May 23-24 & May 30-31, 2008 Hampden-Sydney, Virginia Ethan Sloane, Artistic Director
Harlan L. Horton, Esq. Kristin W. Gee, Esq. Proud sponsors of the twenty-seventh season of the
Hampden-Sydney Music Festival
113-B East Second Street • Post Office Box 605 Farmville, Virginia 23901 434.391.1014 • fax 434.391.1016 hlhesq@kinex.net
Ethan Sloane, Artistic Director James Kidd, Executive Director
2008 FESTIVAL ARTISTS Toby Appel, viola Shmuel Ashkenasi, violin Marc Johnson, cello James Kidd, piano Ethan Sloane, clarinet James Tocco, piano William Wolfram, piano Amernet String Quartet
2008 Concert Schedule
all concerts are in crawley forum Friday, May 23 Artist Fellows Prelude Performance, 7 pm
ARTIST CONCERT, 8 PM Messrs. Appel, Ashkenasi, Johnson, Sloane, & Wolfram
Saturday, May 24 Artist Fellows Prelude Performance, 7 pm
ARTIST CONCERT, 8 PM Messrs. Appel, Ashkenasi, Kidd, Johnson, Sloane, & Wolfram
Friday, May 30 Artist Fellows Prelude Performance, 7 pm
ARTIST CONCERT, 8 PM Messrs. Kidd, Sloane, Tocco, & the Amernet String Quartet
Saturday, May 31 Artist Fellows Prelude Performance, 7 pm
ARTIST CONCERT, 8 PM Messrs. Sloane, Tocco, & the Amernet String Quartet
Artist Fellows Concerts (Free, 7:30 pm) Thursday, May 22 & 29 The box office opens at 6:30 pm. Single concert admission in advance is $18 for adults, $15 for students and senior citizens. Admission at the door is $20 for adults, and $17 for students and senior citizens. Season subscription rates are $65 for adults, $55 for students and senior citizens. Prelude Performances are open to all ticket-holders. To reserve tickets call (434) 223-6273.
Board of Directors Mrs. Nina Conway, Chairman Mr. Kevyn Arthur Mrs. Augusta Arthur Mrs. Shirley V. Blackwell Mrs. Lorraine Bortz Dr. Jameson George Buston II ’58 Mr. Charles Y. Caldwell III ’71 Dr. Edmond Conway Mrs. Candice J. Dowdy Dr. Keith W. Fitch Dr. Stephen Goldberger
Dr. James C. Kidd Dr. Charles E. Kinzer Dr. Patricia D. Lust Mr. Dudley H. Marks ’77 Mrs. Farah Marks Dr. Anthony J. Muñoz Dr. Ethan Sloane Mr. L. Rucker Snead III ’81 Mr. David E. Thomason Mrs. Tory Wade
Administrative Staff Dr. Ethan Sloane, Artistic Director Dr. James C. Kidd, Executive Director Dr. Richard Kay, Managing Director Dr. Keith W. Fitch, Assistant Managing Director Mrs. Tracy Kay, Executive Assistant Mrs. Sandra P. Cooke, College Events Dr. Richard C. McClintock, Publications Mr. Stephen O. Muskie, Graphic Designer Mr. Thomas H. Shomo ’69, Public Relations Mrs. Carol Fitch, Box Office Mrs. Norma S. Kernodle, Ticket Reservations Mr. Mark Perry, Piano Technician Mr. Harold Thompson, Audio Engineer Edward M. Bartholomew II ’09, Festival Intern
The flowers this are evening The flowers in Crawley Forum the generous gift of are the generous gift of CARTER’S FLOWER SHOP CARTERS FLOWER SHOP THIRD STREET, Virginia FARMVILLE Farmville,
Special Contributors All of us associated with the Music Festival hope that you enjoy these concerts, and we look forward to your being with us in the coming years. We are very grateful to the following individuals, corporations, and foundations whose generous contributions have made the Festival possible this year. Less than half of the necessary funds for the operation of the Festival, including the Artist Fellowship Program, comes from ticket sales and the Music-Lovers’ Weekends program. Continuing support is needed in order to bring you the high-quality programs that have become a characteristic of the Festival. Contributions should be made payable to the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival. This list recognizes all gifts received before April 30, 2008.
