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Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony Presents “Carnival of Music”
Released February 3, 2008
(Aberdeen, S.D.) On March 11, 2008, the Aberdeen University/Civic
Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Robert Vodnoy, will
present a concert titled “Carnival of Music.” The program
will include music by Saint-Saëns, Berlioz, Chabrier, Vivaldi
and Copland, and will feature six members of the orchestra as soloists.
Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals,” is humorous and delightful work for chamber orchestra and two pianos. The “Carnival of the Animals,” subtitled “A Grand Zoological Fantasy” is a suite in 14 short movements which depicts a variety of animals and humans in a humorous way. Among the animals depicted are royal lion, a barnyard of hens and cocks, kangaroos, wild jackasses, tortoises an elephant, an aquarium filled with shimmering fish, a coo-coo in the woods, an aviary full of birds, fossils, a swan and a grand finale. Saint-Saëns wrote the work as a private entertainment for his friends and did not allow the work to be published during his lifetime. However, after Saint-Saëns died, it was published and has become one of his most popular works. The work is scored for two pianos, flute, clarinet, percussion and strings. Darcy Brandenburg, Edgeley, N.D., Carissa Karsky, Dickinson, N.D., Katherine Klipfel, Forbes, N.D. and Brandon Sterling, Rapid City, will be the featured piano soloists. Steve Balsarini and Shannon Patek will be narrators, reciting poetry by Ogden Nash which was inspired by the work to introduce each movement.
In 1939, Aaron Copland composed incidental music for the play “Quiet City,” by Irwin Shaw. The following year, he pieced together several short excerpts to create the tone poem by the same title. He re-orchestrated the music for trumpet, English horn and strings. The musical work “Quiet City” evokes the spirit of a lonely and introspective individual set against an urban landscape. According to Copland, the music portrays the nostalgia, regrets, and angst of the main character of the play, feelings which are felt more acutely at night. The soloists for this 10-minute work will Julia Wakal, Edmonton, Alberta, on trumpet and Maria Morton, Aberdeen, on English horn.
The program will open with Hector Berlioz’s Roman “Carnival Overture,” an exciting overture which is based a music taken from Berlioz’s opera “Benvenuto Cellini”. Also on the program will be Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins which will be played by the entire violin section of the orchestra. Concluding the concert will be Emmanuel Chabrier’s “España,” a brilliant tone poem for full orchestra which captures the rhythms and melodies of Spain.
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is free. For information, contact the Fine Arts Office at 626-2497.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a premier residential institution characterized by outstanding instruction, extraordinary community relations, and unparalleled extracurricular opportunities. In August of 2007 NSU was named by US News and World Report as one of the best undergraduate public institutions in the Midwest. For more information about NSU, visit our Web site at www.northern.edu.
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