Spring Concert 2022
Tuesday 5 April, 6pm
The Albert Halls, Stirling
Conductor
Natalia Luis-Bassa
Programme Contents
Khachaturian
Gayane: Suites Nos.1-3 – selection Page 8
Borodin
Symphony No.2 in B minor: IV. Finale. Allegro Page 11
Arturo Márquez
Conga del Fuego Nuevo Page 14
Sibelius
Karelia Suite, Op.11 Page 15
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Making music together is about having a good time, having a space to create, inspire and explore everything we need to develop as artists. Playing in an orchestra allows us to create a sound that only belongs to us as an ensemble. That is why we have chosen inclusive, varied and challenging repertoire, which will allow the young musicians to use all their technical abilities, their creativity and, above all, to have fun!
We will start our musical journey with a selection from Armenian composer Khachaturian’s Gayane ballet. We selected its most contrasting numbers. The well-known Sabre Dance will give the musicians a sense of familiarity while the other numbers will allow them to explore creating a powerful effect through quieter dynamics, control and fluidity.
The last movement of Borodin’s Symphony No.2 and Sibelius’s Karelia Suite celebrate lively, dance-inspired melodies, and will bring a real sense of energy to the concert.
We will close our performance with a trip to my native continent, America! Arturo Márquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo will hopefully get you, the audience, on your feet, dancing. We wish to finish the concert with a sense of happiness and success, so let’s dance and celebrate that #WeAreBack.
Natalia Luis-Bassa Conductor
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Welcome
Natalia Luis-Bassa
Conductor
Natalia is a dynamic conductor and a passionate advocate for young musicians’ education, forming partnerships with many institutions like the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain, National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Leeds Conservatoire, Oasby Music Group and most recently with the Benedetti Foundation amongst others. She is also a record breaker as the first person to obtain a degree in Orchestral Conducting in her native country of Venezuela.
After completing her postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London, she held the RCM Junior Fellowship in Opera Conducting for two years. Her relationship with the RCM continues to this day as she is a Professor of Conducting there.
Natalia holds a Master’s degree from the University of Huddersfield where she is a part-time lecturer and has been appointed Elgar Ambassador.
Promoting the conducting craft for young people has been a highlight of her career and she has held many successful workshops around the country.
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Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978)
Gayane: Suites Nos.1-3 – selection
During his lifetime, Khachaturian was considered one of the three great Soviet composers, alongside Shostakovich and Prokofiev, although his music is not performed as often these days. Much of Khachaturian’s career coincided with the totalitarian regime of Joseph Stalin. Culture in the Soviet Union was heavily regulated by the government, and composers risked imprisonment, or worse, if the authorities did not approve of their music.
YEAR OF COMPOSITION 1942
THE WORLD IN 1942...
The World Cup, which Nazi Germany had sought to host, is cancelled as World War 2 enters its third year.
How Green Was My Valley wins Best Picture at the 14th Academy Awards beating Citizen Kane in what is now considered one of the Oscars’ most famous snubs.
Khachaturian himself was denounced in 1948, alongside many other prominent Soviet composers, for writing music that was deemed ‘anti-democratic’ and ‘hostile’ to the Russian people. The communist government wanted to harness the tremendous emotional and social power of music as a form of control. Composers were expected to produce widely accessible works with relatable themes and clear narratives, which could be used to bolster a sense of national unity and pride. Experimentation was strongly discouraged, and many artists struggled against these boundaries.
The ballet Gayane, from which this selection of pieces is taken, was a success when it was premiered in 1942 by the Kirov Ballet who had been evacuated from St Petersburg to Perm due to World War 2. Staged with limited resources and using dancers who happened to be in the vicinity at the time, it was celebrated for demonstrating that art could persevere during difficult times.
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Its beautifully crafted melodies, rousing dance music, and debt to the folk music of Khachaturian’s native Armenia no doubt also contributed to its popular and political success. The haunting ‘Adagio’ movement features in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and influenced the score to the film Aliens.
