Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra concert March 10
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Guest violinist Vincent Meklis will be performing with the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra on March 10, at 4 p.m., at Country Oaks Baptist Church, 20915 Schout Road. Call 661/821-7511 or check the website at www.tehachapiorchestra.com for more information. Admission is free. Photo Courtesy of Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra
The Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Dr. David Newby will perform on Sunday, March 10 at Country Oaks Baptist Church beginning at 4 p.m.
The program opens with Johannes Brahms, Violin Concerto in D Major, featuring guest soloist Vincent Meklis.
The first performance of the Violin Concerto in D Major was conducted by Brahms in Leipzig on January 1, 1879 with Joseph Joachim as the soloist. Brahms had sought out his friend and colleague, Joachim, for advice and technical help on the solo violin part. The first movement is quite melodic and is a clear homage to Beethoven.
Brahms introduces the orchestra and then the violin enters with the timpani. Toward the end of the movement, Brahms allows the soloist to improvise a cadenza, although, the cadenza Joachim recorded is sometimes performed today.
The slow movement opens with the oboe playing one of Brahms' finest melodies. Supposedly, virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate refused to play this concerto because he did not want to "stand with violin in hand and listen to the oboe playing the only tune in the adagio."
Brahms quickly turns from oboe to the violin, which carries the melody through to the end of the movement.
The finale is quick and merry with a gypsy folk rhythm in the violin as well as trumpets and drums in a final march building momentum, abruptly changing gears before ending with a bang.
The third movement of Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Major has been used in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 film, "There Will Be Blood" and is the inspiration for the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice song "Don't Cry for Me Argentina from Evita".
The concerto demands extraordinary skills from the soloist, with rapid scale passages, rhythmic variation, and multiple stopping. These technical demands are awe-inspiring, as is the performance of soloist Meklis, who has won numerous awards and has performed worldwide.
After the intermission, Francis Poulenc's, Sinfonietta will be performed.
Sinfonietta was written between 1947 and 1948 to be broadcast on the BBC's fine arts channel, "The Third Programme". It represents Poulenc's venture into the symphonic domain, having four movements.
The first movement is a succession of themes beginning with an almost explosive and energetic start. Then melodic lines provide some calm before returning to the opening theme. The "Molto Vivace", a scherzo, is the most light-hearted of all the movements. The "Andante Cantabile" is more serious and presents a gentler movement.
Two main themes make up the content being both delightful and hauntingly beautiful.
The "Finale: Prestissimo et très gai" is very fast and very gay. It begins with a gruff tone, but soon turns into a light mood. The movement is interspersed with Poulenc's brand of musical humor with considerable demands especially on the upper strings. Sinfonietta is Poulenc's only symphonic work and is full of his trademark charm and wit.
Dr. David Newby, soloist Vincent Meklis, and Tehachapi Symphony members will be available during a reception following the concert.
Don't miss the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra and Vincent Meklis on March 10 at 4 p.m. at Country Oaks Baptist Church located at 20915 Schout Road. Admission is free. For more information, call 661-821-7511 or check the website at www.tehachapiorchestra.com.
