UMS Concert Program, December 2, 1947: Second Annual Extra Concert Series -- Don Cossack Chorus

Season: 1947-1948
Concert: Third
Complete Series: 2962
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
CHARLES A. SINK, PRESIDENT THOR JOHNSON, GUEST CONDUCTOR
LESTER MCCOY, ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR
Third Concert 1947-1948 Complete Series 2962
Second Annual
Extra Concert Series
DON COSSACK CHORUS
SERGE JAROFF, Conductor
Tuesday Evening, December 2, 1947, at 8:30 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
Oh, This Day..........D. Bortniansky
Selection from the traditional Requiem . . . Arr. By C. Shvedoff Lord, Have Mercy On Us (Gospody Pomiluy) ... A. Lvovsky
Lord, Save the Pious People......P. Tchaikovsky
Cantata of Russian Church Music . . . . . . A. Kastalsky
Excerpts from Two Russian Operas .... Arr. by C. Shvedoff
Who Knows.........Arr. by C. Shvedoff
Drinking Songs (Traditional)......Arr. by S. Jaroff
Evening Bells..........Arr. by S. Jaroff
Reminiscences...........J. Strimee
INTERMISSION
America, The Beautiful......Arr. by C. Shvedoff
"Bandura"--Ukrainian Folk Songs . . . Arr. by G. Davidovsky Today is the Last Day (Russian Folk Songs) . . Arr. by S. Jaroff
Song of Stenka Razin.......Arr. by I. Dobrovein
Don Cossack Battle Song........Traditional
Note.--The University Musical Society has presented the Don Cossack Chorus on previous occasions as follows: Nov. 20, 1930; Jan. 13, 1932; Nov. 19, 1934; Nov. 11, 1935; Nov. 18, 1940; Oct. 20, 1942; Dec. 14, 1943; and Dec. 3, 1945.
ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS
Drinking Songs (Traditional)......Arr. by S. Jaroff
It is an old Russian custom to greet a member of a drinking party with a glass of wine placed on a plate, singing to him special songs for the occasion.
Evening Bells..........Arr. by S. Jaroff
The tenor sings a very simple melody accompanied by the Chorus, recalling the sound of bells at evening time.
Reminiscences...........J. Strimer
An immigrant is on his way to America. The sound of the sea and the rhythmical movement of the ship recall to him his youth, his native village, his family and friends. He recalls, too, Katinsha, his first sweetheart, and involuntarily he remembers an old Russian song "Parting." Now in free America he joyfully accepts the cheerful strains of "Yankee Doodle."
INTERMISSION
America, The Beautiful......Arr. by C. Shvedoff
"Bandura"--Ukrainian Folk Songs . . . Arr. by G. Davidovsky
A collection of six popular Ukranian songs. The word "Bandura" means a musical instrument used by Ukrainians. The instrument is imitated at the beginning of this song.
Today is the Last Day (Russian Folk Songs) . . Arr. by S. Jaroff
The day on which a young man was taken into military service was a sad one for him and for his family. To lighten the atmosphere, friends and neighbors told humorous stories and sang comic songs.
Song of Stenka Razin.......Arr. by I. Dobrovein
Stenka Razin, well-known robber, became popular with the people because he gave them the plunder he had wrenched from the rich merchant ships sailing the Volga. This song concerns an episode wherein Razin, to hold the popularity of his men, throws a Persian princess into the Volga.
Don Cossack Battle Song....... . Traditional
PROGRAM NOTES
Oh, This Day..........D. Boetniansky
Bortniansky, who lived at the beginning of the nineteenth century, composed thirty-five so-called "concertos" for mixed voices. This is the first part of one which was performed at the end of the Easter liturgy.
Selection from the traditional Requiem . . . Arr. By C. Shvedoff
A combination of the most important songs of Russian funeral services. The melodies are very old and were arranged by A. Lvoff in the Tzars' time. They became the most popular throughout Russia.
Lord, Have Mercy On Us (Gospody Pomiluy) ... A. Lvovsky
These two words, "Gospody Pomiluy," are sung seventy-five times during the services on the eve of Holy Rood day. The bishop saying mass stands in the middle of the church holding the cross above his head. As he lowers the cross, the chorus sings "Gospody Pomiluy" in diminuendo--when the cross touches the ground, pianissimo, and when the cross gradually rises, crescendo.
Lord, Save the Pious People......P. Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky touched almost every field of music in his compositions. In addition to his symphonies, operas, ballets, etc., he composed two church works--"Liturgy" and "Night Service." This number is taken from the Liturgy.
Cantata of Russian Church Music......A. Kastalsky
This cantata represents a short history of Russian Church music. The first melodies heard in churches were part Greek and part Slavic (Serbian and Bulgarian). Later, Russians began to compose their own melodies--especially in monasteries, which were educational centers at that time. Church singing was first done in unison, but soon male choirs were organized and eventually mixed choirs found their way into almost all Russian cathedrals. In the nineteenth century, special schools of music were established to train choir boys.
Musically, the cantata is based upon the above mentioned melodies. At the end, when the text mentions musical education, a theme from a Bach fugue is identifiable.
Excerpts from Two Russian Operas . . . . Arr. by C. Shvedoff
Taken from two of Russia's most famous operas, Moussorgsky's "Boris Godunoff" and Glinka's "Life for the Tzar" (also known as "Ivan Soussanin").
This concert number starts with the coronation chorus and death scene from "Boris Godunoff." It ends with the final chorus from Glinka's opera.
Who Knows.........Arr. by C. Shvedoff
A new Russian song about a girl who had a very bashful lover who only sighed and said nothing. He sent the girl a letter composed of dots which she did not understand, but for some reason her heart was sweetly melted. Who knows why
Seventh Annual
CMMIBER mUSIC FESTIUHL
Rackham Auditorium
HENRI TEMIANKA,
First Violin
GUSTAVE ROESEELS,
Second Violin
QUflRTET
ROBERT COURTE,
Viola
ROBERT MAAS,
Violoncello
Friday Evening, January 16, 8:30
L'Estra Harmonico...........Vivaldi
Quartet, Op. 130...........Beethoven
Quartet No. 1, Op. 7...........Bartok
Saturday Afternoon, January 17, 2:30
Quartet, Op. 64, No. 3..........Haydn
Quartet No. 5...........Chevreuh,
Quartet, Op. 18, No. 4..........Beethoven
Saturday Evening, January 17, 8:30
Quartet, Op. 64, No. S ("The Lark")........Haydn
Quartet No. 2............Milhaud
Quartet, Op. 132...........Beethoven
Ticket Prices (Including tax) Season Tickets (3 concerts): $3.60 and $2.40. Single Concerts: $1.80 and $1.20.
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
"Messiah" (Handel)--Saturday, December 13, at 8:30 p.m., and Sunday,
December 14, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets: 70 cents and 50 cents. Frances Yeend, Soprano; Mary Van Kjrk, Contralto; Harold Haugh, Tenor; Mark Love, Bom; University Choral Union; Special "Messiah" Orchestra; Frieda Op't Holt Vogan, Organist; Lester McCoy, Conductor.
MAY FESTIVAL season ticket orders will be accepted beginning as of December 1, and filed in sequence--Unclaimed seats in Block A, $12.00; Block B, $10.80; Block C, $9.60; Block D, $8.40--at University Musical Society, Charles A. Sink, President, Burton Memorial Tower.