Program: November 1996

The Composers

Program Slava! A Czech celebration for Symphony Orchestra

Joel Blahnik

Callings Contemplation Celebration

Music from The Bartered Bride

Bedrich Smetana

Overture Polka Dance of the Comedians

Scherzo Capriccioso

Antonin Dvorak

Slavonic Movements for Orchestra

Vaclav Nelhybel

Bohemian Chorale Legend Chant

Polka and Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper

Jaromir Weinberger

The Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra Now in its seventeenth season, the orchestra has a mission to present orchestral and wind concerts to audiences in the region and to provide a performance opportunity for trained musicians. Its members represent a cross-section of ages, professions and pursuits. They come from various communities in the Cannon Valley region, and the orchestra has performed in many of these communities. Membership is open to any player in the area with a successful high school or college level musical background, based on section vacancies. For information, contact the Northfield Arts Guild, (507) 645-8877. Acknowledgments We express our gratitude to Sister Danita Sticka and St. Wenceslaus Church for their cooperation and efforts in connection with this performance. The orchestra also gratefully acknowledges the help of the St. Olaf Music Department and the Northfield Arts Guild. This concert is made possible in part by grants provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature.

For centuries, music has held a central place in the culture of Bohemia. In the late Renaissance and early Baroque Prague was considered “the conservatory of Europe.” Foreign influences from Germany and other parts of Western Europe influenced the culture of Bohemia, but there was always a strong native tradition in music. The middle of the 19th century saw the rise of a nationalist Czech musical movement. Two of its great founders, Dvorak and Smetana, and three Czech composers who carried on this tradition are featured in today’s program. A native of Wisconsin with a Czech heritage. Joel Blahnik was a music educator in the Wisconsin public schools for thirty-two years until his retirement in 1992. He has composed a number of works which take their inspiration from Czech history. The work presented on today’s program, Slava, draws upon material from the 12th century Czech chant, St. Wenceslaus and the 15th century Hussite chorale, Ye Warriors of God. Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) developed his musical sensibilities at an early age in Bohemia and quickly aligned himself with progressive and nationalist ideas. In 1848 he achieved immense success with his opera, The Bartered Bride, which is based on Bohemian legend and folk material and marked the beginning of a truly national Czech school of music. Moving from his early emphasis on opera, he later produced a great body of work in various genres. While Smetana never quoted folk melodies in his major works, a Czech spirit colored all his writing. Born of humble origins, Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) retained his ties to the Czech folk while building a reputation as a composer of symphonies and chamber music. His music, while showing the influence of Brahms and other Western European composers, revealed its Czech character through the occasional use of folklike tunes and popular dance rhythms. Some of his works in small forms, such as the Scherzo Capriccioso performed today, illustrate these characteristics. Vaclav Nelhybel (1919-1996) was born at Polanka nad Odrou, Czechoslovakia. After studying classics, musicology, conducting, and composition in Prague and Fribourg, Switzerland, he held conducting positions with Radio Prague, Swiss National Radio, and Radio Free Europe. In 1957 he came to the U.S. and built a successful career as a composer, guest conductor, and lecturer. He produced more than 300 instrumental and vocal compositions. Born in Prague, Jaromir Weinberger (1886-1967) became a noted composer who achieved great success with his opera, Svanda Dudak, or Schwanda the Bagpiper, which premiered in 1927. Svanda is a wonderful display of Weinberger’s gifts for captivating melodies and the use of Czech and Slovak

folklore and dance rhythms. To escape Nazi persecution, Weinberger emigrated in 1938 to the U.S., where he composed in Czech and American idioms.

Personnel Violin Holly Rohr Ellen Iverson Molly Johannessen Jeff Longtin Pam Mount Becky Berglund Gerry Casper Ginny Culhane Sophie Dahle Bob Hanson B.J. Engrav Anna Niemisto Katy Roberts Kristal Haugen Sarah Figge Abbie Teslow Petraya Juelfs Viola Dylan Jacobson Laura Vick Penny Hilleman Meg Hargreaves Christina Bliss

Cello Andora Barvir Karen Madsen Jane Rinehart Lynsey Freer Kristi Knecht Jan Gustafson Bass Aaron Anderson Bruce Jensen Flute Regina Zakrajsek Mary Zard Oboe Cindy Breederland Terri Geffert Elizabeth Olson Clarinet Kathy Szydlo Lisa Neussendorfer

Trumpet Steve Kriesel Jim Bowen Mark Jensen Horn Barb Wornson Brian Rardin Trish Culbert Joan Vance Behr Trombone Mary Dunnewold Carl Behr Paul Beck Tuba Jim Gryc Percussion Kay Hanson John Martinez Gary Iseminger David Miller

Bassoon William Child Elizabeth Bade You can help support the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra in 1996-97 Although the members and players of the CVRO are not paid performers, we have costs for printing, music rentals, transportation, and sound systems. Support from the Northfield Arts Guild is supplemented with contributions from the public, and we invite contributions from anyone inspired by our mission. You may send your tax-deductible contribution to: Northfield Arts Guild Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra 304 Division Street Northfield, MN 55057