|
|
Giacomo Puccini 12/22/1858
|
|
Mark Your Calendars
...........................
12/18/2019
Music at Noon,
William McCorkle at the organ with
music of the season.
12 Noon,
Lexington
Presbyterian Church
12/18/2019
9th Almost Annual
4 Piano
Holiday Extravaganza
and
Sing-A-Long;
7:30 PM
at the home of
David and Linda Krantz.
Tim Gaylard,
William McCorkle,
Keenan Reesor,
James Pannabecker
at the pianos.
RSVP by 12/16 by email to
or call the Krantzs
540-460-9555.
.............................
1/12/2020
Rockbridge Chorus
extends the holiday season with Vaughan Williams
Hodie and
Saint-Saens Oratorio de Noel,
3 PM,
Lexington
Presbyterian Church.
.............................
4/14/2020
Rockbridge Youth Chorale, Spring Concert,
7 PM,
Lexington
Presbyterian Church
.............................
4/18/2020
Rockbridge Chorus,
Spring Pops Concert,
7 PM
Lexington
Presbyterian Church
featuring
Josh Harvey
|
|
 |
|
Singing Elves
The Rockbridge Youth Chorales and the Rockbridge Chorus rang in the holiday season with their annual concert on December 7. Everyone had a great time, and once again our kids of all ages did not disappoint! Thanks to our youth choir directors, Lacey Lynch and Lori Parker, and stellar piano accompanist, Anna Billias, for preparing the three young choirs for this concert. And a million thanks to all the parents who learned the songs, sang along, and got the kids there on time all fall. If you were there you know it was great fun. If you missed it, be there next year! We welcome your feedback as well. Let us know. admin@rcs.org
|
 Tick Tock
There's still time to make a charitable contribution before the tax year closes. Our Adopt- A -Musician program has funded two of our singers and our organist for our January 12, 2020 concert. We still have a couple of ringer singers to go and our three main soloists.
Get together with some of your fellow singers to sponsor soprano Christine Fairfield, tenor Robert Petillo, or bass Keith Spencer. If you are a tenor or bass and you appreciate the help, donate $150 to sponsor a ringer singer for your section. If you can help, please contact our treasurer, Larry Evans (bass section leader),
larryevans223@gmail.com or donate through our website,
http://www.rcs.org/adopt-a-musician We thank you!
|
|
This is the
Finale: Allegro of Louise Farrenc's Symphony No. 3 in G Minor. Nope. Not Beethoven, though it has that feel. Farrenc was a mid- 19th century pianist and composer during the French classical period. Born in Paris in 1804, her contemporaries were Berlioz, Ravel, and Saint-Saens, and to be sure many of her numerous compositions for piano and chamber orchestra were reflective of the lush, scenic nature of this period. But, her symphonies, particularly the 3rd, were heavily influenced by the German composers of earlier in the century, most especially Beethoven. Unfortunately for her and her era, in this she was a misfit. Her symphonies achieved almost no notoriety during her lifetime. Though she was successful, famous, admired and even beloved as a concert pianist and teacher, the times gave her little opportunity to have her symphonies performed. In fact,
her third symphony was only performed a few times in her lifetime. It was mostly up to the composer to field an orchestra and obtain a performance venue - costly particularly for a female composer in mid-19th century Paris where the orchestral form was not popular and orchestras of the size needed were not common. She did not have the advantage of familial or marital association to boost her status as a composer. Not to disparage Fanny Mendelssohn or Clara Schumann - both were outrageously talented in their composing. But no doubt those ladies' connections gave them a leg up. Going 'mainstream' was not really viable for someone like Louise. Though she was a great concert pianist, she did not stay in her lane. She gravitated to the influences of those German composers. She heard them. She and Beethoven shared a teacher - Antoine Reicha. She heard them.
By the French classical period the Germanic style had fallen out of favor. Audiences were looking for more delicate music, not masterful, self-assured or defiant. Nevertheless, by this time Louise Farrenc knew what she wanted to say musically and she said it with conviction. If you don't know the music of this French composer, check out the 3rd symphony. Madame Farrenc does not disappoint.
|
|
|
The Ridicu-Lists
OK, we don't do politics here, but we could not resist this. Have fun!
Check here
|
|
|
