Superheroes

The Missoula Symphony Association Presents J ULIA TAI , Music Director

November 4, 7:30 PM & November 6, 3:00 PM 68 th Season, 2022-23

Joan Tower Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 6 Jean Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22

I. Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island

II. The Swan of Tuonela IV Lemminkäinen’s Return

Intermission

Jean Sibelius Finlandia, Op. 26 with Missoula Youth Symphony students (Ryan Davis, Music Director)

Donald O. Johnston Symphony No. 4 “Lewis & Clark”

I. Bad River Confluence (Symphonic Variations)

II. The Gates of the Mountains (Canons and Chorales)

III. Lost Trail Pass (Scherzo) IV. Ocean! O! The Joy (Symphonic Coda)

John Williams Superman March

This program is dedicated to the memory of Marva Christian John Engen

Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 6 by Joan Tower presented under license from G. Schirmer Inc. and Associated Music Publishers, copyright owners.

JULIA TAI Music Director

Praised by the Seattle Times as “poised yet passionate,” Julia Tai is one of today’s most dynamic young conductors on the international stage. Currently, she is the Music Director of Missoula Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, Philharmonia Northwest, and the Co-Artistic Director of the Seattle Modern Orchestra. Her career has led to acclaimed performances and rehearsals with the American Youth Symphony, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (Czech Republic), Brandenburger Symphoniker (Germany), Estonian National Youth Symphony (Estonia), New Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria), Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM (Mexico), Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Charlos Chávez (Mexico), and the Seattle Symphony.

Ms. Tai has established a reputation for her creative programming and community partnerships. She has increased the esteem of her orchestras by elevating their artistic output, commissioning new works by renowned composers, and serving diverse communities. In 2017, in collaboration with Finlandia Foundation, Philharmonia Northwest celebrated Finland’s centennial by presenting Finland 100 at Benaroya Hall, featuring three generations of Finnish composers. The concert was attended by Finland’s ambassador to the U.S. from Washington D.C. The orchestra has cocommissioned new works by PDQ Bach (Concerto for Simply Grand Piano and Orchestra), Mexican composer Osvaldo Mendoza (Three Mexican Portraits), ChineseAmerican composer Dorothy Chang (Gateways – Concerto for Erhu and Piano), and Sheila Silver (Being in Life – Concerto for French horn and Alpenhorn, 5 Tibetan singing bowls, and string orchestra).

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Ms. Tai began her violin studies at age four and piano at eight. She received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where she was awarded “Outstanding Graduate” in 2004. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Washington.

Stagedecorationsprovidedby:

Welcome to Missoula Symphony’s fall concertSuperheroes. We’re so glad you joined us today in celebrating the superheroes of our community.

Is a hero always strong, brave, and fearless? That’s often the case. In his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces , Joseph Campbell writes of the twelve stages of the Hero’s Journey, which serves as a template for our heroic adventure stories. The Hero’s Journey starts with a hero leaving his or her ordinary world as he or she is called to adventure. From there I’ll keep things simple and say that, well, hijinks ensue. All sorts of struggles are lost, then won and the hero returns home to a place that has changed for the better because of his or her actions.

This weekend’s concert highlights heroes in music. We’ll hear the journeys of The Uncommon Woman by Joan Tower, Finnish hero Lemminkainen by Sibelius, and Superman by John Williams. We’ll have the privilege of hearing retired UM Professor Donald O. Johnston’s Symphony No. 4 , written to celebrate the heroes of the American West, Lewis and Clark.

In my mind a hero is someone who acts upon their values, where the result of those actions is a world that is changed for the better. Our patrons, sponsors, and donors of all levels are heroes to the Missoula Symphony. Because of your donations and support, we can bring music to our community. I’d say that makes our world a better place.

Deborah Stapley-Graham President

FIRST VIOLIN

Margaret Nichols Baldridge, concertmaster

Chair sponsored by Janet & Harry Haines

Loy Koch, associate concertmaster Chair sponsored by Sharon & Gerald Marks

Ali Schultz Levesque, assistant concertmaster Chair sponsored by Betty Thisted

Janet Allison Tasha Fain Suzanne Hartzell Nancy Lofgren Kohler Kira Lee Ariah Mann Aidan McCormack Aria Peters Beatrice Shimanek Catherine Treis+

SECOND VIOLIN

Rachel Fellows-Schnackel, principal Chair sponsored by Laura Patterson

Pamela Hillygus, associate principal Chair sponsored by Rae Lynn & Frank D’Angelo

Larysa Blavatsky

Owen Cleary+ Alex Crisp Will Hunt Gabe Kantor+ Marian Kale Julie Lacey Patrick Shannon

VIOLA

Sara Schultz Levesque, principal Chair sponsored by Robert Moseley Kathy Mellander, associate principal Chair sponsored by Ann Ruehr