2008 Music Festival Donors DONORS TO THE MUSIC FESTIVAL ENDOWMENT SINCE INCEPTION Ms. Ann H. Archer & Mr. Harold Carle Drs. Richard & Janet Armstrong Ms. Virginia A. Arnold Mrs. Shirley V. Blackwell Dr. & Mrs. Walter M. Bortz III Dr. O. Christian Bredrup, Jr. ’56 Mr. & Mrs. Rudolph H. Bunzl Dr. & Mrs. Jameson George Buston II ’58 Mr. & Mrs. Francis L. Church Dr. & Mrs. Edmond C. Conway Dr. & Mrs. William F. Dorrill Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Dowdy III EMBARQ Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Ewald III '61 Mr. Jules Eskin Dr. & Mrs. Keith William Fitch Mr. J. Edwin Givens Mr. & Mrs. Lowry F. Kline Mrs. Sandra S. Lebowitz Liphart Steel Dr. Patricia D. Lust Mr. & Mrs. Dudley H. Marks ’77 Mr. & Mrs. Henry H. McVey III ’57 Dr. Anthony J. Muñoz Mr. Alexander M. Newmark Norfolk Southern Foundation (Matching gift of Mr. & Mrs. F. Blair Wimbush) John & Lydia Peale Mr. & Mrs. John Gurganey Overstreet ’69
Estate of Edmund A. Rennolds, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Rucker Snead III ’81 Sprint The Town of Farmville Mr. & Mrs. F. Blair Wimbush W.M. Jordan Dr. Michael Wray CONCERT GRAND ($2,500+) Mr. & Mrs. Henry H. McVey III ’57 VIRTUOSO ($1,000-$2,499) Dr. & Mrs. Walter M. Bortz III Dr. & Mrs. Keith William Fitch BENEFACTOR ($750-$999) Mr. Raymond B. Bottom, Jr. ’51 Mr. & Mrs. Francis L. Church Dr. & Mrs. Edmond C. Conway Mr. J. Edwin Givens MUSIC LOVER ($500-$749) Ms. Virginia A. Arnold Dr. & Mrs. Jameson George Buston II ’58 Mr. & Mrs. Charles Y. Caldwell III ’71 Dr. & Mrs. William F. Dorrill Mr. Robert G. Mitchell
Dr. Anthony J. Muñoz Dr. & Mrs. William W. Porterfield Dr. Herbert J. Sipe, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Donald P. Whitley ’59 SUSTAINER ($200-$499) Dr. & Mrs. Richard H. Armstrong Dr. & Mrs. Patrick G. Barber Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Dowdy III Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Ewald III ’61 Mr. Joseph Fainberg Mr. & Mrs. William C. Gay ’73 Drs. Charles E. & Lisa Kinzer Mr. & Mrs. C. Norman Krueger Land America Financial Group (Matching gift of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Y. Caldwell III ’71) Dr. Patricia D. Lust Mr. & Mrs. David J. McKittrick ’67 Dr. & Mrs. Ellery Sedgwick Mr. Thomas H. Shomo ’69 Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Rucker Snead III ’81 David & Brenda Thomason Dr. & Mrs. Robert Wade ’91 Dr. & Mrs. William T. Wilkins Mr. & Mrs. F. Blair Wimbush FRIEND (Up to $199) Mr. Paul Antal Mr. & Mrs. Kevyn Arthur Mr. & Mrs. Terry Babbitt Miss M. Ellen Bailey Mrs. Teresa Banyas Dr. R. Nels Beck Mr. & Mrs. J. P. McGuire Boyd ’64 Mr. & Mrs. James N. Boyd ’58 Mr. & Mrs. Calvin J. Boyer Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Brickhouse Mr. & Mrs. Winston B. Davis Dr. & Mrs. Michael J. Dougherty Dr. & Mrs. Lewis Harrison Drew ’60 Ms. Constance J. Eldridge Ellington Energy Services, Inc. Ms. Anne Mason Field Dr. & Mrs. William L. Frank Mr. & Mrs. Forrest L. Gager, Jr. Ms. Anita Holmes Garland
Brig. General & Mrs. Tolber T. Gentry Dr. Stephen H. Goldberger Mr. & Mrs. Kossen Gregory ’42 Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Hill Mr. Thomas L. Holzman Mr. Eric Jacobson Mr. & Mrs. Roy Cliff Jenkins, Jr. Mr. N. C. Jones James & Teri Kidd Mr. & Mrs. E. Preston Lancaster, Jr. Mrs. Sandra S. Lebowitz Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert B. Lessenco Ms. Martha Pennington Louis Dr. & Mrs. Richard McClintock Mr. Arnold Moore & Ms. Joan Hartman Moore Ms. Frieda E. Myers Mr. Alexander M. Newmark Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation (Matching gift of Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Dowdy III) Miss Alicia Novey Mr. & Mrs. Neil F. O’Donohue Dr. & Mrs. Jerry C. Pickrel Dr. & Mrs. James F. Pontuso Dr. & Mrs. James J. H. Price ’59 Mr. Jean H. Raas Ms. Paula A. Romaine Dr. & Mrs. William Albert Shear Mr. & Mrs. Alexander C. Short Mr. & Mrs. Brent A. Slaughter Dr. Ethan Sloane Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Smigel Mr. Joseph P. Stenson Mr. & Mrs. William Charles Thompson ’66 The Reverend Dr. & Mrs. William E. Thompson Dr. C. Wayne Tucker Wachovia Bank Dr. & Mrs. Walter R. T. Witschey DONORS TO THE JAMES C. KIDD MUSIC FESTIVAL PIANO CHAIR ENDOWMENT Mrs. Shirley V. Blackwell Dr. & Mrs. Walter M. Bortz III Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Dowdy III Mr. & Mrs. Lowry F. Kline Dr. Patricia D. Lust
Artist Concert Friday, May 23 Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, op. 83 I. Andante con moto II. Andante: Roumanian Melody III. Moderato
Max Bruch (1838-1920)
Messrs. Sloane, Appel, & Wolfram String Trio no. 1 in E-flat major, op. 3 I. Allegro con brio II. Andante III. Menuetto: Allegretto IV. Adagio V. Menuetto: Moderato VI. Finale: Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Messrs. Ashkenasi, Appel, & Johnson intermission Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor, op. 25 I. Allegro II. Intermezzo: Allegro ma non troppo III. Andante con moto IV. Rondo alla Zingarese: Presto
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Messrs. Wolfram, Ashkenasi, Appel, & Johnson A Prelude Performance by players in the Artist Fellowship Program, at 7 PM, is open to all ticket holders. Patrons are requested to turn off all cell phones and signal watches. Thank you. Recording devices and cameras are not permitted.
