UMS Concert Program, October 27, 1954: Ninth Annual Extra Concert Series -- Concertgebouw Orchestra Of Amsterdam

Season: 1954-1955
Concert: Second
Complete Series: 3141
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Charles A. Sink, President Thor Johnson, Guest Conductor
Lester McCoy, Associate Conductor
Second Concert 1954-1955 Complete Series 3141
Ninth Annual
Extra Concert Series
CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA OF AMSTERDAM
Eduard Van Beinum, Conductor
Wednesday Evening, October 27, 1954, at 8:30 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60.....Beethoven
Adagio; allegro vivace Adagio
Allegro vivace; trio: un poco meno allegro Finale: allegro ma non troppo
INTERMISSION
Prelude a l'apres midi d'un faune.......Debussy
Musique pour l'esprit en deuil......Rudolf Escher
Suite from The Firebird.........Stravinsky
Introduction--Dance of the Firebird
Dance of the Princesses
Infernal Dance of the Subjects of Kaschei
Berceuse
Finale
London, Columbia Masterworks, and Epic Records
The Steinway is the official piano of the University Musical Society. ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS
PROGRAM NOTES
Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60 . . Ludwig van Beethoven
In the fall of 1806 Beethoven made the acquaintance of Count Franz von Oppers-dorf whose estate lay in the neighborhood of Ober-Glogau, in Silesia, not far from that of Prince Lichnowsky, Beethoven's patron, with whom the composer was staying. The Count had a good orchestra and some time later commissioned Beethoven to write a work for this ensemble. Such was the origin of the Fourth Symphony.
The Symphony opens with a slow introduction of some length and rather serious, though uncertainly denned, mood. The section is marked by detached and staccato notes. The main body of the movement is launched allegro vivace. The music takes on an excited and jubilant character, with a group of secondary themes, one of them treated in imitation. The Adagio, of sweet, sentimental character, has been regarded as a love song inspired by the composer's devotion to Therese von Brunswick, or some other em?bodiment of the "Immortal Beloved." The third movement, an allegro vivace, though marked Minuet, differs from the traditional minuet pattern. The melody of the trio, given largely to the woodwind, is contrasted with little violin figures termed by Berlioz "so many teasing but charming allurements." The finale is a kind of "perpetual motion," with mercurial phrases broken upon from time to time by bursts of an almost irascible character.
Prelude a 1'apres midi d'un faune.....Claude Debussy
(Afternoon of a Faun)
Camille Mauclair who was present with Mallerme at the first performance of this work wrote, many years later: "We returned, struck with consternation by the hisses of a public which denounced this music as lacerating the ears, this music so volatile that one scarcely hears its adorable murmurings."
What Debussy was attempting to do he has said in the following words: "The music of this prelude is a very free illustration of the beautiful poem of Stephane Mallarme. It makes no pretentions whatever to being a synthesis of the poem. It projects, rather, a changing background for the dreams and desires of the Faun in the heat of that sum?mer afternoon, as, weary from pursuing the frightened nymphs and maids, he falls into a wine-drugged sleep, free at last to enjoy every bounty that he had craved of Nature.
Musique pour l'espirit en deuil......Rudolf Escher
(Music for a mourning spirit)
Rudolf Escher was born in Amsterdam in 1912, studied at the Rotterdam Con?servatory and was taught by Willem Pijper for four years. Since 1935 he has devoted most of his time to composition. His works include an opera Protesilaos and Laodameia, a Symphony, Passacaglia for orchestra, Concerto for piano and orchestra, the "Music for a mourning spriti," chamber music, piano works, and songs.
The "Music for a mourning spirit" was written with many interruptions during the first years of World War II. The form of the composition is a rather freely handled sonata form, consisting of introduction, exposition (in two sections Al and A2), de?velopment, recapitulation (without A2) and coda. A full analysis is impossible in the available space. Suffice it to say that the title means no more than an indication of the emotional domain with which this music is associated. If one connects the indications,
"expectation and lyricism" with "spirit" in the broadest sense of the word, and "oppres?sive, imperative tone" with Teutonic fascism and its criminality, then the domain of inspiratory impulses is satisfactorily defined.
Suite from The Firebird.......Igor Stravinsky
Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird, from which the music of this Suite is extracted is based on an old Russian legend telling how Prince Ivan with the help of the won-derous Firebird, overcame the sorcerer Kaschei and freed his victims.
