CLEFWORKS IN CLOVERDALE
Friday, August 3, 2007 • 6:00 p.m.
Ligon Chapel, Huntingdon College followed by a family-friendly block party on Fairview Avenue in Old Cloverdale
In collaboration with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Cloverdale Business Community
ClefWorks’ second evening unfolds with a matinee performance in Ligon Chapel on the Huntingdon College campus. Patrons are then invited to join us along Fairview Avenue for a family-friendly block party where a series of miniature performances is scheduled throughout the evening. Block party festivities will be open to the public, making the most of the social aspect of artistic performance. Throughout the evening, ClefWorks is excited to be joined by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The pairing of dramatic scenes with selections from the chamber music repertoire can have the same effect as the right choice of wine on a selection at dinner: each element draws out hidden qualities in the other, the relationship between the two adding to your enjoyment of the whole.
Ligon Chapel, Huntingdon College
Part I: Merchant of Venice; Franz Liszt: Après une Lecture de Dante: Fantasia Quasi Sonata
Part II: Richard III; George Benjamin: Viola Viola
Part III: Midsummer Night’s Dream; Schubert: Cello Quintet
At Huntingdon, each Act of our program begins with a selection from one of the plays of William Shakespeare followed by a musical selection that enhances or comments on the dramatic scene. The first act of the evening is from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, where we find Lorenzo and Jessica sitting down to enjoy a moment of music—just as we are doing ourselves. In homage to the “Merchant of Venice,” an Italian literary icon provides the inspiration for the musical opening of this evening’s program: the 13th century poet Dante Aligheri, as heard through the ears of the 19th century composer and virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt. Liszt wrote three collections of music titled “Annees de Pelerinage,” or “years of Pilgrimage;” the second of the collections is musical pilgrimage to Italy where he pays homage to Petrarch, Raphael, Michelangelo and Dante. The first musical work on our program is titled “Après une Lecture de Dante: Fantasia Quasi Sonata,” or “After a Reading of Dante: A Sonata-Fantasy.” The powerful imagery, both angelic and demonic, of Dante’s “Divine Comedy” comes to life in this virtuoso showpiece for solo piano.
Our second act features one of Shakespeare’s most complete and unrepentant villains, Richard III. Near the end of the play, Richard has managed to kill all the relatives of Queen Elizabeth and is now suggesting that he might try to woo her daughter. The two enemies share the stage for an extended dialogue, exchanging single lines back and forth as if they were fencing. The duet “Viola Viola,” by contemporary British composer George Benjamin, transfers that manic, crazed argument to the musical stage. It is a special treat for ClefWorks to be able to present this composition, which requires the services of two exceptional violists, and wrings the last bit of effect and emotion from their abilities.
Our third and final Act brings us the end of Midsummer Night’s Dream, where Oberon and Puck are concluding the play that the characters themselves have just staged. The joy and reconciliation of this finale carries us over to one of the last compositions of our good friend from the previous evening, Franz Schubert. Visiting with Schubert once again allows us the opportunity to experience the unusual combination of string quartet with an additional cellist. Written within two years of his early death, the “Cello Quintet” combines Schubert’s usual infectious energy and melodious charm with a strikingly meditative communion with the infinite.
Fairview Avenue, Old Cloverdale Block Party
• Jorge Luis Borges Piazzolla: Café 1930 from Histoire du Tango
• Whitman: Knoxville 1915 Barber: Adagio for Strings, arr. 4 cellos
• Paul Verlaine Ravel: String Quartet, first movement
Immediately following the Ligon Chapel concert, we’ll move a short way down Fairview Avenue for a family-friendly block party enthusiastically supported by the Old Cloverdale Business Association. Expanding our evening’s partnership with the Shakespeare Festival, we will stage miniature pairings of drama and music along Fairview Avenue which will follow a schedule included in the program and posted throughout the neighborhood.
The Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla blended the music of the tango with various other musical traditions, including the Baroque and jazz styles, to create what he called “Nuevo Tango,” the New Tango. A movement from his Histoire du Tango for violin and guitar titled “Café 1930” will be accompanied by a poem by the Argentinian poet Jorge Luis Borges. Next door, Stonehenge Gallery will continue its display of artworks from ClefWorks’ See the Music project where three local artists were commissioned to create paintings inspired by French impressionist composer Maurice Ravel’s “String Quartet.” Festival participants will have the opportunity to silent bid on these unique, one-of-a-kind pieces as they are entertained with a reading of one of the symbolist poems of Paul Verlaine in conjunction with a movement from Ravel’s quartet.
Finally, ClefWorks will pair two of America’s great artists, the composers Samuel Barber and poet Walt Whitman. Following a reading of Whitman’s poem “Knoxville: 1915,” which Barber actually used as the lyrics for one of his own songs with orchestra, the cellists of ClefWorks will band together for an arrangement of perhaps Barber’s most famous work: “Adagio for Strings.” This haunting music began life as the second movement of Barber’s string quartet, and has since become more well-known as a piece in its own right.
See the Music Art Auction
ClefWorks commissioned renowned Montgomery artists Camilla Armstrong, Barrett Bailey and Langley Tolbert to paint their inspiration from “String Quartet in F Major” by French composer and pianist Maurice Ravel, which will also be performed for each group. Patrons will have the opportunity to place final bids on the artworks with winning bids announced at the conclusion of the evening.
