November
Birthdays and Quotable Quotes
|
Benjamin Britten - 11/22/1913- "Music does not exist until it is performed."
 Scott Joplin - 11/8/1868 (estimated) - "When I'm dead 25 years, people are going to begin to recognize me."
John Philip Sousa - 11/6/1854 - "A band is only as good as its euphonium section."
|
|
Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
It's November, and thanks to the return to standard time and the turning of the globe, we enter this time of shorter days and longer nights, and head toward the Christmas season and a new year. In the coming season of gathering and thanksgiving, we need look no further than Felix Mendelssohn's "Thanks Be to God" from his great oratorio, Elijah,
for inspiration.
Listen here
. This is a musical 'thank you' on a grand scale, and the Rockbridge Choral Society will perform it on Sunday April 24, 2016 at 7 PM in Wilson Hall at the Lenfest Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Washington and Lee University.
Let's not forget that Johann Sebastian Bach is arguably the king of musical "thank you". One lovely example is his chorale, "
Ich Danke Dir, O Gott, In Deinem Throne
", or "
I Thank You, Oh God, Upon Your Throne
". Watch here
We could likely go on and on here, but we'll conclude with Beethoven's "
Heiliger Dankgesang
" or "
Holy Song of Thanksgiving
", which he composed during the winter of 1825 when he was very ill and feared death. He did recover and expressed his gratitude for renewed health in this beautiful string quartet. While it has no words, he did give it a title - "
Holy Song of Thanksgiving from a Convalescent to the Deity (Divinity),
in the lydian mode". Be well, but if you're not, you can call on Beethoven to help express your thanks for recovery!
Here's an entertaining short course on the history and musical construction of this work presented by the Stanford School of Medicine, the St. Lawrence Quartet and Robert Kapilow, composer. Settle in with a cup of coffee and a slice of pie for this one, but it's fun! Watch here
Or, just listen here if you-re too ill for coffee and pie.
|
A Well-Seasoned (Musically) Thanksgiving
These musical menu suggestions from a 2012 NPR Deceptive Cadence on-air spot inspired a second listen for the day of chopping, stuffing, cooking, baking, eating, after-dinner relaxing with family, friends, a football game or a nap. There's even something for the post-feast clean-up.
Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
|
 |
|
Music Happenings
11/18/15 - Jonathan Chapman Cook - Improvisation Performance, 5 PM in Staniar Gallery, Wilson Hall, Lenfest Center
12/3/15 - W&L Jazz Ensemble, with a tribute to Frank Sinatra, 8 PM, Wilson Concert Hall, Lenfest Center
12/5/15 - Rockbridge Choral Society and Rockbridge Youth Chorale - Holiday Concert, 7:30 PM, Lexington Presbyt
erian Church
|
|
RCS rehearsing for the Holiday Concert |
12/7/15 - W&L Holiday Pops Concert - University wind, string, jazz ensembles, men's Glee Club,
Contatrici 8 PM, Wilson Concert Hall, Lenfest Center
12/10/15 - Lessons and Carols - University Singers, 8 P
M, L
ee Chapel, W&L Campus.
|
The Reviews Are In!
|
|
|
What a great time the Rockbridge Chamber Singers had on Sunday afternoon 11/8! Their November Lights offering was well attended and the audience was most appreciative of the program, the presentation, and our director! Thanks to all who came out! We love our audiences! Here are a couple of their comments.
"SUPERB!!! Luminous, spot on, transporting, phenomenal... fine musicianship and ensemble awareness..." "...one of the finest you've ever done -
you sounded like angels! "
|
|
|
|
