Music Faculty Recital October 21, 2021 Recital Hall
MUSIC The Salem State University music and dance department presents
Jean Danton, voice Mary-Jo Grenfell, clarinet Beverly Soll, piano Philip Swanson, piano IN RECITAL
October 21, 2021 Recital Hall, Harrington Campus
This concert is presented in conjunction with Salem State’s Center for Creative and Performing Arts.
PROGRAM German Lieder,Jean Danton (voice) and Beverly Soll (piano) Du bist wie eine Blume
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Mausfallen Sprüchlein
Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)
Zueignung Richard Strauss (1864-1949) In Celebration of Clara Schumann (1819-1896), Beverly Soll (piano) “Mazurka in G minor” from Soirées Musicales, op. 6 Prelude and Fugue in B flat, op.16 “The Prophet Bird” from Forest Scenes, op. 82 by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Theme and Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann, op. 20, Theme and Variations 1, 2 and 7 Musical Theater, Jean Danton (voice) and Philip Swanson (piano) “So in Love” from Kiss Me Kate
Cole Porter (1891-1964)
“Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd
Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930)
20 th Century English, Mary-Jo Grenfell (clarinet) and Beverly Soll (piano) Five Bagatelles, op. 23 I. Prelude II. Romance III. Carol IV. Forlana V. Fughetta
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)
Jazz, Jean Danton (voice) and Philip Swanson (piano) Blue Skies
Irving Berlin (1888-1989)
Over the Rainbow
Harold Arlen (1905-1968)
I Get a Kick Out of You
Cole Porter (1891-1964)
COVID-19 SAFETY Tonight’s performers will remove their masks while onstage and are following strict university Covid protocols. All other individuals must wear a mask over the nose and month while indoors. We are delighted that you have joined us tonight, but we politely request that you leave the venue immediately following the performance. Tonight’s program will be performed without intermission. Out of courtesy to your fellow audience members and the musicians onstage, please turn off any cell phones and pagers, and do not text during the performance. The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this concert on any medium, is strictly prohibited. No food or beverages are allowed in the Recital Hall. Thank you.
Jean Danton, Soprano/Equity Actor, has appeared throughout the United States and Europe on the opera, oratorio, musical theatre and concert stage. She has performed under renowned conductors Christopher Hogwood, Helmuth Rilling, Martin Pearlman, Bruce Hangen, Julian Wachner, and Keith Lockhart. Ms. Danton made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Masterwork Chorus, and her Lincoln Center debut at Avery Fisher Hall with the National Chorale, performing Handel's Messiah. Performance highlights include the Handel and Haydn Society, Carmel Bach Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Colorado’s Breckenridge Music Festival, Nashua Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, Biellese Festival and Associazione Culturale in Italy and The American Church Concert Series in Paris where she will appear again in June 2022. Ms. Danton’s stage performances include roles with Boston Baroque, Greater Buffalo Opera, American Repertory Theatre (ART), Boston Classical Orchestra, and New England Light Opera. She is often a soloist for Pops concerts, appearing with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra, Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra, North Shore Music Theatre, The Orchestra at Indian Hill, and American Classics. Other engagements include the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Festival, N.Y.C. Trinity Church Concert Series, Jazz concerts with the Rusty Scott Quartet, the Twentieth Century Music Series at the N.Y. Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, and the Longfellow House Gala with Keith Lockhart. As a recording artist, Ms. Danton has several solo albums on Albany Records, Newport Classic, CDBaby, and with New England Light Opera. Television credits include documentaries on PBS, Lifetime, and Oregon Public Broadcasting. She is on the Voice Faculty at Salem State University, Boston College, and New England Conservatory (SCE) where she also co-directs both the Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop courses. www.jeandanton.com/www.facebook.com/ JeanDantonSoprano
Beverly Soll holds degrees in piano from the University of Illinois and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland. Having served on the faculties of the State University of New York-Geneseo, George Mason University, and Wayne State College, she is currently an adjunct music faculty member at Salem State University, often teaching the Women in Music History course. Her scholarly publications include articles in the NATS Journal on the songs of Max Reger, the CMS Symposium on the Dickinson songs of Aaron Copland, three volumes of arias and scenes from the operas of William Grant Still, and a 2005 book on the operas of this pioneering African American composer, I Dream a World, published by the University of Arkansas Press. Dr. Soll is a free-lance pianist in the greater Boston area and pianist for the Essex Piano Trio.