Friday, August 3, 2007 • 6:00 p.m.
Ligon Chapel, Huntingdon College followed by a family-friendly block party on Fairview Avenue in Old Cloverdale
In collaboration with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Cloverdale Business Community
ClefWorks’ second evening unfolds with a matinee performance in Ligon Chapel on the Huntingdon College campus. Patrons are then invited to join us along Fairview Avenue for a family-friendly block party where a series of miniature performances is scheduled throughout the evening. Block party festivities will be open to the public, making the most of the social aspect of artistic performance. Throughout the evening, ClefWorks is excited to be joined by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The pairing of dramatic scenes with selections from the chamber music repertoire can have the same effect as the right choice of wine on a selection at dinner: each element draws out hidden qualities in the other, the relationship between the two adding to your enjoyment of the whole.
Ligon Chapel, Huntingdon College
Part I: Merchant of Venice; Franz Liszt: Après une Lecture de Dante: Fantasia Quasi Sonata
Part II: Richard III; George Benjamin: Viola Viola
Part III: Midsummer Night’s Dream; Schubert: Cello Quintet
At Huntingdon, each Act of our program begins with a selection from one of the plays of William Shakespeare followed by a musical selection that enhances or comments on the dramatic scene. The first act of the evening is from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, where we find Lorenzo and Jessica sitting down to enjoy a moment of music—just as we are doing ourselves. In homage to the “Merchant of Venice,” an Italian literary icon provides the inspiration for the musical opening of this evening’s program: the 13th century poet Dante Aligheri, as heard through the ears of the 19th century composer and virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt. Liszt wrote three collections of music titled “Annees de Pelerinage,” or “years of Pilgrimage;” the second of the collections is musical pilgrimage to Italy where he pays homage to Petrarch, Raphael, Michelangelo and Dante. The first musical work on our program is titled “Après une Lecture de Dante: Fantasia Quasi Sonata,” or “After a Reading of Dante: A Sonata-Fantasy.” The powerful imagery, both angelic and demonic, of Dante’s “Divine Comedy” comes to life in this virtuoso showpiece for solo piano.
Our second act features one of Shakespeare’s most complete and unrepentant villains, Richard III. Near the end of the play, Richard has managed to kill all the relatives of Queen Elizabeth and is now suggesting that he might try to woo her daughter. The two enemies share the stage for an extended dialogue, exchanging single lines back and forth as if they were fencing. The duet “Viola Viola,” by contemporary British composer George Benjamin, transfers that manic, crazed argument to the musical stage. It is a special treat for ClefWorks to be able to present this composition, which requires the services of two exceptional violists, and wrings the last bit of effect and emotion from their abilities.
Our third and final Act brings us the end of Midsummer Night’s Dream, where Oberon and Puck are concluding the play that the characters themselves have just staged. The joy and reconciliation of this finale carries us over to one of the last compositions of our good friend from the previous evening, Franz Schubert. Visiting with Schubert once again allows us the opportunity to experience the unusual combination of string quartet with an additional cellist. Written within two years of his early death, the “Cello Quintet” combines Schubert’s usual infectious energy and melodious charm with a strikingly meditative communion with the infinite.
Fairview Avenue, Old Cloverdale Block Party
• Jorge Luis Borges Piazzolla: Café 1930 from Histoire du Tango
• Whitman: Knoxville 1915 Barber: Adagio for Strings, arr. 4 cellos
• Paul Verlaine Ravel: String Quartet, first movement
Immediately following the Ligon Chapel concert, we’ll move a short way down Fairview Avenue for a family-friendly block party enthusiastically supported by the Old Cloverdale Business Association. Expanding our evening’s partnership with the Shakespeare Festival, we will stage miniature pairings of drama and music along Fairview Avenue which will follow a schedule included in the program and posted throughout the neighborhood.
The Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla blended the music of the tango with various other musical traditions, including the Baroque and jazz styles, to create what he called “Nuevo Tango,” the New Tango. A movement from his Histoire du Tango for violin and guitar titled “Café 1930” will be accompanied by a poem by the Argentinian poet Jorge Luis Borges. Next door, Stonehenge Gallery will continue its display of artworks from ClefWorks’ See the Music project where three local artists were commissioned to create paintings inspired by French impressionist composer Maurice Ravel’s “String Quartet.” Festival participants will have the opportunity to silent bid on these unique, one-of-a-kind pieces as they are entertained with a reading of one of the symbolist poems of Paul Verlaine in conjunction with a movement from Ravel’s quartet.
Finally, ClefWorks will pair two of America’s great artists, the composers Samuel Barber and poet Walt Whitman. Following a reading of Whitman’s poem “Knoxville: 1915,” which Barber actually used as the lyrics for one of his own songs with orchestra, the cellists of ClefWorks will band together for an arrangement of perhaps Barber’s most famous work: “Adagio for Strings.” This haunting music began life as the second movement of Barber’s string quartet, and has since become more well-known as a piece in its own right.
See the Music Art Auction
ClefWorks commissioned renowned Montgomery artists Camilla Armstrong, Barrett Bailey and Langley Tolbert to paint their inspiration from “String Quartet in F Major” by French composer and pianist Maurice Ravel, which will also be performed for each group. Patrons will have the opportunity to place final bids on the artworks with winning bids announced at the conclusion of the evening.