Shelby Blum Bayley Ginnaty+ Brett Kaplan

Edwin Mellander Bethany Rippeon Leslie Collins-Rose Rich Wells

JULIA TAI , Music Director

Music Director’s Chair sponsored by Rick & Diana Nash

CELLO

Adam Collins , principal Chair sponsored by Sophie & Dan Lambros Christine Ranf Sopko, assistant principal Chair sponsored by Louisa & Paul Axelrod Susan Lofgren Anderson Angelica Kalasz-Chandler Joan Chesebro Dawn Douglas David Harmsworth+ Jayla Mitchell+

DOUBLE BASS

Joel Schnackel , principal Chair sponsored by Alice & Richard Dailey Ryan Davis , associate principal Fischer Friend+ Bill James Dillon Johns Michael Johns Nicholas Timmerhoff

FLUTE

Jennifer Cooper, principal Chair sponsored by Laura & Mark Haythornthwaite Sylvia Wood

PICCOLO

Julia Vasquez

OBOE

Susi Stipich, principal Chair sponsored by Jennifer & Ben Yonce Olivia Adams

ENGLISH HORN

Jennifer Gookin Cavanaugh, principal Chair sponsored by Jo May & Brian Salonen

CLARINET

Christopher Kirkpatrick Chair sponsored by Charla & Don Murray Polly Huppert Kathryn Pannell

BASSOON

Alicia Brischli, principal Chair sponsored by Jean & Bill Woessner Logan Beskoon

HORN Zachary Cooper, principal Chair sponsored by Betsy & Warren Wilcox

Olivia Quintero

Thomas Rice

Daniel Lande Robert B. Green

TRUMPET

Brendan McGlynn, principal Chair sponsored by Ann & Tom Boone Jens Jacobsen

Andrew Kagerer

Jarom Hein

TROMBONE

Rob Tapper, principal Chair sponsored by Maggie & Frank Allen Sean Stineford Chris Porter

TUBA

Benedict Kirby Chair sponsored by NDG, LLC

TIMPANI

Robert LedBetter, principal Chair sponsored by Traci & Michael Punke

PERCUSSION

Samuel McKenzie, assistant principal Danger Gersh+ Tyler Ulrich

PIANO

Christopher Hahn Chair sponsored by Twila Wolfe

HARP

Peggy Young, principal Chair sponsored by Maria & Peter van Loben Sels

LIBRARIAN Suzanne Hartzell

PERSONNEL MANAGER Susi Stipich

STAGE MANAGER

Olivia Adams

*Members of the string sections are listed alphabetically. Seating is rotated for each concert.

+Missoula Symphony Scholarship Recipients

VIOLINS

Carlie Aldridge

Josie Allred

Natalia Borkholder

Hazel Bridge Chloe Caldwell#

Storey Caldwell Avena Chao Emily Elbert Hilde Hamilton Owen Hiebert Sarah Jacobson Evie Johnson

Ashley Kim Abby Lofts Wynn McCann

Aiden McCormack Isabel Poteet

Briel Powers

Tim Scott Beatrice Shimanek Adaline Schick Amelia Watson Brooke Wiswell McKenna Williams Faith You Anouk Zunker

VIOLA

Matt Auge Blake Dunning Hailee Goodsell Adara Hauer

Julia Key Reasa McCollum Teia Nash Araya Porter Annie Sweatland Scarlett Tamblyn

CELLO

Brooke Best Eamon Bull Jatayo Jones

Mayana Kantor Aurora Kuntz River Lee Evan Lofink Henri Naughton Joseph Pallo Max Rosen Autumn Schelvan Allison Wiswell

DAVIS , Music Director

DOUBLE BASS

Lenora Sackey Thatcher Sickich Adam Story Malakai Murphy Heidi Webster

FLUTE Emma Seitz Samuel McCarter Becca Kunzelman Ben Zielinski

OBOE Brynn Allred McKenna Raup

CLARINET

Brogan Downey Chris Dowd Alexa McClean

BASSOON Isaac Dosier Sarah Ratz

HORN

Devon Bird

Madeleine Grise Stella Michini

Bjorn Peterson

TRUMPET

Levi Bruner Noah Carson McKintosh Wyatt Moore

TROMBONE Amy Boote

Seth Dowdle Chloe Cotton Liam Rose

TUBA Daxton Pettibone

PERCUSSION

Laura Graves Maxim Kolberg Jake Robbins

more than 50 years, we have worked to provide our friends, neighbors, and visitors with fresh, organic, and locally sourced food. We invite you over to enjoy all we have to offer.

hope

enjoy

Missoula

MARCH

& 5, 2023

DYNAMIC DUO

15 & 16, 2023

WAR AND PEACE

Anne & Bruce

| Anonymous

20 & 21, 2023

BROADWAY CONCERT

Sponsored by the Tremper Family in honor of their parents, Barbara and William Tremper.