Mary-Jo Grenfell is a professor of music in the Music and Dance Department at Salem State University and also serves as the Music Program Coordinator and Coordinator of Applied Music. She holds degrees in music education and conducting from Colorado State University, University of Colorado, and University of Northern Colorado. Grenfell teaches a variety of courses at SSU, including courses in music history and orchestration, and she conducts the Chamber Orchestra and the University Band. She is an active performer, playing clarinet and saxophone in music ensembles around the North Shore. Dr. Grenfell is the institutional representative to the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for Salem State University and is a visiting evaluator for accreditation for NASM. Grenfell served on the Board of Trustees for Rockport Music from 2009-2014 and was chair of the Education and Outreach Committee during that time. Dr. Grenfell is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, Chamber Music America, North Shore Chamber Music Society, and the College Music Society.
Philip Swanson has had a wide-ranging career as a trombonist, pianist, composer, organist, conductor, and teacher. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts from New England Conservatory, Master of Music from the Eastman School, and did his undergraduate study at Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Miami. As a trombonist, he has performed with the Miami Philharmonic, where he served as principal for five years, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Opera Boston, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Ballet Orchestra, and numerous other orchestral and chamber ensembles. He has performed with numerous small group and big band jazz ensembles, including Chamber Jazz, which he founded with guitarist Anthony Weller and The Bob Nieske 10. Swanson is Professor of Music at Salem State University where he teaches music theory, composition, trombone and piano. Since 1991 he has been Music Director of the First Congregational Church of Rockport where he serves as organist and choir director. Swanson has written and published numerous works in both instrumental and vocal genres. He can be heard on a wide range of recordings. For more information visit: www.swansonmusic.com.
TRANSLATIONS FOR GERMAN LIEDER Du bist wie eine Blume (1840)
Poetry by Heinrich Heine
Du bist wie eine Blume, So hold und schön und rein; Ich schau’ dich an, und Wehmuth Schleicht mir in’s Herz hinein.
You are so like a flower, So lovely and fair and pure; I look at you, and melancholy Steals into my heart.
Mir ist, als ob ich die Hände Auf’s Haupt dir legen sollt’, Betend, daß Gott dich erhalte So rein und schön und hold.
For me, it feels as if I should lay My hands upon your head, Praying, that God may preserve you So pure and fair and lovely.
Mausfallen Sprüchlein (1877) “Mousetrap Incantation” Das Kind geht dreimal um die Falle und spricht: Kleine Gäste, kleines Haus. Liebe Mäusin oder Maus, Stelle dich nur kecklich ein Heute nacht bei Mondenschein! Mach aber die Tür fein hinter dir zu, Hörst du? Dabei hüte dein Schwänzchen! Nach Tische singen wir, Nach Tische springen wir Und machen ein Tänzchen: Witt witt! Meine alte Katze tanzt wahrscheinlich mit.
Poetry by Eduard Möricke The child walks three times around the mousetrap and says: Little guests, little house. Dear Mrs or Mr Mouse, Arrive boldly tonight In the moonlight! But be sure to close the door behind you, Do you hear? Do you hear? And watch out for your tail! Do you hear? Do you hear? Your little tail! After supper we’ll sing, After supper we’ll leap And dance a little dance; Witt witt! My old cat will probably dance with us too. Do you hear? Do you hear?
Zueignung (1885) “Devotion”
Poetry by Hermann von Gilm
Ja, du weißt es, teure Seele, Daß ich fern von dir mich quäle, Liebe macht die Herzen krank, Habe Dank.
Yes, you know dear soul That I’m when I’m far from you, I suffer, Love makes the heart sick – To you my thanks!
Einst hielt ich, der Freiheit Zecher, Hoch den Amethysten-Becher, Und du segnetest den Trank, Habe Dank.
Once, I was a drinker of freedom, I held high the amethyst cup And you blessed that drink – To you my thanks.
Und beschworst darin die Bösen, Bis ich, was ich nie gewesen, Heilig, heilig an’s Herz dir sank, Habe Dank!
And you banished the evil within, Until I, as I had never before, Blessed, blessed I sank upon your heart – To you my thanks.
Get up to date information about our Fall Arts Events at salemstate.edu/arts