UMS Concert Program, November 18, 1984: Romanian National Choir --

Season: 106th
Concert: Thirty-sixth
Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

THE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Romanian National Choir
MARIN CONSTANTIN Artistic Director and Conductor
Sunday Afternoon, November 18, 1984, at 4:00 Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
Part I From the Renaissance and Elizabethan Repertory
Madonna mia cara......................................Orlando di Lasso
(1531-1594)
This serenade depicts the sincere, naive love of a young German soldier for a beautiful Italian girl.
Avc Maria................................. Tomaso Lodovico da Vittoria
(1548-1611) An inspired motet of the Spanish Renaissance school.
Ecco mormorar l'onde............................... Claudio Monteverdi
(Listen to the murmuring waves) (1567-1643)
At the height of the Italian Renaissance, Monteverdi demonstrated great skill in poly?phonic composition; this five-part madrigal is one example.
II est bel................................................ Pierre Passereau
(He is beautiful) Jl. 1509-1547)
The canon form of this composition is in the style of typical French humor and charm.
Thirty-sixth Concert of the 106th Season Twenty-second Annual Chamber Arts Scries
I vaghi fiori.............................. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
(Flowers of delight) (1525-1594)
This Italian madrigal is in two contrasting parts: optimism in nature and love, and sadness and resignation, prompted by unrequited love.
Weep o mine eyes...........................................John Bennett
(jl. 1599-1614)
Typical of the dark colors of English music of his day, this piece contains surprising polyphonic and harmonic solutions.
Greensleevcs................................................... Traditional
Exultate Deo....................................... Alessandro Scaulatti
(Give praise to God) (1660-1725)
INTERMISSION
Part II
Contemporary, Romantic, and Traditional Music
Chindia............................................ Alexandru Pascanu
(;. 1920) This composition is a refined Romanian "joke," written by a virtuoso for virtuoso singers.
Aghios O Theos................................................. Filothei
Eremia Stere, Soloist
A monody of Byzantine origin, one of the sources of Romanian musical treasures, this piece requires a vocal technique different from other musical genres.
Divertissement-Variations on Schubert's "The Trout"..........Franz Schuggl
The composer takes the leading theme of Franz Schubert's famous song, making several choral variations in various styles.
Theme
In the style of Mozart
In the style of Beethoven .
In the style of Karl Maria von Weber
In the style of Wagner
In the Italian style
In the Russian style
In the style of Franz Liszt
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot........................................ Spiritual
Arranged by Robert Shaw
O Holy Night............................................... Adolf Adam
(1803-1856)
INTERMISSION
Part III
Folk Arrangements, Old and New
Pan-pipes and Alpenhorns............................... Mahai Moldovan
(1937-1981) A brief illustration of pastoral instruments depicted by human voices.
Chorus from Horea.......................................Nicolae Bretan
(1887-1968)
From the Romanian opera, a song of grief whose authenticity and modal charm give it a particular beauty.
Sirba.................................................. Gheoughe Danga
(1905-1959)
This traditional dance, performed at celebrations throughout Romania, depicts the Carpathian temperament and vigor.
Ritual for the Thirst of the Land...............................Miriam Marbe
(b. 1931)
This piece is a presentation of the ancient Romanian custom of praying for rain in times of drought and of the frenzied joy when rainfall comes. It is written in contemporary style utilizing the chorus, soloists, and percussion, with the performers spaced in order to involve the audience in this ceremonial process.
Tara Oasului.................................................. Dariu Poi
(1887-1965)
A suite consisting of songs and dances from Romania's northern regions that arc abundant with varied and special folklore, this work blends sweet lyric harmonies and forceful vigor.
America, the Beautiful ...................................... Samuel Ward
(d. 1903)
About the Artists
The Romanian National Choir was founded in 1963 by its present conductor, Marin Constantin, and is composed entirely of the best students and graduates of the Bucharest Conservatory. Participation in the 1964 George Enescu International Festival in Bucharest launched the Choir on its way to widespread success at major music festivals and international competitions, over one hundred foreign tours, and dozens of recordings, television and radio broadcasts, and films. Heading its long list of festivals arc the Prague Spring Festival, Handel International Festival of Halle, Zagreb Festival of Contemporary Music, and the UNICEF Gala in Paris. The ensemble now makes up to ten tours each year, performing for audiences in the United States, Great Britain, Eastern and Western Europe, and the Soviet Union.
