SEPTEMBER 2013
Fellow MPRO
Members,
Welcome
to our next season together, our first as the newly recognized Recorder
Orchestra affiliate of the American Recorder Society. This designation, along
with FredÕs article on the ARS website this spring, has already helped to increase
our profile nationally.
In
addition to the interesting and challenging pieces Fred has selected for us, we
are looking forward to the January 25th workshop with recorder heavyweight Paul
Leenhouts. The Board and contributing members will be
finalizing preparations for PaulÕs visit in September. We are truly fortunate
to have a workshop director of this caliber and hope all our members will be
able to attend.
For
a little personal history, I have a BA in Musicology from Sonoma State
University, where I did chorale and some recorder and vocal consort
performance, along with music journalism. Then, after many years in the
corporate world, the recordings of David Munrow, Ciaramella and Piffaro inspired
me to play early music again. I bought a set of Renaissance recorders from Bill
who, along with George, suggested I join the MPRO.
I'm
self-taught, with all the bad habits that implies. So I'm learning proper
technique here, as well as improving my general musicianship and ensemble
playing Ñ that gets to the heart of my philosophy as President: ItÕs about the music. WeÕre all here to
make something beautiful.
I
want to thank Liz Brownell, the rest of the Board, Fred and all of you for
making me feel welcome. IÕm humbled by the dedication IÕve seen to this group
by its members, even through
great personal adversity, and am proud to be a part of it.
I
look forward to making music with you and helping out in any way I can this
year and in the years ahead.
Best Wishes for an excellent 51st season.
Dana
ConductorÕs
Corner
Dear members of
the Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra,
Welcome to MPROÕs
fifty-first season. As the
orchestra continues its half-century tradition of providing quality musical
activities for those in the San Francisco Bay Area who play recorders and other
early instruments, I am pleased to announce that Paul Leenhouts
will be directing a workshop presented by MPRO on Saturday, January 25, at Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church in Menlo Park.
This will be a rare opportunity to work with one of today's leading
recorder players and ensemble directors as well as a founding member of the
world famous Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet, and I
encourage everyone to attend this unique event. Details concerning the workshop will
appear in future issues of Upbeat. In the meantime, please reserve January
25, 2014, on your calendar for this workshop.
For the orchestraÕs holiday concert in December, I have
chosen several unusual, yet outstanding, selections. These include three 16th-century
Scottish melodies, probably arranged in four parts around the year 1600, a
setting from The Song of Solomon by the English composer, John Hotby, who lived at the cusp of the Middle Ages and
Renaissance but whose music foreshadows that of the early Baroque, and two
pieces for recorders by Henry Cowell, who was born and worked in Menlo Park and
is considered one of the most important, innovative and influential American
composers of the 20th century.
In addition, we will be including the following music from last
season: the Gabrieli
Canzon Septimi Toni, the
Corelli Concerto Op. 6, No. 2 and the Albinoni Adagio
Op. 9, No. 8, featuring oboe soloist Nicholas Vigil. We will also be welcoming back Irene
Beardsley on keyboard who will be joining the orchestra for the performance in
December.
Listed
below is the music for the first three meetings of the orchestra. Music can be purchased at these meetings
for those who did not download and print it from the PDF files sent to the
orchestraÕs membership in August.
Those returning from last season can use their music for the selections
by Gabrieli, Corelli and Albinoni.
Please note that there will be sectional seating for the Gabrieli Canzon
Septimi Toni, with those in Coro Primo sitting on the
right as they face the conductor and those in Coro Secundo
on the left. Please observe this
seating arrangement when you choose your place at the beginning of the meeting
on September 25. Please note as
well that sopranino and contrabass recorders as well
as dulcien will be needed at all three meetings,
great bass recorders on September 11 and September 25, krummhorns
on September 11 and October 16, and bass viola da gamba
on September 25 and October 16.
September 11
Hotby: Quae est
ista
Cowell: Birthday Piece, Jig
Anonymous: O
lusty May, Wo worth the tyme,
How shuld
my febill body fure
September 25
Gabrieli:
Canzon Septimi Toni
Hotby: Quae est
ista
Corelli: Concerto Op. 6, No. 2
October 16
Anonymous: O
lusty May, Wo worth the tyme,
How shuld
my febill body fure
Albinoni:
Adagio Op. 9, No. 8
Corelli: Concerto Op. 6, No. 2
I look forward to working with you again
in September and encourage you to let any of your friends who play early
instruments know about the orchestra's activities this season and invite them
to attend our upcoming meetings, workshops and concerts.
Sincerely,
Fred Palmer
u u u u u u u u u u
A Note from the Editor
Dick
Davies, after thirteen years as Upbeat
editor, has turned the production over to me. The newsletter was always
interesting, accurate and timely under DickÕs conscientious and capable
editorship. It will not be easy to fill his shoes. But he has given me his
complete, well-organized files and has graciously offered whatever help I might
need.
Dick deserves a huge thank
you for his years of dedication and excellence.
THANK YOU, DICK!
Mary
Ann Field, Editor
A Message from the Treasurer
Hi Everyone -
Welcome to MPRO's fifty-first season! We are starting this
year in a reasonably comfortable financial position since we ended last year by
adding about $400 to our General Fund instead of being in the red. This
surplus was the result of concerted efforts by everyone to reduce costs and to
encourage donations. While we were able to add to our reserves last year,
in previous seasons we have had to draw on these funds, which remain low, to balance
our expenses. So, as in the past, I am asking everyone to consider making
a tax deductible donation in any amount to help defray our normal expenses,
especially rehearsal space rental. Please help MPRO stay in the
black. If you decide to make a donation, the best way to do so is by
writing a check to the San Francisco Early Music Society, our parent
organization, and I will forward it with a cover letter specifying it is a
donation to MPRO.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Leslie Pont, Treasurer
u u u u u u u u u u
MPRO Spring
Concert Picnic
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in June, MPRO members
and guests gathered
at the home of Fred Palmer in Belmont to help Fred christen his
new patio and barbeque. The views of the East Bay Hills and San Francisco Bay were
magnificent. Fred treated us to a
demonstration of his culinary talents by serving a colorful array of vegetables
which he grilled. Many thanks, Fred, for your hospitality.
u u u u u u u u u u
Save the Date: Workshop with Paul Leenhouts--Saturday, January 25, 2014.
See ConductorÕs Corner
for information.
DUES ARE DUE
A reminder that your dues for the 2013-2014 season are
due:
.
The Board: President: Dana Wagner; Treasurer: Leslie Pont; Recording Secretary: Helen Shamble;
Membership: Chris Flake; Publicity: TBD; Graphics: Mary Ashley; Newsletter Editor: Mary Ann Field;
Workshop Coordinator: Laura Gonsalves, Stuart Elliot; Hospitality: Judith Unsicker; Music Sales: Laura Gonsalves;
Historian: vacant; Webmaster: Dan Chernikoff; Facilities Mgr: Grace Butler; Consort Coordinator: vacant;
Historian: vacant;
MPRO website:
< http://www.mpro-online.org
>