CHAIR SPONSORS

CONCERTMASTER

Janet & Harry Haines

ASSOCIATE

Sharon & Gerald Marks

ASSISTANT

Louisa & Paul Axelrod

DOUBLE

Richard & Alice Dailey

& Mark Haythornthwaite

Jennifer & Ben Yonce

ASSOCIATE

Frank & Rae Lynn D’Angelo

ENGLISH

Jo May & Brian Salonen

Charla & Don Murray

BASSOON Jean & Bill Woessner

Betsy & Warren Wilcox

Ann & Tom Boone

Frank & Maggie Allen

Traci & Michael Punke

Peter & Maria van Loben Sels

Rick & Diana Nash

Doug & Caryl Klein

Dan & Sophie

PRESENTED BY THE MISSOULA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION

For nearly 40 years, Missoula has hosted the Montana Suzuki Institute each summer.  This week-long event offers students an intensive yet fun musical experience.  Approved and guided by the principles of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the Institute also trains and develops teachers in the Suzuki method. These combined activities promote musical and personal growth in young musicians, families, and communities.

To further this mission, the Missoula Symphony Association recently announced the Lamar Blum Scholarship, in honor of the director who led MSI from 2005 through 2019.  This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving student who would benefit from financial assistance to attend the Institute.

Additionally, our local Suzuki teachers offer instruction and performance opportunities all year long, and the MSA is proud to support this MizZuki program! For more information, contact our Education Coordinator, Sylvia Allen Oman, at sylvia@missoulasymphony.org.

PRESIDENT Deborah Stapley-Graham

VICE PRESIDENT Bill Johnston

TREASURER Pri Fernando SECRETARY Mark Haythornthwaite

PAST PRESIDENT

Jim Valeo

DIRECTORS

Scott Billadeau, Adam Collins, Dan Crary, Deirdre Flaherty, Andrew George, Theresa Johnson, Robin Kendall, Vinnie Pavlish

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Julia Tai

CHORALE DIRECTOR

Dean Peterson

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Peter McKenzie

PATRON SERVICES COORDINATOR Kirsten McGlynn

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Beth Woody

EDUCATION COORDINATOR Sylvia Allen Oman

SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROJECTS Deborah Woody

LIBRARIAN Suzanne Hartzell

CHORALE LIBARIAN Abigail Carey

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Olivia Adams

EMERITUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tom Boone Robert Homer Caryl Klein Sophie Lambros Mora Payne

Carol Seim John Talbot Marci Valeo

The Missoula Symphony Association is a member of the Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras and the League of American Orchestras.

The MSA is grateful to the following patrons for their generous gifts. Listed below are contributions of $50 or more within 12 months of October 1st, 2022. We apologize for any omissions or errors.

SEASON SPONSOR

Good Food Store

CONCERT SPONSORS

Anonymous (2) Anonymous Chorale Member Blackfoot Communications Phyllis & Bill Bouchee Christian, Samson & Baskett, PLLP D.A. Davidson & Company DeMarois Buick-GMC-Mercedes

First Interstate Bank

First Security Bank Flaherty Financial Services Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, PLLP Langel & Associates P.C.

Brian Eicholtz & Erik Johnston, Merrill Lynch Missoula Bone & Joint Missoulian

Muralt’s Travel Plaza NorthWestern Energy Payne West Insurance RBC Wealth Management Anne & Bruce Robertson S.G Long & Company Stockman Bank Tremper Family Washington Companies Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation

GUEST ARTIST SPONSORS

Anonymous Chorale Member Candace Boyer - in memory of Martin & Marion Boyer Laura & Mark Haythornthwaite Marci & Jim Valeo

MUSIC DIRECTOR’S CHAIR SPONSOR Diana & Rick Nash

CHORALE CONDUCTOR’S CHAIR SPONSOR

Caryl & Doug Klein

TICKET SPONSOR

Pangea Bar & Restaurant

LIVE STREAM SPONSOR

First Security Bank

DOWNBEAT DOWNLOW SPONSOR NorthWestern Energy

THE ED & LESLIE WETHERBEE RECEPTION SPONSOR Ed & Leslie Wetherbee

LIBRARY CONCERT SERIES SPONSOR

ALPS Corporation

MAESTRO ($25,000+)

William A. & Kay Cook Matthew Royter

CONDUCTOR

($5,000-$24,999)