From the beginning, the Choir has promoted Renaissance music, each year enlarging its repertory to include Romanian folk music, music from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras, and twentieth century music. Many modern composers have dedicated works to the ensemble.
Marin Constantin, founderdirector of the Choir, has brought his ensemble through its twenty-year history to its present position of esteem. Born in 1925, Mr. Constantin studied philosophy and music at the Bucharest Conservatory. While a student, he conducted several student choral ensembles, and in 1951 he became conductor of the Youth Artistic Ensemble. He went on to score outstanding successes at the World Youth and Students Festivals in Bucharest, Warsaw, Moscow, Vienna, and Helsinki. As an eminent conductor, composer, and professor, he was awarded his country's coveted title of Merited Artist.
Both Mr. Constantin and the Choir performed in Ann Arbor in 1969. This is their first American tour since then.
Coming Concerts
American Ballet Theatre II......................... (eve.) Sun. Nov. 18
Handel's Messiah I Donald Bryant............Fri.-Sun. Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2
University Choral Union and soloists, University Orchestra members
Vienna Choir Boys.........................................Sun. Dec. 9
Britten: Excerpts from A Ceremony of Carols; Offenbach: Operetta, Monsieur and Madame Denis;). Strauss: Polkas and Waltzes; music of Eybler, Palestrina, Schubert, and Schumann; Folksongs
Pittsburgh Ballet, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker........... Fri.-Sun. Dec. 14-16
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Pianist................................Tues. Jan. 15
Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme by Corelli, and Six Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 39; Chopin: Ballade No. 4, Nocturnes Op. 48, Nos. 1 and 2, Impromptu No. 3, Op. 51, Scherzo No. 3
Music from Marlboro.....................................Wed. Jan. 23
Mozart: Piano Trio in C, K. 548; Beethoven: String Trio in G, Op. 9, No. 1; Dvorak: Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op. 87
Balletap USA............................................. Sun. Jan. 27
Prague Symphony Jiri Belohlavek..........................Sat. Feb. 2
Festival Chorus and soloists Dvorak: Cantata, The Spectre's Bride
Feld Ballet.......................................... Fri., Sat. Feb. 8, 9
Guarneri String Quartet.................................. Sun. Feb. 10
Beethoven: Quartets Op. 18, No. 3, Op. 95, and Op. 132
Katia & Marielle Labeque, Duo-pianists...................... Sun. Feb. 17
Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn; Stravinsky: Concerto for Two Pianos; Ravel: Ma Mere l'Oyc; Gershwin: An American in Paris
Royal Philharmonic Yehudi Menuhin................... Tues. Feb. 19
Rossini: La Gazza Ladra Overture; Delius: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring; Elgar: Enigma Variations; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique"
New York City Opera National Company.................Tues. Mar. 5
Verdi's Rigoletto
Kodo.....................................................Thurs. Mar. 7
St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble............................... Fri. Mar. 8
Paul Badura-Skoda, Pianist................................ Sun. Mar. 10
Academy of Ancient Music..............................Thurs. Mar. 14
Christopher Hogwood, Conductor; Emma Kirkuy, Soprano; David Thomas, Bass Handel: Water Music, and Cantata, Daphnis et Chloe
National Symphony Mstislav Rostropovich.............Wed. Mar. 20
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4; Shostakovich: Symphony No.5
Faculty Artists Concert................................. Sun. Mar. 24
Sherrill Milnes, Baritone.................................... Fri. Mar. 29
Polish Chamber Orchestra..............................Thurs. Apr. 18
May Festival........................................ Wed.-Sat. May 1-4
On Friday, March 8, at 8:30, this New York ensemble will perform in Rackham Auditorium, replacing I Fiamminghi in the Chamber Arts Scries. Created by Michael Feldman, Artistic Director, the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble has performed from the Church of St. Luke's to Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, and in summer it is in residence at the Caramoor Music Festival. The group is, in the words of John Rockwell, New York Times, "as good an ensemble as we have in New York City." Now broadening their audiences, they come to Ann Arbor with a program revealing their wide range of repertoire -a Mozart Divertimento, Ellen Taafc Zwilich's Double String Quartet, and Mendelssohn's Octet (for double string quartet). Tickets are available from $5 to $10.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Burton Memorial Tower, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Phones: (313) 665-3717, 764-2538