L’Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi
Is an opera that is based on the Greek legend Orpheus. It premiered in 1607, a late Renaissance early Baroque style piece. The Toccata, a rousing fanfare passage, is the opening musical announcement to the performance, which we now call an overture.
Gravitas by Soon Hee Newbold
Is written in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Columbus Symphony Chamber Strings and Dr. Robert Gillespie that started in 1984.
“This version for full orchestra features the bass voices with a somber, serious tone in the beginning followed by a celebratory melodic line (featured in the horns) that continues throughout the piece. I used feelings of nostalgia power, and accomplishment as inspiration for the work.” — Soon Hee Newbold
Oblivion for Oboe & Orchestra by Astor Piazzolla and arranged by Jonathan Allentoff
Was composed in 1984 for a film entitled Enrico IV by Mario Bellochio. It is written in the style of milonga, a song form that predates the tango. This piece is one of Piazzolla’s most popular works and has been adapted for a variety of solo instruments.
Cadence Everlasting by Rossano Galante
Is a solo horn accompanied by sustained strings sets the tone for this lyrical piece. This work aims to capture humanity’s love affair with music. The beauty of music is its ability to evoke an emotional response without words, just sonic waves. Music truly is the sound of emotions.
This piece is dedicate in remembrance of Dr. John Marcellus who was Director and Conductor of the Brighton Symphony Orchestra from 1980 to 2014.
Pavane pour one infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) for Flute & Orchestra by Maurice Ravel and arranged by Jonathan Allentoff
The composition was originally written for piano in 1899. Ravel wrote an orchestral version in 1910 and since that time the popularity of this piece has inspired many adaptations for soloist and and orchestra. Ravel wrote that the piece is “an evocation of a pavane that a little princess might, in former times have danced at the Spanish court.” A pavane is a slow processional dance that was popular in the courts of Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Dolly Suite by Gabriel Fauré
Consists of 6 short pieces written for piano duets (1893 & 1896) to mark the birthdays and other events in the life of the daughter of Fauré’s mistress, Emma Bardac. The suite was scored for orchestra by Henri Rabaud in 1906. The Brighton Symphony will be playing an adaptation for smaller orchestra by F. Heurteur. The title of each of the six pieces are:
- Berceuse — A cradle song. Marking Dolly’s first birthday.
- Mi-a-ou — Written for Dolly’s second birthday. The title refers to Dolly’s attempts to pronounce the name of her elder brother Raoul. Dolly called her brother Messieu Aoul.
- Le jardin de Dolly — Composed as a present for New Year’s Day 1895. The Fauré scholar Jean-Michel Nectoux considers this “perhaps the jewel of the suite, with its lovely tune, moving harmonies and limpid, subtle counterpoint.”
- Kitty-valse — Is not about a cat, but “a kind of whirling portrait” of the Bardac’s pet dog, Ketty.
- Tendresse — (Tenderness) Was originally dedicated to Adela Maddison, wife of a music publisher. Like “Le Jardin de Dolly”, this piece is lyrical, but is in a more modern style, making use of chromaticism of the kind Fauré later deployed in his Nocturnes.
- Le pas espagnol — The suite ends with a Spanish dance, a lively and picturesque piece of scene-painting.
Sinfonia in A Major by Emmanuel Sikora
A commission for the celebration of Brighton Symphony Orchestra’s
50th Anniversary
Bach’s Children Choir will be singing:
Consider Yourself from Oliver by Lionel Bart arranged by Jonathan Allentoff
Beauty and the Best by Howard Ashman & Alan Menken arranged by Jonathan Allentoff
I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin arranged by Jonathan Allentoff