Anonymous (1) Blackfoot Communications Ann & Tom Boone – Principal Trumpet First Security Bank Bill and Rosemary Gallagher Foundation Good Food Store Laura & Mark Haythornthwaite – Principal Flute Dorothea & George P. Lambros Sophie & Dan Lambros – Principal Cello Lillian A. McCammon Diana & Rick Nash – Music Director’s Chair Sponsor Anne & Bruce Robertson Ann Ruehr – Associate Principal Viola John Sargent

Patricia Forsberg & Stephen Speckart Betty Thisted – Associate Viola Tremper Family Marci & Jim Valeo

Maria & Peter van Loben Sels – Principal Harp Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Twila Wolfe – Principal Piano

SPONSOR ($1,000-$4,999)

Anonymous (3) ALPS Insurance Maggie & Frank Allen – Principal Trombone Louisa & Paul Axelrod – Assistant Principal Cello Deann Birnel Phyllis & William Bouchee Candice Boyer Janet Boyer Barbara & Craig Burns Rebecca Canfield-Perkowski & Ronald Perkowski Joan Chesebro Christian, Samson & Baskett PLLC D.A. Davidson & Company DeMarois Buick-GMC-Mercedes Robert Eder

Flaherty Financial Services

Victoria Fleischer Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, PLLP Gail & Lyle Grimes Joseph Fox Grinnell Margie & Steve Grinnell

Janet & Harry Haines – Concertmaster Melissa Huntington Donald Johnston Dr. Llewellyn & Sandra Jones

Jean Larson & Daniel Kemmis Christine & Paul Kilzer Caryl & Doug Klein – Chorale Conductor’s Chair Sponsor Wendy & Keith Kuhn Anita Kurtz-Magee Charla & Donald Murray – Principal Clarinet JoAnne & Ian Lange Langel & Associates PC Logjam Presents

Sharon & Gerald Marks – Associate Concertmaster Betty Miller Sandra & Jeff Miller Missoula Bone & Joint Missoulian

Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras Robert F. Moseley – Principal Viola Missoula Broadcasting Company Muralt’s Travel Plaza NDG, LLC – Principal Tuba Northwestern Energy Pangea Bar & Restaurant; Stave & Hoop Speakeasy Payne West Insurance Celeste Peterson Traci & Michael Punke – Principal Timpani RBC Wealth Management Amber & Lans Richardson

Jo May & Brian Salonen – Principal English Horn Carol Seim S.G. Long Financial Stockman Bank Linda & Gregg Swanberg Max and Betty Swanson Foundation Deirdre Swanson - in honor of Jo May Salonen

Julia Tai & Matthew Wu Sue Talbot Phyllis & Larry Topp Sarah & William Towle Kathy Turner Aggie & Jeff Vandergrift Janet Whaley & Phil Hamilton Jean & William Woessner – Principal Bassoon Jennifer & Ben Yonce – Principal Oboe Betsy & Warren Wilcox – Principal French Horn Washington Companies Alice & Clem Williams Windfall Wipfli Peggy Young

($600-$999)

Kathy & Brian Derry

Janet Bean-Dochnahl Kathrin & John Driscoll Priyanka Fernando Louise & Michael Flanagan Andrew George

Dori & Bill Johnston Robin Kendall Missoula Community Foundation Donna & Don McCammon Mary & Duane Moe Robin & Nick Nichols Dorothy & Dean Peterson Kitte Robins - in honor of Marci & Jim Valeo Carolyn & John Snively Herbert Swick Kathy Turner Phyllis & Louis Whitsell

CONTRIBUTOR ($450-$599)

Anonymous (1) Carolyn & Robert Albers Janet Allison Patrick Beatty Elsie Bull Paulette & Andrij Holian Catherine & Donald Jenni Corinne & Ralph Kirscher

Donna & James Koch Caroline Kurtz Karen Lacey Julie & Vinnie Pavlish Pershing Phillips, Jr. Sharon & Terry Phillips Sandra Roe

Deborah Stapley-Graham Rob Sterling Margo & Nat Sturgis Matthew Thiel Donna Lee Thompson Laura Wagner Margery & Terry Whatley Lynne & Gary Willstein Barbara Zellmer

PATRON ($250-$449)

Adele & Richard Allegra Elaine & Philip Alman Cynthia & Raymond Aten Barbara Bekken Kyle Bocinsky Molly & Bruce Bowler

Marilyn Bruya Mary Ellen Campbell Kaye Carlson Clayton Christian Carolyn Dewey Kay & Jim Driscoll Danielle & Brian Eicholtz