By Jack Johnson (© NYOS, 2022)
FURTHER LISTENING
Prokofiev – String Quartet No. 2 in F major
Also written in 1942. Prokofiev had been evacuated 900 miles from Moscow, deep into the Soviet countryside, and instructed by the government to write a quartet drawing on the local folk music. The folk influences are clear, but Prokofiev pushes the music’s boundaries further than Khachaturian.
Ballet Trajectory by Lousine Hogtanian
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Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)
Symphony No.2 in B minor: IV. Finale. Allegro
Borodin was a member of ‘The Mighty Handful’, a group of 19th-century composers dedicated to creating a unique Russian style of classical music, drawing on local folk music and harmonies from the Russian Orthodox tradition. His Second Symphony is often regarded as his most successful large-scale symphonic work. It was composed over a seven-year period, during which Borodin also wrote his magnum opus, the opera Prince Igor.
DURATION 10 minutes
YEAR OF COMPOSITION 1869-1876, premiered 1877
THE WORLD IN 1877...
Emile Berliner invents the microphone.
Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record sound.
FURTHER LISTENING
Dvořák – Slavonic Dances Op.46 & 72 These 16 dances, which helped catapult the composer’s career, draw further on the wonderfully rich Slavic dance tradition.
This work is often considered a nostalgic portrait of Ancient Russia, a medieval world of knights and heroic figures, which in a contemporary context might seem romanticised and sanitised. The festive final movement brings the symphony to a celebratory climax, its lively themes inspired by traditional Slavic dances. The celebratory atmosphere is enhanced by the vibrant percussion section - cymbals, triangle, tambourine, and bass drum, which drives the movement to its triumphant end.
By Jack Johnson (© NYOS, 2022)
KEY OF MUSICAL TERMS
Tone poem, or symphonic poem – a piece of orchestral music that depicts or evokes a non-musical source such as a story, an historical event, a painting, or a landscape.
Magnum opus – Latin for ‘great work’, usually refers to what is considered to be an artist’s greatest work, the pinnacle of their achievements.
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First Violin
Rhea Fitzgerald, Edinburgh (Leader)
Adeline Boulet, Crieff
Gavin Bryson, Glasgow
Tiffany Cai, Ayr
Emily Chong, Glasgow
Grace Cooper, Edinburgh
Struan Cottee, Dunbar
Aeronwy Gault, East Dunbartonshire
Eleanor Hanson, Huddersfield
Hailun Hu, Edinburgh
Lara Johnston, Livingston
Lewis O,Keefe, Edinburgh
Ula Seatle, Edinburgh
Ayana Selvarajah, Glasgow
Alina Tang, Glasgow
Becca Ye, Edinburgh
James Yu, Glasgow
Second Violin
Eirene Cai, Edinburgh
Oi Cheng Yuet, Edinburgh
Daria Derevyankin, Tarbert
Xiurong Gong, St Andrews
Caitlin Ke, Glasgow
Anjalie Khan, Edinburgh
Joseph Knapper-Hirst, Glasgow
Owen Lai Pak Ming, Glasgow
Anastazja MacIver, Bridge of Weir
Sandy McCreath, Glasgow
Simon Mercieca, Edinburgh
Isla Rae, Glasgow
Daniel Richardson, Edinburgh
Henry Shulayev-Barnes, Aberdeen
Ramsay Stubbs, Fort William
Jonathan Turner, Aberdeen
Qing Xiao Yang, Edinburgh
Sonia Zhang, Edinburgh
Viola
Hannah Cook, Glasgow
Hannah Gregory, Stirling
Seona McKendrick, Edinburgh
Stephen O,Neill, Edinburgh
Katherine Ross, Glasgow
Cello
Will Archibald, Langholm
Daniel Armstrong, Cupar
Freddy Beeston, Edinburgh
Carla Bonet Brunelli, Edinburgh
Alexandra Casson, Edinburgh
Ross Davis, Lauder
Patrick Fourie, Glasgow
Henry Jones, Newbridge
Olivia MacIver, Bridge of Weir
Jamie McCreath, Glasgow
David Postatny, East Dunbartonshire
Double Bass
Finlay Bryce, Glasgow
Callum Campbell, Glasgow
Gillan Emmott, Rutherglen
Hector Murray, Edinburgh
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Flute
Elizabeth Greenstock, Isle of Lewis
Alistair Hillis, Glasgow
Zuzanna Kujawa, Uddingston
Aurora Margiotta, Edinburgh