Program Notes Friday, May 23 Max Bruch was prolific in large orchestral and vocal forms, noted for his Scottish Fantasy, Kol Nidrei for cello and orchestra, and his G-minor Violin Concerto. Nicholas Slonimsky describes him as “a master of harmony, counterpoint, and instrumentation,” certainly demonstrated in these three movements from his Eight Pieces. Arthur Cohn, not given to hyperbole in his major four-volume study of chamber music, writes that the sounds in these three Romantic character pieces “are rich and golden brown, bathing in warm melodies and harmonies.” In this early work, Beethoven meets the challenge of writing for string trio—the listener never misses the fourth voice provided in a string quartet. An explosive opening with dramatic silences leads into an extended design in the first movement, as this young, gifted, and confident composer stretches his wings. High contrasts in dynamics and phrase motion, for which he became famous, are already present, with expressive legato playing against driving rhythmic passages. The second movement grows out of the opening repeated notes and three-note upbeat figure that he used throughout his career (most famously opening the 5th Symphony). There is much imitative dialogue in this dance-like movement. The Adagio fourth movement is second longest, with its sustained and expressive lines, internal dialogues, and each instrument having its say. The six-movement format with two minuet movements reflects the popularity of the Viennese divertimento. Beethoven often loved to have the musical locomotive begin slowly. That’s the case with the finale, but once up to speed, the forward momentum never slackens. Brahms composed the first of his three piano quartets in 1860 with the expressive power of Beethoven certainly in mind. Cobbett, in his chamber music survey, writes that “the first movement is one of the most original and impressive tragic compositions since the first movement of Beethoven’s ninth symphony.” Maurice Hinson calls it simply “one of the most exciting pieces in all chamber music literature.” The Intermezzo movement, like his character pieces for piano of the same title, has a unique delicacy, and the final “Hungarian” Rondo is one of the sources of this work’s well-deserved popularity. Chamber music writing of the highest order. Notes by James C. Kidd
ARTIST CONCERT Saturday, May 24 Romanza for Clarinet and Piano
Max Reger (1873-1916)
Canzonetta for Clarinet and Piano, op. 19
Gabriel Pierné (1863-1937)
Messrs. Sloane & Kidd Four Romantic Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 75 I. Allegro moderato II. Allegro maestoso III. Allegro appassionato IV. Larghetto
Antonin Dvorˇák (1841-1904)
Messrs. Ashkenasi & Kidd Sonata for Cello and Piano I. Prologue – Lent II. Sérénade – Modérément animé III. Finale – Animé
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Messrs. Johnson & Wolfram Reminiscences of Donizetti’s ‘Lucrezia Borgia’
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Mr. Wolfram intermission Piano Quartet in E-flat major, op. 47 I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo II. Scherzo: Molto vivace III. Andante cantabile IV. Finale: Vivace
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Messrs. Wolfram, Ashkenasi, Appel, & Johnson A Prelude Performance by players in the Artist Fellowship Program, at 7 PM, is open to all ticket holders. Patrons are requested to turn off all cell phones and signal watches. Thank you. Recording devices and cameras are not permitted.
Program Notes Saturday, May 24 Max Reger developed a musical language darkly chromatic, often brooding and bittersweet. The romanze is almost an aria, intensely expressive and reflecting Brahms in its rhythmic patterns and phrasing. Gabriel Pierné studied composition with Jules Massenet and organ with César Franck, whom he succeeded as organist at Ste.-Clothilde. His Canzonetta (the term denotes a short, dance-like vocal piece, light in character) of 1910 opens with a jaunty, cheerful theme in the clarinet which yields to a new theme of more thoughtful character that is developed with sweeping passage-work. The two themes continue to interact. Dvorˇák originally conceived this work for two violins and one viola, but he rewrote it for violin and piano in 1887 with the title “Four Romantic Pieces.” The original movement titles suggest the contrasts in mood: Cavatina, Capriccio, Romanza, and Elegia. It is interesting that he chose to end the four pieces with the quietest and most contemplative movement. Debussy’s Cello Sonata of 1915 is one of the great works for this combination. The opening movement conveys both steely Spanish passion and great tenderness. The cello plays the “serenade” almost completely pizzicato (plucked strings without the use of the bow) in a dialogue with the piano, then without pause they charge headlong into the finale. This extraordinary piece shows the “impressionist” Debussy in quite a new light. Franz Liszt, one of the most celebrated virtuosi in the history of the piano, the 19th-century equivalent of a rock star, created brilliant transcriptions for the piano, including Beethoven symphonies, Schubert Lieder, and scenes from opera. He would often improvise a “fantasy” in concert on operatic tunes of his (and sometimes the audience’s) choice. We have the pleasure of hearing Donizetti’s music and Liszt’s evocative and imaginative responses to it. Robert Schumann, one of the founders of the German Romantic style, devoted himself almost exclusively to the piano before turning to chamber music at the age of 32. The E-flat Piano Quartet was completed in 1845, shortly after the Piano Quintet. (Incidentally, Mendelssohn played the first performance of the Piano Quintet, and Niels Gade was the violist for the first performance of the Piano Quartet in Leipzig.) Maurice Hinson calls the Piano Quartet “one of the most important works in the literature for this combination.” Notes by James C. Kidd
ARTIST CONCERT Friday, May 30 Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, op. 43 I. Andantino con moto II. Allegro vivace III. Ballade: Moderato IV. Allegro molto vivace
Niels Gade (1817-1890)
Messrs. Sloane & Kidd Piano Quintet in A major, K. 414 I. Allegro II. Andante III. Rondeau: Allegretto
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Mr. Tocco and the Amernet String Quartet intermission Piano Quintet (1931) I. Allegro con spirito II. Adagio III. Allegro
Vittorio Giannini (1903-1966)
Mr. Tocco and the Amernet String Quartet
A Prelude Performance by players in the Artist Fellowship Program, at 7 PM, is open to all ticket holders. Patrons are requested to turn off all cell phones and signal watches. Thank you. Recording devices and cameras are not permitted.