Mary & Royce Engstrom

Carol Garlington Mary & Donald Gillespie Janice Givler Carolyn Goren Doosy Habbe Melissa Hartigan Laura & John Heit Bob Homer William James Kari Kale Tomi Kent Donna & James Koch Ann Libecap Virginia Markey Sue & Dave McCormack Patti & Scott McKenzie Mary & Ted Morse – in honor of Coco & Will Ballew Joan Johnston Merrill Lynch Joyce & Michael Nave Kent Nelson Marge Nordin Mary Ann Oberhaus Janet & Chris Palmer Kathy & George Roth Nancie Schumacher Kristen Sohlberg Jean & David Steele Sara Alice Steubs Carol Thomas Sally Tibbs Mary & Robert Tromly Cristin & Richard Volinkaty Steve Wallace Jeanne Werner Mary & David Wesley Bruce Whitehead Judith Williams Beth Woody Phyllis & Norman Wight Carol Word

ASSOCIATE ($100-$249)

Karen Ruth Adams & Christopher Muste Mary Ann & Robert Albee Nukhet & Jon Anders

David Andrews Judith & Roger Ahrens Dick Auerbach Sharee & Kenneth Ballinger Robert Bastasz

Angela & Scott Billadeau Barbara Blegen Melissa Blunt Diane Bodholt

Boxcar Bistro Louanna Butler Mary Ellen Campbell

Lorraine & Steve Carlson

Karyn & John Collins

Maggie Cook-Shimanek

Janelle & Steve Corn

Sally & Tom Daer

Debbie & Brad Dantic Kay & Jim Driscoll

Richard Earley

Suzanne & Richard Fahey Elaine & Dick Gagliardi Jean & John P. Thorstenson-Garrity

Carla Getz Carol & Keith Glaes William Haffey

Trish & Art Hightower Sharon & Bob Hinshaw Kate Holsapple

Shirley & Donald Hyndman Michael Irwin Penny Jakes

Charles Johnson III Judith Kiolbassa Marlene Koch

Linda Kulm Sandra Lawler Sherry Marsillo

Eileen McCarty Kathy McCaughey Nancy McCulloch

Edith McNenny Kathryn & Ed Mellander Barbara Nisbet Toni & Bob Ogg Kathleen Ort & John Duffield Patricia Peeples

Judith & Joseph Perine Elizabeth Putnam

Olleke Rappe-Daniels

Elisabeth Rice Earl Reinsel Linda Rockwell Gay Rushmer Christine & Patrick Ryan Kay & Jon Salmonson Kennedy Salonen Wes Salonen

Sue & Fred Samson - in honor of Patti McKenzie Vicke Schend Dianna Schmid

Robert Schurr

Scotty’s Table Scott Seifert

Doris Sherick

Myra Shults

Nancy Singleton Carol & Dale Stovall

Linda Stoudt Anna Taft

The Depot

Cheryl Thompson Sally Tibbs Judy Tobol

Catherine & Claude Tonnerre Milly & Fritz Tossberg Phyllis Wade

Roxane Weikel Janet Weber Mary Welti Wes Wilson

MEMBER ($50-$99) Carolyn Abbott Charles Anderson Dick Auerbach Anonymous (3) Martina Baum - Acker & Robert Acker Brandy Campbell Barbara Collins Jerry Covault

Navyline Cuenco Jane Darnell JoAnn G. Davison Frances & Michael Flaherty Maria Francis Patti Eldredge James Free Susan Goss Kimberley Granath Shirley Gustafson Elizabeth Hart Carol Hayes Pam Hillygus Jan Jacobson

Elizabeth Johns Wendy Lambert Marilyn & Everett Leitzke Karla Long Jennifer Mayo Leslie McShane Mark Milanick John Moody Jr Richard Odan Jan Pavlock Sharon & John Reiter Sally Rosenkranz Jennifer Santopietro Nita Smith

Kathleen Snodgrass Emma Spencer Julie & Craig Stahlberg Anne & Donald Stewart Martha & Russell Thayer Megan Tiffin Annette Walker

The following donations have made to the MSA in memory of loved ones in the past 12 months:

Karen Adams & Christopher Muste – in memory of Pete Heyler

Rose-Marie Bowman – in memory of Tracy Jeanne Bowman

Richard Baskett – in memory of Marva Christian Barbara Bekken – in memory of Charlotte & Arnold Bekken

Barbara Blegen – in memory of Dorothy & Hal Blege n

John A. Bonya – in memory of George Kesel Rose-Marie Bowman – in memory of Tracy Jeanne Bowman

Candice Boyer - in memory of Laura Patterson

Ethel Byrnes – in memory of Laura Patterson

Mary Ellen Campbell – in memory of John Talbot

Richard Earley – in memory of George Kesel

Robert Eder – in memory of Tottie Parmeter Candace Fetscher – in memory of Laura Patterson

Lynette Fritz – in memory of Thomas Fritz

Janice Givler – in memory of Robert Seim

Nancy Graves – in memory of Tom Graves Joseph Grinnell – in memory of Margie Grinnell