Oboe
Alasdair Cottee, Dunbar
Ellie Digger, Glasgow
Esther Kallow, Falkirk
Reuben Scott, Glasgow
Clarinet
Heather Bentley, Glasgow
Megan Fisher, Fearn
Rachel Leung, Glasgow
Rose Veitch, Aberdeen
Bassoon
Reuben Clark, Glasgow
Max Docherty, Glasgow
Theodora Gherghe, Glasgow
Aneesa Phillips, Glasgow
French Horn
Lucy Arbuckle, Glasgow
Magnus Campbell, Glasgow
Darcy Cowie, Stonehaven
Eryn Furie, Ballantrae
Rhona Langford, Glasgow
Trumpet
Emilie Boulet, Crieff
Finlay Brooks, Stirling
Finlay McLuckie, Elgin
Trombone
Ruth de Villiers, Dundee
Angus Freeman, Aberdeen
Lilla Hicks, Helensburgh
Tuba
James Barton-Crawford, Paisley
Alastair Gilmour, Glasgow
Percussion
Nikhil Bollapragada, Glasgow
William Ewins, Edinburgh
Amelia Leishman, Edinburgh
Andrew Rojan, Alloa
Harp
Annabelle Nordmann, Glasgow
Genevieve Nordmann, Glasgow
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Arturo Márquez (b.1950) Conga del Fuego Nuevo
Mexican composer Arturo Márquez, like many of the other composers in this programme, draws on the unique and vibrant rhythms of regional dances, in this instance from Central and South America, to create works that are deeply rooted in place.
DURATION 5 minutes
YEAR OF COMPOSITION 2005
THE WORLD IN 2005...
The first ever YouTube video is uploaded, titled Me at the zoo Surgeons in France carry out the first full human face transplant.
FURTHER LISTENING
Piazzolla – Le Grand Tango
A traditional Argentinian dance turned virtuosic display for cello and piano.
Villa-Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras
No. 4, iv: Danza
A thrilling fusion of Brazilian folk music and the early 18th-century style of Johann Sebastian Bach.
This feverishly energetic work is a conga, a Cuban carnival dance that originated in the 19th century. It is also inspired by the ‘Fuego Nuevo’ – ‘new fire’ ceremony, an Aztec ritual performed once every 52 years to stave off the end of the world. The competing atmospheres, carnival and ritual, conjure a unique atmosphere: joyous, but with an unmistakable current of tension. Aside from a brief moment of calm in the middle of the piece, the pace is relentless and a showcase for the talents of the orchestra.
By Jack Johnson (© NYOS, 2022)
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Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Karelia Suite, Op.11
Sibelius was the first Finnish composer to achieve an international reputation and was highly regarded as a figure of national importance in Finland during his lifetime. He repaid this respect by writing a number of works in the nationalistic spirit, demonstrating a clear love of his homeland, most notably his famous tone poem Finlandia.
DURATION 16 minutes
YEAR OF COMPOSITION 1893
THE WORLD IN 1893...
Rudolf Diesel receives a patent for the diesel engine.
Thomas Edison finishes construction of the first motion picture studio in West Orange, New Jersey.
New Zealand becomes the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
FURTHER LISTENING
Jessie Montgomery – Banner
A reimagining of the concept of ‘national anthems’ for the 21st century.
The Karelia Suite comprises three movements (Intermezzo, Ballade, Alla Marcia) extracted from incidental music commissioned by the Viipuri Students Association as accompaniment to eight tableaux depicting episodes in Karelian history. These were performed at a social event organised to fund-raise for the education of the people of the Viipuri Province (part of Finland from 1812 to 1945). Sibelius wrote this music with its first audience in mind. He adopts a simple folk-like idiom with flashes of grandeur and nobility to reflect both the humble way of life and unwavering patriotism of the local people. Sibelius did this so well that the reception at the premiere was rapturous, the composer remarking ‘you couldn’t hear a single note of the music –everyone was on their feet cheering and clapping’.