PROGRAM NOTES Friday, May 30 Niels Gade’s Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano were published in 1864. Gade is a less-familiar name, though he was the most celebrated Danish composer of his time, and a pioneer of Scandinavian romanticism, much influenced by Schumann and Mendelssohn. Although composing in the German Romantic tradition, Gade’s music, like that of Grieg, has a sense of poetry and national flavor that sets it apart. Gade was also enormously influential as conductor and teacher. There is little pause between movements, and the leisurely opening section of the ballade movement alternates with an exciting allegro agitato section. Take away all his music but the operas and the piano concertos, and Mozart remains one of the great composers. The Piano Quintet is his arrangement for piano and string quartet of the Piano Concerto no. 12 in A major, composed in 1782 and 1783 shortly after he had moved to Vienna. As he wrote his publisher in Paris: “… I have three piano concertos ready, which can be performed with full orchestra, that is to say with oboes and horns, or merely a quattro.” The A-major concerto was one of the three. A graciousness and quiet sense of affirmation pervades this piece, beginning with the gorgeous opening theme and its development. The second-movement Andante theme (in major mode) is also beautifully poised, growing subtly in emotional urgency and then cadencing quietly. A poignant section in the minor mode provides solemn contrast, but the extended, unbroken lines and spiritual calm, including a time-stands-still cadenza, predominate. The playful and exhilarating final movement never loses its sense of dignity. Vittorio Giannini has an unexpected connection with our region. He was born in Philadelphia to a very musical family. His father was a tenor, his mother a violinist, and his sister became a prominent soprano, singing Aida at the Metropolitan later in her international career. So it was natural that he went to the Milan Conservatory for four years of initial study followed by five years of study at the Juilliard School where he later became a distinguished professor of composition and orchestration. He concluded his career as director of the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. The Piano Quintet of 1931 beautifully illustrates the evaluation of his style in The New Grove, that “he remained a neo-Romantic, having links with the chamber music style of Brahms and Fauré. In texture and form, which he handled with mastery, he drew on Baroque models.” Notes by James C. Kidd
ARTIST CONCERT Saturday, May 31 Quartet in E-flat major for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, and Cello, op. 8, no. 4 I. Allegro II. Andante III. Allegro
Carl Stamitz (1746-1801)
Mr. Sloane and members of the Amernet String Quartet String Quartet no. 3, Sz. 85 (1927) Prima parte: Moderato – attacca Secunda parte: Allegro – attacca Ricapitulazione della prima parte: Moderato Coda: Allegro molto
Béla Bartók (1881-1945)
The Amernet String Quartet intermission Piano Quintet in F minor (1879) I. Molto moderato quasi lento – Allegro II. Lento, con molto sentimento III. Allegro non troppo, ma con fuoco
César Franck (1822-1890)
Mr. Tocco & the Amernet String Quartet
A Prelude Performance by players in the Artist Fellowship Program, at 7 PM, is open to all ticket holders. Patrons are requested to turn off all cell phones and signal watches. Thank you. Recording devices and cameras are not permitted.
PROGRAM NOTES Saturday, May 31 Carl Stamitz came from an old and distinguished Bohemian family of musicians, most of whom made their careers in Germany. He was born in Mannheim, the home of one of the most celebrated orchestras in Europe which had attracted a group of composers. As a student of his father, Johann, he learned to compose and as an accomplished string player became a member of the orchestra. The New Grove describes him as “a leading member of the second generation of Mannheim orchestral composers, a widely traveled performer and a major contributor to the literature of the symphonie concertante.” In 1770, he went to Paris, where the E-flat Quartet was composed in 1773. Drawing on his background and experience with the virtuosic Mannheim orchestra, his quartet exhibits fluency, lyricism, and a good deal of brilliant writing. Bartók’s six string quartets are considered, alongside Beethoven’s, one of the great sets. Halsey Stevens writes, “The Third Quartet is both the shortest and the most intense of Bartók’s works in the form…. Here Bartók’s motivic technique is seen approaching its highest point. For practical purposes there are only two or three separate motives in the work; all the rest constitutes manipulation of these few. In one continuous movement, the Third Quartet is divided into four sections of varying character…. Here for the first time are to be perceived elements of the arch-form which was to condition so much of Bartók’s architecture for so many years: the first and third sections sharing materials, and acting as piers of the arch of which the second section is the keystone.” Franck’s F-minor Piano Quintet was composed in 1878, with its first performance at a concert of the Société Nationale de Musique, January 17, 1880, by the Marsick Quartet and Saint-Saëns at the piano. Franck was so moved by Saint-Saëns’s performance, he gave him the score and dedicated the work to him on the spot. From an architectural point of view, the piece is famous because it is “cyclical,” meaning that the same theme in various guises appears in all three movements. His friend and contemporary, composer Vincent d’Indy, wrote that “the beauty of the themes and the masterly skill with which Franck’s architecture displays them make of the F minor quintet a monument of imperishable grandeur and strength.” Maurice Hinson judges it to be “one of the three or four greatest works in the form; it represents the epitome in musical expression of which the combination is capable.” Notes by James C. Kidd
2008 Festival Artists Ethan Sloane, clarinet Artistic Director of the Music Festival Ethan Sloane enjoys a prominent career as performer, teacher, and arts administrator. As soloist and recitalist he has appeared extensively throughout North America, and in Europe and Asia. Much in demand in chamber music, Mr. Sloane is co-founder and artistic director of the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival, where he appears regularly and has produced recordings both on CD and for National Public Radio. His solo and chamber music recordings for Crystal Records and Musique Internationale have earned critical acclaim, and his editions of masterworks by Brahms and Mozart have also received wide acceptance. Recent appearances include Bargemusic and Maverick Concerts in New York, and Music Mountain in Connecticut. A prize-winner in numerous competitions, he has been artist-participant at the Marlboro Music Festival and is the founder of a seminar for clarinetists at Tanglewood that has attracted international attention. Since 1984 Mr. Sloane has been Professor of Music at Boston University, College of Fine Arts.