Introduction, leading into a section called Dance of the Firebird, combines some of the music accompanying Ivan's pursuit of the miraculous Bird as prelude to the Dance itself--music of fantastic and captivating grace. Ivan captures the Firebird as she is feeding on golden apples in Kaschci's garden but, melted by her entreaties, he soon re?leases her and she leaves with him, in gratitude, one of her shining feathers.
Dance oj the Princesses--A round-dance of charming gravity and stateliness. Thir?teen princesses, held prisoner by Kaschei, play with the golden apples and dance as Ivan watches from his hiding place. He joins them and they warn him to flee before Kaschei can turn him into stone.
Infernal Dance of the Subjects of Kaschei--Instead of running away, Ivan flings open the gates of Kaschei's palace and out swarm slaves and buffoons, soldiers and freaks, Kikimoras and Bolibochki--subjects of Kaschei and finally the sorcerer himself. The Firebird's feather protects Ivan from his evil spells. Now the Firebird reappears and causes Kaschei and his crew to begin a frenzied dance till they fall to the ground exhausted.
In the Ballet, the delightful Berceuse, with its opening bassoon solo over an ac?companiment of muted strings and harp, follows the Infernal Dance. The loveliest Princess is lulled into a sleep that will protect her from the wicked designs of Kaschei.
Finale--This movement which succeeds without pause, follows in the ballet the Death of Kaschei, and accompanies the breaking of the sorcerer's spell, the vanishing of his castle and the release of his victims. The Suite ends with the jubilant music that celebrates the happy conclusion of Ivan's adventure.
This tour of the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam is under the High Patronage of Her Majesty, the Queen; and is sponsored by the government of The Netherlands and the Munici?pality of Amsterdam; and in the United States, by the Nether?lands--American Foundation, Inc.
SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL MAY FESTIVAL
Six Concerts.........May 5, 6, 7, 8, 19SS
The University Choral Union will perform Carl Orff's Cannina Burana and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, under Thor Johnson. The Festival Youth Chorus, under Marguerite Hood, will participate at the Saturday afternoon concert.
The Philadelphia Orchestra will be heard in all six concerts. Eugene Ormandy will conduct the concerts on Thursday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, and on Sunday evening.
Subscribers of record to tickets in Block "A" for the current Choral Union Series may renew their present locations up to January 31. All other tickets will be allocated in sequence. Others with remittances will be accepted and filed in sequence beginning as of December 1.
COMING CONCERTS
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA .... Sunday, November 7 George Szeix, Conductor
Program
Overture to The Bartered Bride......Smetana
Hymn and Fuging Tune No. 3 . . . . Henry Coweix "La Mer," Three Symphonic Sketches .... Debussy Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 ... Tchaikovsky
JORGE BOLET, Pianist......Monday, November IS
Program
Andante con variazioni........Haydn
Sonata in E-flat, Op. 81a.......Beethoven
Sonata in B minor..........Liszt
Scherzo No. 1, B minor, Op. 20 Scherzo No. 2, B-flat minor, Op. 31 Scherzo No. 3, C-sharp minor, Op. 39 Scherzo No. 4, E major, Op. 54
Chopin
LEONARD WARREN, Baritone .... Sunday, November 21
ROBERT SHAW CHORALE AND ORCHESTRA
Robert Shaw, Conductor Monday, December 6
"MESSIAH"........Two Christmas Concerts
First Concert: Saturday, December 4, 8:30 p.m.
Repeat Concert: Sunday, December 5, 2:30 p.m.
Lucine Amara, Soprano Charles Curtis, Tenor
Lillian Chookasian, Contralto Donald Gramm, Bass
University Choral Union and Orchestra
Alice Lungershausen, Harpsichordist
Lester McCoy, Conductor
Tickets: 75 cents and 50 cents--now on sale.
CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Budapest String Quartet .... February 18, 19, 20, 1955
Josef Roisman, Violinist Boris Kroyt, Violist
Jac Gorodetzky, Violinist Mischa Schneider, Cellist
Robert Courte, Guest Violist
Season Tickets: $3.50 and $2.50; Single Concerts: $1.75 and $1.25 Now on sale.
For tickets or for further information, please address: Charles A. Sink, President, University Musical Society, Burton Memorial Tower.