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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Debbie Croft: Music in the land of paint-by-number sky

I don't know what the weather was like in the Central Valley earlier this week, but here in the foothills we had a light storm that brought only enough rain to wet the ground. By evening the roads were dry, yet the air still held that clean fragrance that typically follows a welcomed rain shower. Besides water falling from the heavens, the clouds captivated me afterward with a stunning show.

As the storm passed over, the morning sky darkened, bringing a chill to the air and the need for a fire in the wood stove. Later, though, the sun broke through as the clouds slowly dissipated.

Tonight in the opening performance of its eighth season, the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra will perform selected orchestral works from three European composers: Gabriel Faure from France, Gustav Holst of Swedish heritage, born in England, and Edvard Grieg, the Norwegian musician.

As a guild member of the MSO, I must tell you that every time I hear them play, each performance is better than the last. And I'm sure tonight's concert will not disappoint.

Here's a brief introduction to the pieces chosen by director and conductor Les Marsden:

In Marsden's words, The evening will begin with one of the most harmonically beautiful works of French Impressionism, by Faure, who was the foremost French composer of his generation. Known as master of the French art song, he had an advanced understanding of harmonic structures which affected the teaching of harmony to later generations of music students. He is also known for Requiem, which was composed after the death of his parents. His "Suite from Pelleas et M'elisande" will be played tonight.

Marsden created a special edition of Gustav Holst's "Suite No. 1 in E" for symphonic orchestral winds, which will be premiered this evening. Holst is known for "St. Paul's Suite" and "The Planets." He taught music at two schools in England during his adult life and often traveled to other countries. Fascinated by cultures, he would wander around foreign cities for hours, to be discovered later by his friends almost always found debating with local musicians.

"Peer Gynt" was a nationalistic play written by Henrik Ibsen, who asked Grieg to compose incidental music for the work. It was an arduous task for Grieg, who said the play was brilliant, but impossible to write music for. From this came the popular "Morning Mood" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King."

Tchaikovsky praised Grieg's music for its beauty, originality and warmth. In 1903, gramophone recordings were made of his compositions, and these historic discs have been since preserved on LPs and CDs. When Grieg died, the streets of his hometown were lined with 30,000 to 40,000 people who came to honor him. Tonight's second half of the concert will feature the first two suites from the music for Ibsen's play.

(Information about composers noted here was taken from the recent MSO newsletter and Internet encyclopedia sources.)

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. today and will be performed at the New Life Christian Fellowship Church facility, 5089 Cole Road in the Darrah Road and Bootjack area, south of Mariposa. Tickets may be bought today before 5 p.m. at the Mariposa County Visitors Center or at the door; call (209) 966-7081 for details. The prices are always affordable at $6 for adults and $4 for students.

I can't say what the weather will be like this evening, but if you're in the mood for some beautiful music and a quiet drive in the country, maybe you'll discover more than one kind of beauty in these mountains in the land of my rapturous sky.

Debbie Croft writes about life in the foothill communities. She can be reached at composed@tds.net, or at her Sun-Star blog: City Girl, Country Life.