By Jack Johnson (© NYOS, 2022)
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PLACES AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER 2022!
The summer school provides outstanding jazz tuition from a carefully selected team of renowned jazz musicians and educators from the UK and beyond, in breathtaking surroundings, on the Isle of Skye. The course is for instrumentalists and vocalists aged between 12 and 21.
Applications open from 19 April to 3 May. To find out more and to apply visit: nyos.co.uk/jazz/jazz-summer-school
YOUR COMFORT AND SAFETY
We are continually assessing the ongoing situation with Covid and monitoring guidance and safety recommendations to ensure that we are providing a safe environment for all participants. The wellbeing of our musicians, audiences and staff is our main priority, so please do get in touch should you have any questions regarding this.
Safety recommendations may include;
Government guidance and safety protocols may change over the coming weeks and months. We recommend that you check these on the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19 before attending any live event.
face coverings Physical distancing Frequent sanitising of common areas
entry to concerts 17
Mandatory
Timed
STATUTORY FUNDING
Creative Scotland Regular Funding
Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative
SPONSORSHIP
John Lewis Partnership
TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS
A M Pilkington Charitable Trust
The AMW Charitable Trust
Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation
A Sinclair Henderson Trust
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Cruden Foundation
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Ecton Trust
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
The Endowment Trust of the National Youth
Orchestras of Scotland
Ernest Cook Trust
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Tay Charitable Trust
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The Turtleton Trust
W A Cargill Fund
Walter Craig Charitable Trust
The Zich Trust
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CONDUCTORS’ CIRCLE
Ms Lindsay Pell and Professor Chris Morris
Professor Marjorie and Dr David Rycroft
NYOS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Principal Chair Sponsors
The Baron of Balvaird Principal Harp
Mrs A M Bennett Double Bass
Mr and Mrs Timothy Laing Piano/Celeste
Geoffrey and Jean Lord Percussion
Mr Michael J Pell Bassoon
Dr Myra Soutar French Horn
St Fillans Music Circle Viola
Chair Sponsors
Kirsty Adam Cello
Charles Arbuthnot
Lord and Lady Cameron of Lochbroom Violin
Colin E Christison Viola
Alan Davis Cello
Dr T and Mrs Y Fitzgerald Violin
Mr Andrew Hadden Violin
Mrs Iain Harrison Cello
Professor David Hamilton Lawson Oboe
Carolyn Lawson Timpani
Duncan and Sarah MacIntyre Violin
The Rt Hon Lord MacLean
Mr and Mrs Thomas McCreery
Mr Robin Pagett and Mrs Kate Longworth
Professor and Mrs Kenneth Paterson
In memory of Ian Robertson Bassoon
Mr and Mrs Mark Seymour
Maureen Simpson Cello
Dr C D and Mrs K A Sinclair
Mr A L Stewart French Horn
Lorna and Patrick Stewart Double Bass
Graham Taylor MBE Trombone
Peter Thierfeldt Double Bass
Mrs Ann Verney Cello
Mr and Mrs R M Williamson
Graeme and Ella Wilson
Dr and Mrs Paul Wilson
NYOS JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Chair Sponsors
Tim and Sally Barraclough Percussion
Theo and Noah Rossi Piano
NYOS JUNIOR ORCHESTRA
Leader Chair Sponsor
Alan and Jan Simpson
Principal Chair Sponsor
Dr Myra Soutar Second Violin
HONORARY CHAIR SPONSORS
In memory of Richard Chester MBE
Sarah Chester
We are incredibly grateful to all our Sponsors and Funders listed above for their continued support. NYOS also acknowledges those who wish to remain anonymous.
