SOGO October Newsletter

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What do jazz, marimba & Schumann have in common? Come and find out at the SOGO concert Sunday, November 7, 4 p.m. Olytix.org or 360.753.8586

SOGO - So Y’Know Newsletter

YOUNG LIVES being shaped THROUGH MUSIC

October 2010 Vol. 11 No. 2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 4 P.M. Washington Center

Marimba Concerto by Kurka

T

he American composer Robert Kurka was born in Cicero, Illinois. Although primarily a self-taught musician, he did study for brief periods with composers Darius Milhauld and Otto Luening. Kurka received a masters degree from Columbia University and taught at City College of New York, Queens College and Dartmouth College. His best-known work is the instrumental suite and subsequent opera The Good Soldier Schweik. In addition to the Concerto for Marimba, Kurka also produced 2 symphonies, 5 string quartets, works for violin, piano, and vocal music. Kurka died at age 39 from leukemia on December 12, 1957. Kurka was named in Life Magazine as one of the “seven leading composers in America” of his time.

CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRA John Welsh, conductor Weber, Overture to Oberon Kurka, Concerto for Marimba - Drew Norton, soloist Schumann, Symphony No. 4

Kurka’s Marimba Concerto was commissioned by Vida Chenoweth, the first classical marimbist. It was performed posthumously at Carnegie Hall on November 11, 1959 by the Orchestra of America conducted by Richard Korn, with Chenoweth as soloist. The premiere received rave reviews from both The New Yorker and Time Magazine as a “tuneful, crisply rhythmic, shot through with jazz echoes and a spirit of jaunty sophistication”. Critic Jay S. Harrison wrote about the Carnegie Hall premier: “... Mr. Kurka located innumerable means of displaying the marimba at its best, and his concerto is everywhere lively and zestful. It is mostly diatonic, filled with smart and leaping tunes, and it exploits the agility of its soloist to the utmost.”

ACADEMY ORCHESTRA Featuring Jeff Brooks Jazz Ensemble

Drew Norton will perform this colorful piece in the genre of Kurt Weill (famous for Mack the Knife) at the “Sunday at 4 p.m.” concert November 7th. Drew says learning the music for the Marimba Concerto has been a very good challenge for him. He recommends the audience be prepared for something different and advises us to listen for a touch of jazz influence along with many interesting scale patterns throughout the work. Contributed by Jilyna Dick Kimberly Witort, Photography

BRASS CHOIR Greg Allison, conductor Thome, II-V Fanfare - celebrating the 25th anniversary of the WCPA Grainger, Australian Up Country Tune Reed, Two Bagatelles

Also appearing: Debut Orchestra What is the II-V

Fanfare with Jazz Ensemble?

One of the most basic of skills a jazz musician needs in their improvisatory toolbox is to be comfortable and capable with the II-V-I chord progression. It is made of chords built from the second, fifth and first tones of the major scale and is prevalent in numerous jazz standards. Learning to improvise over it is essential... so essential that it is possible to find jazz tunes consisting almost entirely of this one progression. Equally essential to our performing community is the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Since 1985, the Center’s primary purpose has been to support local performing organizations like SOGO and to provide a quality environment in which to connect artists with audiences. In celebration of the Washington Center’s 25th Anniversary, SOGO will open its November concert with II-V Fanfare for Brass Choir and Jazz Quartet by Mark Thome. Continued on page 2.

Thank you to our concert sponsors... • Olympic Dermatology & Laser Clinic • WA State Arts Commission SOGO | 1629 22nd Ave SE, Olympia WA 98501 | www.studentorchestras.org | studentorchestras@gmail.com

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