James Kidd, piano Executive Director of the Music Festival Mr. Kidd, co-founder of the Music Festival, was pianist in Ralph Shapey’s Contemporary Chamber Players while doing doctoral work at the University of Chicago, in the Delaware Trio, and in the Buffet Trio for 21 years with clarinetist Stuart Best and French-system bassoonist Charles Holdeman. His deep interest in Hungarian music led to study of the magyar bagpipe and peasant flute on his many trips to Hungary. He is Barger Professor of Music at Hampden-Sydney College.
Toby Appel, violin and viola Since entering the Curtis Institute at age thirteen, violinist and violist Toby Appel has been a member of TASHI, the Lenox and Audubon quartets, guest artist with renowned ensembles, including the Vermeer Quartet, the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, and with jazz artists Chick Corea and Gary Burton. A frequent commentator on NPR, he appears at major festivals in the U.S. and in Europe, and is on the faculties of the Juilliard School, Carnegie Mellon University, and Rutgers University.
shmuel ashkenasi, violin Violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi, a student of the legendary Ilona Feher, and of Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis Institute, won top prizes in the Tchaikovsky, Queen Elisabeth, and Merriweather Post competitions. He tours extensively as recitalist and soloist with major orchestras of the world, and until recently as first violinist of the renowned Vermeer Quartet which he helped found in 1969 at the Marlboro Festival, recently retired as an ensemble. Mr. Ashkenasi serves as Professor of Violin at Chicago’s Roosevelt University and at Lübeck’s Musikhochschule.
marc johnson, cello Cellist Marc Johnson, after study at the Eastman School, continued at Indiana University with Janos Starker and Josef Gingold. The youngest member of the Rochester Philharmonic at age eighteen, he later joined the Pittsburgh Symphony. Then, for thirty-five years as cellist of the renowned Vermeer Quartet, he appeared regularly on five continents. With pianist Katherine Johnson, he co-directs Bay Chamber Concerts, the Next Generation, free seminars for Maine students. He is Professor of Cello at Boston University and plays an instrument by Francesco Stradivarius, c. 1730.
james tocco, piano Pianist James Tocco completed his studies with Claudio Arrau in New York. His first prize in Munich’s ARD International Competition, and successfully replacing Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli at the Vienna Festival, brought international attention. He performs Handel to Corigliano internationally as recitalist, orchestral soloist, and chamber musician. He is Eminent ScholarArtist at the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music and on the piano faculties of the Manhattan School and the Musikhochschule in Lübeck.
william wolfram, piano A graduate of the Juilliard School, pianist William Wolfram won silver medals in the Kapell and Naumberg competitions, and his participation in the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition was documented and broadcast on television. A recitalist and soloist with major orchestras here and abroad, from the Philippines to Budapest, Mr. Wolfram is currently recording the works of Edward J. Collins with Marin Alsop and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
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2008 FESTIVAL ARTISTS AMERNET STRING QUARTET, Misha Vitenson, violin, Marcia Littley de Arias, violin, Michael Klotz, viola, Javier Arias, cello The Amernet Quartet, quartet-in-residence at Florida International University, gained international attention by winning the Gold Medal at the Tokyo International Music Competition in 1992, and the first prize at the Banff International String Quartet Competition three years later. In concerts and residencies it also supports new music with composers such as John Corigliano and Grammy-winner Mike Reid.
The James C. Kidd Endowed Music Festival Piano Chair The Hampden-Sydney Music Festival was created in 1982 by the collaboration of James Kidd, Ethan Sloane, and Keith Fitch. They realized the concept of training and inspiring young pre-professional musicians in an environment of high-level concert performances, by inviting distinquished artist-teachers and recruiting the first young ensembles. Through the years they have nourished the Music Festival, guiding it to a position of national prominence. A group of friends and patrons of the Festival have come together to establish the James C. Kidd Endowed Music Festival Piano Chair on his retirement after the 2009 season. The Kidd Piano Chair will honor Jim, who has contributed much energy and spirit to the Festival and this community, both as pianist and co-founder. Income from the endowment will fund a pianist for the Festival each year, ensuring the tradition of distinguished artists such as Lydia Artymiw, Edward Auer, Jeremy Denk, David Deveau, Randall Hodgkinson, Gilbert Kalish, Seymour Lipkin, David Northington, Paul Ostrovsky, Benjamin Pasternak, and Jerome Rose. Please consider becoming a significant part of this effort to honor Jim. To make an endowment gift, or for additional information, please speak with a member of the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival Board of Directors or call Candy Dowdy at (434) 223-7140.
