Amphitryon, Abdelazer, excerpts from Dido and Aeneas, King Arthur Rachmaninov: Romanze, Vocalise Rangström: Divertimento elegiaco Roman: Sinfonia Rosenmuller: Sonate da camera Saint-Saëns: Prelude from The Flood, op. 45 Sammartini: Notturno Schmelzer: Sonata VIII Sibelius: Canzonetta, Raskasketun Tie Tchaikovsky: Elegy, Snowmaiden Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile, arr. Macdonald Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, op. 48 Tchaikovsky: Elegy Tchaikovsky: Andante from Quartet, op. 30, arr. Glazunov Telemann: Don Quixote Suite Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Tallis Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 violins, Concerto for 2 violins and 2 cellos, the Seasons, Concerto for string orchestra, concerto for guitar, concerto for two cellos Warlock: Capriol Suite Wilfert: Nocturne for 4 cellos Wiren: Serenade for Strings
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