Melissa Huntington – in memory of Christine Wallace

Don Johnston – in memory of Virginia Johnston Marlene Koch – in memory of Kathe Calcagno

Jo-Ann & Ian Lange – in memory of Paol, Fred & Erik Bodholt

Marilyn & Everett Leitzke – in memory of Robert Seim

Lillian McCammon – in memory of Msgt. George & Barbara McCammon and in honor of Donald McCammon

Eileen McCarty – in memory of George Kesel John R McGinley, Jr. – in memory of George Kesel

Kathryn & Ed Mellander – in memory of Christine Wallace

Kathleen Ort & John Duffield – in memory of Kay Duffield

Eugene O’Sullivan – in memory of George Kesel

Pershing Phillips, Jr. – in memory of Colleen Phillips

Sharon & John Reiter – in memory of Robert Seim

Kitte Robins – in memory of John Talbot

Linda Rockwell – in memory of John F. Tibbs Sally Rosenkranz – in memory of Kay Duffield

Matthew Royter – in memory of Ruth Royter Ann & Brian Sharkey -in memory of Patricia Zapp

Jo May & Brian Salonen – in memory of Gaylene Salonen

Scott Seifert – in memory of George Kesel Ann & Brian Sharkey – i n memory of Patricia Zapp

Doris Sherick – in memory of Steve Sherick Rob Sterling – in memory of Margaret Sterling Carol & Dale Stovall – in memory of Caralee Mueller

Sue Talbot – in memory of Laura Patterson Betty Thisted – in memory of Robert Seim Carol Thomas – in memory of Virginia Vinal Sally Tibbs – in memory of Anne Hoell Sarah & William Towle – in memory of Robert Seim & John Talbot

The Family of John, Sally, Clare and Amy Tibbs – in memory of Anne Hoell

Steve Wallace – in memory of Christine Wallace Betsy & Warren Wilcox – in memory of Kay Duffield & Robert Seim Lynne & Gary Willstein – in memory Robert Seim & Don Holliday

Wipfli, LLP – in memory of Kay Duffield Phyllis & Louis Whitsell – in memory of Caralee Mueller

Johnston studied music theory under Dr. Carl Jenson at Macalester college in St. Paul, MN. Music composition studies were conducted at the Northwestern University School of Music in Evanston, Illinois under Philip Warner (NBC Symphony Orchestra resident composer) and Robert Mills Delaney (recipient of the Pulitzer Music Award).

Johnston served in Korea during the war as a member of the 45th (Thunderbird) Infantry Division. He was assigned to the Division Band. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal for meritorious service during the war.

Later, after having served as Professor of Music at the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho and at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, Johnston continued Doctoral Studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Music composition studies were conducted under the auspices of Pulitzer Award winners Bernard Rogers and Eastman School of Music Director Howard Hanson.

Before retiring from teaching, Johnston served as Composer-in-Residence at The University of Montana Music School.

Although Johnston maintains his main claim to fame is being the oldest living student of the world-famous American composer Howard Hanson, he has also been recognized as one of Hanson’s notable students. Through his many compositions, Johnston has revealed a 20th Century “romantic” musical tradition that was pioneered by Dr. Hanson.

PROGRAM NOTES

James Randall

Superheroes come in many forms, and our concert testifies to their diversity: some local, some national, some unsung, and some extraterrestrial. They all, however, reflect us—our fears, our hopes, and our collective desire for rescue and redemption.

Joan Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 6

Joan Tower is one of our most celebrated living composers. Born in New York, her family moved to Bolivia when she was nine, and her musical experiences in South America deeply informed her later style: “My babysitter used to take me to these festivals. She would drop me off at the bandstand, so she could have fun. The band people would throw me a maraca or some kind of castanet or drum…My music is basically about rhythm. It’s all about timing for me.” Tower trained seriously as a pianist, studying first at Bennington College, where she also wrote her first musical works, and then went on to study composition at Columbia University, earning her doctorate in 1968. After composing successful chamber works in 1970s, she was approached to write a piece for orchestra in 1980. Describing the process, she said “I wrote the piece kicking and screaming, and close to being tortured.” Nonetheless, conductor Leonard Slatkin fell in love with the work, Sequoia, and invited her to become composer in residence with the St. Louis Symphony. For Tower, this launched the beginning of a fruitful but anxiety laden career as an orchestral composer: “I’ve always had a low opinion of myself. I think it’s a female thing, in a way. For women, in a field like composition, which has been male dominated for years and years and years, it’s a hard thing to walk into and feel that you are as empowered as your male colleagues are.”