FLORENCE ROBERTSON GIVENS ENDOWMENT FUND This fund was established as a memorial to Florence Robertson Givens by her husband, Mr. J. Edwin Givens, and her family, following her death in 1989. Mrs. Givens was an accomplished concert pianist and was also very active in promoting music and musical education in Virginia. She was one of the founders of the Richmond Symphony and a member of the first Board of Directors of the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival. The endowed scholarship fund goes toward support of the Artist Fellowship Program.
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL REMEMBERS Don P. Bagwell, Sr. ’35 Joan B. Berman The Rev. C. William Chappell ’33 Henry E. Coleman, Jr. Dr. T. Edward Crawley ’41 Mildred Dampier Kay Booker Davidson Nell P. Drew Elizabeth C. Eggleston Sybil Fainberg William Fitch S. Douglas Fleet Janet K.L. Gager Hunter Whitis Garrett ’13 Florence R. Givens Athena B. Hanbury
Dr. William C. Holbrook Emilie C. Holladay Paul Lebowitz Dr. & Mrs. Charles F. McRae Cary McMurran David Norden Charles E. Pritchett ’82 Virginia G. Redd Edmund A. Rennolds, Jr. Dr. John B. Robbins ’60 James E. Taylor Dr. Graves & Mrs. Leila Thompson ’27 Elizabeth King Walker The Rev. Canon F. Bryan Williams A. David Wolfe
If you would like to submit a name of a Music Festival patron to be added to our memorial list for our program booklet next year, please write a note to HampdenSydney Music Festival, Box 128, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia 23943.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HAMPDEN-SYDNEY MUSIC FESTIVAL The Hampden-Sydney Music Festival began during the hot August of 1982, when it was held in College Church. The artists included the Interaction Players, with clarinetist Ethan Sloane, co-founder of the Music Festival, violist-violinist Joanna Jenner, and pianist Paul Posnak; pianist James Kidd, co-founder of the Festival and member of the HampdenSydney Fine Arts Department; and soprano Patricia Lust of Longwood College. Keith Fitch was the managing director, and Carol Fitch was director of the box office, a role in which she still serves today. In addition to four artist concerts, an integral part of the Festival’s program was the Musicians’ Coaching Program, reflecting the College’s educational values. Young musicians were placed in appropriate ensembles for formal coaching classes and master classes taught by the artists. In the first few years, the audiences and the classes in the Coaching Program were modest. Clarinetist Richard Kay, a student in one of the original coaching classes in 1983, is now Managing Director. “Music-Lovers’ Weekends” provided an in-depth experience for our guests. In 1984, cellist Yehuda Hanani joined the artist roster, and the Festival received its first grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The music-making was delightful and engaging, and the bat that inhabited College Church seemed not to mind the sounds. In 1985, Hampden-Sydney’s Crawley Forum was completed, with acoustics ideal for chamber music. With its welcome air-conditioning system, it became the permanent venue for the Festival. In the mid-1980s the Music Festival began to attract regional attention with increased audience attendance and press coverage. Violinist Sidney Harth and pianist Edward Auer joined the artist roster and performed regularly. In 1985, a board of directors was founded with Hal and Reba McVey, and Florence Robertson Givens, as founding members. The Coaching Program increased in size and prestige, drawing young musicians from many major music schools.
Concert repertoire for the four annual artist concerts ranged from late 18th-century to mid-20th-century music, and the programming format of concerts blended beloved masterpieces with lesser-known works, often mixing solo sonatas with large ensemble pieces. During the first ten years, the Festival featured such distinguished artistteachers as violinist Aaron Rosand, pianists Samuel Lipkin and Jerome Rose, violist Raphael Hillyer (a founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet), Canadian cellist Denis Brott, the New World String Quartet, and the Leontóvych String Quartet. More recently, the Shanghai Quartet has appeared regularly at the Festival. A Festival highlight was the celebration of its tenth anniversary season. An unanticipated power outage, caused by an early evening thunderstorm, led to our first so-called “candlelight concert.” Since Hampden-Sydney is an 18th-century campus, candles were gathered within a half-hour, and the stage was beautifully lit. Edward Auer opened the concert with an unforgettable performance of the Schubert B-flat Sonata. Before beginning to play, he remarked, “Isn’t this perfect?” After intermission, the Beethoven Septet was also performed by candlelight. The first violinist was Eugene Drucker of the Emerson Quartet, and the bass player was Lucas Drew, brother of the College’s Dean of Students, Lewis Drew; the principal oboist of the Boston Symphony, Ralph Gomberg, also played in that memorable performance. The concert was so well received that requests were frequently made to repeat the experience, which we had to do one more time during the second decade, again improvising after a power outage from a thunderstorm. During our second decade, the Coaching Program was re-named the Young Artist Fellowship Program, limited to twelve players, attracting some fine ensembles. Among the outstanding “graduates” of our program was “eighth blackbird,” a six-member new-music ensemble that had just graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory. They went on to win several major national chamber music competitions and are now ensemble-in-residence at both the University of Richmond and the University of Chicago. Pianist Fabio Parrini and his brother, cellist Alberto, have gone on to fine careers. Alberto served as assistant principal cellist of the Richmond Symphony, and then in the St. Lawrence String Quartet. The Artaria Quartet of Boston has also had an impressive career since participating in the Fellowship Program. Cellist Mihail Jojatu joined the Boston Symphony, and Eugene Isotov is
