Classical music concerts include the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra \u201cHebrew Connections\u201d and the Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bach Choir \u201cAn American Patchwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra presents \u201cHebrew Connections,\u201d 3 p.m. April 12, Congregation Bnai Shalom, Easton.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis concert features classical works heavily influenced by the Jewish culture\u2019s Klezmer and Chassidic musical traditions as heard by composers Sergei Prokofiev and Ernest Bloch,\u201d says guest conductor Gary D. White.<\/p>\n
\u201cContinuing this theme, the second half of the concert is a celebration of one of America\u2019s foremost composers, Aaron Copland, also of Jewish descent,\u201d White says.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach selection is alive with energy and passion and is sure to create a memorable afternoon\u2019s entertainment,\u201d says White.<\/p>\n
The concert opens with Sergei Prokofiev\u2019s \u201cOverture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34\u201d (1919), a commissioned piece requested by six of his students at St. Petersburg Conservatory. Two themes are most prominent: the first in klezmer style and the second rather nostalgic.<\/p>\n
Guest violinist Maxwell Brown is soloist for Ernest Bloch\u2019s \u201cBaal Shem: Three Pictures of Chassidic Life\u201d (1923). The work, which explores Eastern European Jewish spirituality and Hassidic traditions, is named after the 18th century founder of the Hassidic movement, Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, also known as the Baal Shem Tov, \u201cholder of a good name.\u201d<\/p>\n
After intermission, the Sinfonia continues with Aaron Copland\u2019s \u201cQuiet City\u201d (1939), featuring a beautiful and haunting opening dialogue between English horn soloist Nabuo Kitagawa and trumpet soloist Hugh Williamson. Initially composed as incidental music for a play by American playwright and novelist Irwin Shaw, the play was withdrawn after two performances, but Copland\u2019s orchestral suite remains popular today.<\/p>\n
The concert closes with Copland\u2019s Pulitzer Prize-winning \u201cAppalachian Spring\u201d (1944), which includes the famous theme and variations on the Shaker tune \u201cSimple Gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Says White, \u201cWritten for the Martha Graham Dance Company, it is the story of a newly-married couple settling and building their lives together right here in nearby Scranton, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I personally listen to this powerful work, that additional detail makes the work come alive in a whole new way,\u201d White says.<\/p>\n
An experienced conductor, clinician, adjudicator and instrumentalist, Gary White trained at Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Orchestral Musicians, Hancock, Me.<\/p>\n
He graduated from The New School of Music and received a Masters from Temple University\u2019s Esther Boyer College of Music.<\/p>\n
White, a professional French horn player, has performed with the Fairmount Brass Quartet, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, the Harrisburg, Reading and Pottstown symphonies, as a substitute with The Philadelphia Orchestra and is heard on numerous recordings.<\/p>\n
Maxwell Brown, 15, is a student in the Pre-College Program of The Juilliard School and, through the Perlman Music Program, studies with Itzhak Perlman.<\/p>\n
A recipient of numerous awards and accolades, Brown has performed as soloist with the Ambler Symphony, Chicago Arts and Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and in Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and the Kimmel Center. An avid fiddler, Brown is two-time youth champion of the world\u2019s oldest and largest fiddlers convention held in Galax, Va.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, \u201cHebrew Connections,\u201d 3 p.m. April 12; 2 p.m., pre-concert talk, Congregation Bnai Shalom, 1545 Bushkill St., Easton. Tickets: PSO office, 1524 W. Linden St., Allentown; 610-434-7811; https:\/\/www.pa.sinfonia.org<\/p>\n
Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem presents \u201cSpring Concert: An American Patchwork,\u201d 4 p.m. April 19, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis afternoon\u2019s program reflects on so many voices and influences that have helped shape American music,\u201d says Alaina Swartz, Youth Chorale Conductor and Director of Education & Community Engagement of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike pieces of a quilt, each tradition adds its own color and character, creating something vibrant and uniquely American,\u201d Swartz says.<\/p>\n
The concert opens with \u201cThe Star Spangled Banner,\u201d under the baton of Bel Canto Director Kelly Rocchi.<\/p>\n
Margaret Surdovel directs \u201cBach Buddies,\u201d comprising children in kindergarten through second grade, in Paul Jennings\u2019 arrangement of \u201cRocky Mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Da Capo Treble Choir, for elementary-age students, is directed by Erica Silver in \u201cUh-Hum! (Froggie Went a-Courtin\u2019)\u201d by Greg Gillpin, and joined by the Youth Chorale in Neil Johnson\u2019s arrangement of \u201cCindy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alaina Swartz leads the middle school-age Youth Chorale in \u201cDe Colores\u201d by Mari Esabel Valverde; \u201cShenandoah\u201d by Mary Goetze; \u201cCripple Creek\u201d by Emily Crocker; \u201cKeep Your Lamps!\u201d by Victor C. Johnson, and Rollo Dilworth\u2019s \u201cLift Every Voice and Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bel Canto Youth Chorus closes the concert with \u201cMy Country Tis of Thee, America the Beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Piano accompanists are Emily Brands for \u201cBach Buddies\u201d and Da Capo Treble Choir, and Tina Lebrecht for Youth Chorale and Bel Canto Youth Chorus.<\/p>\n
Says Swartz, \u201cThrough today\u2019s performance, our singers explore just a small sampling, from folk traditions to contemporary choral works, with each piece representing a different thread in the rich and varied fabric of American music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, \u201cSpring Concert: An American Patchwork,\u201d 4 p.m. April 19, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte St., Bethlehem; Tickets: Bach Choir Office, 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem; Children under 10 free; office@bach.org; 610-866-4382 ext. 110 or 115; https:\/\/bach.org\/tickets<\/p>\n
\u201cClassical View\u201d is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com<\/p>\n
Maxwell Brown<\/p>\n
Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bach Choir<\/p>\n
Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bach Choir<\/p>\n
Gary D. White<\/p>\n
Kelly Rocchi<\/p>\n
Alaina Swartz<\/p>\n
Erica Silver<\/p>\n
Margaret Surdovel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Classical music concerts include the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra \u201cHebrew Connections\u201d and the Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":156145,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-156144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156144\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}