Today we hear the finale of Tower’s six short Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman. The first was commissioned for the Houston Symphony by conductor Tobias Picker, who asked a number of composers to write short fanfares which would begin each of their concerts for the season. As Tower drafted hers, she took inspiration from Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, jokingly telling a female colleague that she had nicknamed the piece, “For the Uncommon Woman.” The friend said, “That’s not funny. It’s actually a great title.” The title stayed, and Tower further dedicated the fanfares to “women who take risks and are adventurous.” The first fanfare, premiered in 1986, was written for Maryn Alsop, the first woman to hold a permanent post as conductor of a major symphony orchestra. As a fitting tribute 20 years later, Alsop commissioned and conducted the sixth fanfare with the Baltimore Symphony to celebrate the orchestra’s Centennial Season in 2016.

The fanfare begins with an incessant ticking—is it a bomb, a clock? The ticking ceases and a half second later Tower detonates an explosive rhythmic motive that will form the thematic basis for the remainder of this exciting work.

Jean Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22, No. 1, 2 & 4

As monarchies toppled across Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, peoples long suppressed sought to form new nations bound by common ethnicity, language, and culture. The revival of folk tales, poetry and myth played an important role in these nascent nationalisms. For Finnish speaking peoples, the epic poetry of the Kalevala preserved the founding myths of their culture. Long preserved in oral tradition, these stories were assembled into a single written narrative in the nineteenth century, when they became an important source of national pride. In 1893, Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, in a marvelous piece of fan fiction, sought to musicalize episodes from the Kalevala in a multimovement symphonic suite. While certainly “program music”—music with an accompanying narrative—Sibelius’s music is more impressionistic than literal. He once wrote “If I could express the same thing with words as with music, I would, of course, use a verbal expression. Music is something autonomous and much richer. Music begins where the possibilities of language end.”

Sibelius was a huge admirer of Richard Strauss’ programmatic music, especially of Don Juan, which followed the misadventures of the legendary lothario. As it turned out the Kalevala had a randy hero of its own in the character Lemminkäinen. In the first movement of Sibelius’s work, Lemminkäinen visits an island where all the men, strangely, are away for the moment. The women, “a thousand brides,” (and widows too) are quite happy to see him. After some revelry, the men return and our “hero” makes a quick exit. In the second movement, The Swan of Tuonela, Sibelius explores the fabled isle of the dead, Tuonela, located in the northernmost reaches of earth. Between this island and the land of the living flows a swift, black river where a mystical swan patrols the waters. Lemminkäinen is sent to kill the swan, but on his jouney he’s felled by an arrow cast by an angry shepherd. Sibelius represents the swan in an unforgettable, haunting melody played on the English horn. Swans were held in particularly high regard by Sibelius. He wrote of his spiritual connection to the noble bird: “Millions of years ago, in my previous incarnations, I must have been related to swans…I can still feel that affinity.” While not programmed in today’s concert, movement three, Lemminkäinen in Tuonela, begins with the shepherd who shot Lemminkäinen throwing the hero’s body into the river. Angry to hear of the attempted murder of the swan, the son of the king of the underworld chops Lemminkäinen’s body into very small pieces. Not to worry, however—Lemminkäinen’s grieving mother travels to Tuonela, gathers the pieces, and resurrects our hero for further adventures. In the final movement, Lemmingkäinen’s Return, our hero returns from battle and gets a true superhero welcome. Victorious and triumphant, Sibelius’s icy and noble music still dazzles us today.

Jean Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26

or the Finnish people, the hymn-like theme of Finlandia stirs feelings of deep patriotism. When Sibelius composed this work in 1889 Finland was under the control of the Russian Empire, which became increasingly authoritarian during the rule of Czar Nicholas II. Finnish nationalists sought greater freedom and ultimately independence. In support of these efforts, writers, artists, and composers created patriotic works of art celebrating the heritage, history, and struggles of the Finnish people. Finlandia was one of these works. The piece was an immediate success when it premiered at a covert demonstration advocating for a free and independent Finnish press. Originally titled “Finland Awakes,” it was quickly adopted as a musical rallying cry for political independence. Russian attempts to censor the work were thwarted by clever Finns, who disguised it on concert programs under titles like “Impromptu” or “Happy Feeling at the Awakening of the Finnish Spring.” Today Finlandia has become much more universal in its appeal, with several authors setting words to its main theme. English-speaking audiences may recognize Sibelius’s melody as the Christian hymn, “Be Still My Soul.”

Composer Donald O. Johnston has led a remarkable life. During the Korean War he was charged with creating special music for the 45th (Thunderbird) Division of the US Army. He received the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service for raising the morale of war weary troops through his music. After the Korean War, he returned to music composition studies with the Pulitzer Award winners Robert Mills Delaney, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson. Johnston also served a noteworthy career as Professor of Music at The University of Montana from 1960 to 1993, where he taught composition, theory, and music literature.