now principal oboist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. One of the most memorable performances by Artist Fellows during the second decade was of Messiaen’s demanding Quartet for the End of Time by a young ensemble headed by pianist Susan Becker, who later taught piano at the University of Richmond. Over the years, other very moving performances of the same work were given in artist concerts, and it remains among the pieces that audience-members request most frequently for a repeat performance. The artist roster continued to expand during the second decade as pianist Lydia Artymiw became a regular member along with violinist/violist Toby Appel, Jules Eskin, principal cellist of the Boston Symphony, cellist Nathaniel Rosen, winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition, and most recently violinists Charles Castleman and Arturo Delmoni. Also during this period, concerts were recorded and portions were broadcast nationally over National Public Radio’s “Performance Today.” To date, two “Live from the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival” recordings have been issued for our patrons. A third will be released in 2008, “Mendelssohn, Miniatures, and More.” The critical reception of the Music Festival has been outstanding. Early on, it was described as a program where “spontaneity and joy prevail,” and as “a jewel of a festival.” The Festival has been featured in articles in Musical America, Chamber Music Magazine, The Republic of Letters, and the Washington Post. In 2006, as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations, the opening concert was broadcast live over Richmond’s National Public Radio station, WCVE-FM, 88.9. All those associated with the Music Festival are proud of its more than quarter-century heritage, the support of Hampden-Sydney College whose values the Festival embodies, and the enthusiastic support of our audiences over the years for this important cultural event which continues to bring so much joy and pleasure through sterling performances in the relaxed and beautiful ambience of Hampden-Sydney College. —James Kidd & James Pontuso
2008 ARTIST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM South Florida String Trio (Florida International University) Elena Chernova, violin Michael Davis, viola Caleb Jones, calloe
Tzigane Trio (Oberlin Conservatory) Eric Anderson, clarinet Sasha Anemone, cello Laura Brumbaugh, piano
Trio Catalan (Florida International University) Rafael GalvĂĄn-Herrera, violin Hector Hernandez, violin Ramon Catalan, piano
Southern Mississippi Guitar Trio (University of Southern Mississippi) Trevor Hunt, guitar Daniel Schroeder, guitar David Histing, guitar
MEDIA SPONSORSHIP The Music Festival thanks Richmond’s National Public Radio station WCVE, 88.9 FM, for its sponsorship of this 27th Season. The Music Festival thanks the members of Central Virginia Arts whose artwork is displayed in the concert hall during the Music Festival. Many of the artworks in the show are for sale. Please speak with someone at the ticket counter if you wish to make a purchase; a list of artist contact information is available there.
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
28 Years of fine music and fine friends !
&
May 22- 23 May 29 - 30, 2009
Join us in celebrating over a quarter century of world-class performances in a gorgeous setting (434) 223-6273  www.hsc.edu/musicfestival
Nestled in the wooded outskirts of historic Farmville, Virginia, our retirement neighborhood has been owned, operated, and directed by the same individuals since its establishment in 1967. Over the course of its forty years of providing services, The Woodland has developed from a sixty-bed nursing facility into a vital part of central Virginia health care, offering residential living for independent seniors, assisted living accommodations, skilled nursing care, and rehabilitation and therapy services. Our committment to providing the highest quality of individualized care while maximizing the independence of each neighborhood member has made The Woodland a top retirement choice for seniors in the region. We realize that choosing a retirement neighborhood is an important decision. As you continue to look for the community that is right for you, we invite you to browse the information available on this site, to visit The Woodland’s attractive campus, and to speak with our staff and residents. Our neighborhood placement counselors are available to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about life in our neighborhood. The Woodland offers the best of retirement options, with competitive rates, professional care, and a truly amicable neighborhood in the heart of central Virginia. The Woodland, Inc.
2003 Cobb Street Farmville, VA 23901 Phone: (434) 392-6106 Fax: (434) 392-7877 Email: contact@hollymanor.com
WORD AROUND...
Haley Auto Mall Really Does Have It All! • We are proud to represent seven (7) vehicle manufactures with over 80 new models on our lot. • We stock the largest selection of new and used vehicles in Southside Virginia. • Our parts department carries a full line plus loads of accessories. • Our service department boasts the only factory certified master technicians in Farmville. • We feature a comprehensive 2,000 mile warranty on every used vehicle we sell. • Try us. You'll be spreading the word too. Come see us or visit us at www.haleyauto.com We appreciate your business.
HOURS: SALES: 9-8 M-F; SAT. 9-6 SERVICE DEPT. 8-5:30 M-F;
ACROSS FROM WAL-MART SUPERCENTER 1906 SOUTH MAIN, FARMVILLE, VA PHONE 434-392-8166 OR 1-800-306-5337
Store 1486
1800 Peery Drive Farmville, VA 23901 Phone: (434) 392-5334 Fax: (434) 392-5637
Town & Country Furniture and Appliance, Inc. Congratulates The Hampden-Sydney Music Festival on their 27th Season!
(434) 223-8163 • FAX: (434) 223-1362 5301 FARMVILLE ROAD, FARMVILLE, VA 23901
Commitment to Excellence FOURTH STREET MOTOR COMPANY, INC. Jerry L. Stuart General Manager 210 Fourth Street Farmville, Virginia 23901 Phone (434) 392-3896 Fax (434) 392-9975
Thank you for bringing fine music to our community for 27 years!