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Professor and Mrs Andrew Bain
Sandra Bale
Mr Douglas Burke
Mr Graham Bygrave
Kevin and Linda Clarke
Dr Joseph Coleiro
Mrs R Coleman
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Mr and Mrs A Craig Duncan
The Countess of Elgin and Kincardine
Janey and Leslie Fleming
Mr Malcolm Fleming
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Dr and Mrs Warren Luke
Professor M A Lumsden
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Mr and Mrs D McVicar
Mr and Mrs Neil G Meldrum
Mr Allan Murray
Mr David A J Noble
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Simon and Lesley Paterson
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We are incredibly grateful to all our Friends and supporters listed for their continued support, and to those who wish to remain anonymous.
DONATE HERE
Or visit: www.nyos.co.uk/support/
Please consider making a donation today so we can continue to support Scotland’s wonderful young musicians.
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Course Staff, NYOS Staff
& Tutors
Course Staff
Helen Douthwaite Course Manager
Pete Deane Orchestra Logistics
Tutors
Roddy Long First Violin and Strings
Simon Graham Second Violin
Shelagh McKail Viola
Miranda Phythian-Adams Cello
May Halyburton Double Bass
Lis Dooner Flute
Fraser Kelman Oboe
Andy Langford Clarinet and Wind
Bec Roberts Bassoon
Steve Cowling French Horn and Brass
Andrew Connell-Smith Trumpet
Andrew Foden Trombone
John-Paul O’Hagan Tuba
Calum Huggan Percussion
Helen Thomson Harp
Pastoral Team
Yla Garvie Head
Eleanor Macqueen
Anne Moynihan
Lorna Murray
Liam Orr
Andrew Vettraino
Scott Whitefield
Office Staff
Kirsteen Davidson Kelly Chief Executive
Jacqueline Rossi Head of Development
Jack Johnson
Development Manager
Anthony Coia
Marketing & Communications Manager
Judith Archibald Head of Ensembles
Helen Douthwaite
Classical Ensembles Manager
Jill Dykes
Jazz Ensembles & Outreach Manager
Gaynor Gowman Ensembles Co-ordinator
Hayley Gough Administration Manager
Amy Cook
Projects Assistant
Nicole Bull Finance Officer
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
SUNDAY 10 APRIL, 7PM
NYOS Senior Orchestra
New Auditorium, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
T: 0141 353 8000
W: glasgowconcerthalls.com
FRIDAY 15 APRIL, 7.30PM
NYOS Symphony Orchestra
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
T: 0131 228 1155
W: usherhall.co.uk
SATURDAY 16 APRIL, 7.30PM
NYOS Symphony Orchestra
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
T: 0141 353 8000
W: glasgowconcerthalls.com
SATURDAY 23 APRIL, 7.30PM
NYOS Futures (G-Jazz)
Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow
T: 0141 352 4900
W: https://www.cca-glasgow.com
FRIDAY 8 JULY, 8PM
NYOS Jazz Orchestra
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye
T: 01471 844207
W: seall.co.uk
SATURDAY 9 JULY, 8PM
NYOS Jazz Orchestra
Nairn Community & Arts Centre
T: 01667 453476
W: nairncc.co.uk
SUNDAY 10 JULY, 8PM
NYOS Jazz Orchestra
Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
T: 01224 641122
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MONDAY 11 JULY, 8PM
NYOS Jazz Orchestra
Tolbooth, Stirling
T: 01786 274000
W: stirlingevents.org/tolbooth-event
FRIDAY 15 JULY, 6PM
NYOS Junior Orchestra
Perth Concert Hall
T: 01738 621031
W: horsecross.co.uk
FRIDAY 29 JULY, 7PM
NYOS Senior Orchestra
Ayr Town Hall
T: 01292 288235
W: thegaiety.co.uk
THURSDAY 4 AUGUST, 7.30PM
NYOS Symphony Orchestra
Music Hall, Aberdeen
T: 01224 641122
W: aberdeenperformingarts.com
FRIDAY 5 AUGUST, 7.30PM
NYOS Symphony Orchestra
Caird Hall, Dundee
T: 01382 434940
W: leisureandculturedundee.com
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