The Lewis and Clark Symphony is a re-imagined version of Johnston’s Fourth Symphony. Scott Billadeau, a former student, perceived the Fourth as the musical representation of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition which indeed did traverse within a stone’s throw of where Johnston composed the symphony. A meeting was arranged with Dr. Hal Stearns, historian, and noted expert regarding the Lewis and Clark journey. Stearns concurred and suggested several dramatic events captured by the music. When approached by Billadeau regarding a programmatic aspect to the Fourth Symphony, Johnston found the idea intriguing. With a few minor changes and addition of a coda, the composition has become The Lewis and Clark Symphony.

Donald O. Johnston: Symphony No. 4 “Lewis & Clark” (Notes by Scott Billadeau)

I. Bad River Confluence (Encountering the Lakota Sioux)

The Lakota brought various food and gifts to Lewis and Clark in September of 1804, and they listened to an opening speech from Clark the best they could, as the interpreter was less than fluent. It’s hard to say how well things were translated with respect to the proclamation that the Lakota now had a ‘new great father’, and that the heavily armed Lewis and Clark party represented a sovereign nation who wished to have peace with their tribe. The idea that a newly formed American government was now in charge did not sit well with Chief Black Buffalo. An altercation ensued and weapons were drawn. Black Buffalo announced that Lewis and Clark would not be allowed to continue up the Missouri river. This was followed by several days of trying to get along, which included several feasts, dancing, and showing each other various treasures and medicine chests. On the final day, as the Corps of Discovery gathered in their boats, tensions flared again. Women and children backed away from the river as bad blood coursed through everyone’s veins.

II. The Gates of the Mountains

In July of 1805, Meriwether Lewis guided his canoes into a long and winding deep canyon. He described the experience in his journal as “the most remarkable cliffs that we have yet seen.” They seemed to rise “from the water’s edge on either side perpendicularly to the height of 1200 ft -- the towering and projecting rocks in many places seem ready to tumble on us.” Indeed, the nearly straight up rock cliffs were quite ominous to pass through. There was nothing but water and rock as far as they could see. After they made their way further up the river, the rocky cliffs appeared to close shut, as if they had just passed through a magical kingdom that was now hidden from view.

III. Lost Trail Pass

After feeling like they had ventured out of their way to meet up with Sacajawea’s Shoshone tribe, Lewis and Clark were determined to take a more direct route to the north. By September of 1805, the weather was hinting of the harsh winter to comeand waking up to temperatures as low as 19 degrees. Movement forward was slow and grinding, temperatures were freezing cold with snow on the ground and a mix of snow and sleet in the air that squelched their visibility. It was a treacherous and travailing path with no end in sight. Journal entries hinted at feeling lost, and if there was a trail, it was uncertain and unkind. After days of misery and every last drop of warmth pulled from their bodies, they finally made their way to present day Lolo, Montana, and what has become known as “Travelers Rest.”

IV. Ocean! O! The Joy (Symphonic Coda)

One of the key missions of the Corps of Discovery was to find a Northwest Passage that would unite the Pacific Ocean with the Midwest. Once they reached the Rocky Mountain Divide, they knew a Northwest Passage did not exist. They were now paddling downstream rather than up - and after weeks of making their way down the present day Columbia River they noticed a marked change in the terrain. After climbing up to higher ground to camp, on November 7th, 1805 (nearly 18 months after the start of their journey from St. Louis), William Clark recorded in his journal “Ocian [sic] in View! O! the joy.”

John Williams: Superman March

Few tunes are as instantly iconic of superhuman-ism as John Williams’ music for Richard Donner’s 1978 film, Superman. It’s got a fanfare to die for, a march, and, of course, a lush love theme to remind us that even superheroes need a little romance. If you listen closely, you’ll notice that all three sections grow out of the melody first introduced in opening fanfare. A master of mirroring character transformations in sound, Williams communicates the noble, the heroic, and the romantic, all in his exploration of a single theme.

KUFM BROADCAST

This concert will be broadcast over Montana Public Radio on a date to be announced.

KUFM Missoula, 89.1

KUFM North Missoula, 91.5 KUFN Hamilton, 91.9 KUKL Kalispell, 90.1 KAPC Butte, 91.3

KUHM Helena 91.7, KUFL Libby, 90.5 KPJH Polson, 89.5

KGPR Great Falls, 89.9Great Falls,

Large-print copies of Program Notes are available upon request in advance of the event by calling (406) 721-3194 or at www.missoulasymphony.org

The University of Montana’s Dennison Theatre and School of Music are proud to serve as home to the Missoula Symphony Orchestra & Chorale. This dynamic partnership between our organizations delivers professional musical opportunities to our students and provides engaging musical experiences for the Missoula community.