J Fergeson Gallery Opening June 2008 Featuring regional and national artists
jfergesongallery.com 311 North Main Street Farmville, VA
Best Wishes to the
Grady’s is a 100% smoke-free dining room. Free Delivery with 24 hours notice. Phone-in orders always welcome! Catering throughout the great state of Virginia.
202 High Street, Farmville 434-315-8987
Hampden-Sydney Music Festival Watkins M. Abbitt, Jr. Virginia House of Delegates
Accessories,Inc. 220 North Main Street, Farmville, Virginia 23901 phone: (434) 392-9655 • fax: (434) 392-3430 www.gfaccessories.com • info@gfaccessories.com
Your Community-minded Hometown Radio Station Your Home Town Radio Station
95.7 FM • 870 AM The voice of Hampden-Sydney Football and Basketball
As the music warms your heart, let us warm your home
PUTNEY MECHANICAL COMPANY JOSEPH M. ZEHNER, President W. PARKER TERRY, JR., Secretary-Treasurer 110 North Virginia Street P. O. Box A, Farmville, Virginia 23901 (434) 392-4183
Huge deli-style sandwiches and subs. Plus soups, salads, entrées & gourmet desserts. Full bar, open late 7 nights a week. Enjoy outdoor dining in our gazebo!
Carryout & Catering Available Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 8 am-12:30 am • Friday & Saturday: 8 am-1:30 am
(434) 392-8077 200 E. Third Street • Farmville
Artist Fellows practice in Winston Hall for an upcoming concert.
Honeycutt & McGuire A Professional Corporation Certified Public Accountants
Jack O. Honeycutt, CPA (434) 392-3159 (434) 392-1784 Fax
408 East Third Street Farmville, Virginia 23901
Best Wishes for a Great Festival compliments of Virgil Goode for Congress Paid for by Virgil Goode for Congress
401 E Third Street Farmville, VA 23901 (434) 315-8911
DoyneBurgerDavis
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The weekend Music-Lovers’ program brings together professional artists, young artists, and audience members in informal settings for conversation and exploration.
since 1861
W. C. Newman Co., Inc. Ready-Mix Concrete Home Heating Oil P.O. Box 374, 406 West Third Street Farmville, VA 23901 (434) 392-4241 • (434) 392-6506 • Fax: (434) 392-3156
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Booth & Co., Inc. General Construction (434) 392-6197 • H: (434) 392-6566 Fax: (434) 392-4982 P.O. Box 508 • 3630 West Third Street Farmville, Virginia 23901
Kevin E. Sheehan, CPA 405 E. Third Street P.O. Box 174 Farmville, VA 23901 (434) 392-3323 fax: (434) 392-8660 kevin@moonstar.com
CPA
A Professional Corporation
A Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants
MAXEY-HINES & ASSOCIATES, P.C. P.O. Box 90 • Farmville, VA 23901 (434) 392-8827 • Fax (434) 392-1996 mha@maxeyhines.com LAND SURVEYORS • CIVIL ENGINEERS PLANNERS • CONSULTANTS
Farmville Chiropractic Center
Dr. W.E. DeRegibus
Therapies For Pain Since 1982 Chiropractic • Acupuncture • Massage (434) 392-9807
Benjamin H. Johnson Certified Public Accountant www.farmvillecpa.com Accounting Systems Estates/Trusts Payroll New Business Start Ups Individual & Business Tax Preparation (434) 392-8311 Fax (434) 392-9142 198 Milnwood Road • P.O. Box 826 Farmville, Virginia 23901
DAVIS
Pontiac GMC Truck Sales & Service
Routes 460 and 15, Farmville, Virginia 23901
(434) 392-4911 • Fax (434) 392-1830
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Charlotte Green 1011 Leigh Mountain Road Green Bay, VA 23942 Phone 434-392-1949 Email info@greenprop.com
Young Artists concert on the lawn behind the Charlotte Court House Library.
I N L OV I N G M E MO RY O F
ARTIST, TEACHER, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, TREE-FARMER, & FRIEND. FROM THE BOOK GROUP OF WHICH SHE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER.
B & M Greenhouse 1822 Greenhouse Road Farmville, Virginia, 23901
Compliments of
Laura & Mark French
Greenhouse & Nursery Plants Landscape Design & Installation Phone (434) 392-6993 Fax (434) 392-7065
Discount Fabrics
inc.
115 East Second Street Farmville, Virginia 23901
p: (434) 392-8971 f: (434) 392-8958 Custom Window Treatments • Fabrics • Trims
POPLAR HALL ANTIQUES Jeromy Truedson (434)392-1658 Cell (434) 547-5667 • Fax (434)391-3800 308 N. Main Street Farmville, Virginia 23901
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Business Hours Mon. - Fri. 12 - 5 PM Sat. 10 AM - 5 PM
Puckett Funeral Home, Inc. 115 Covington Court Farmville, Virginia 23901
(434) 391-3832 Fax
C. Dayton Puckett
(434) 391-3830
Manager/Director
Phone/24 hr Service
Casual Dining Private Parties Catering (434) 392-1566 ...Where The Neighborhood Comes Together
201 B Mill Street Farmville, Virginia 23901
Catering, Banquet Facilities Live Music Sunday Brunch 11 am - 2 pm Wednesday Italian Buffet 6 pm - 9 pm Riverfront Dining on our Deck Lunch & Dinner Specials Daily Bakery Chef on Premises
The Hampden-Sydney Music Festival extends sincere appreciation to all the friends of the Festival who have worked to make the Festival programs possible. Sponsored by
Hampden-Sydney Music Festival www.hsc.edu/musicfestival Box 128, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia 23943