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Crescendo Ignace "Iggy" Jang |
Chorus joins symphony
for RequiemDo you know that the thought of losing control of my violin bow and seeing it fly by unsuspecting concertgoers has crossed my mind a number of times? It's guaranteed to haunt me this weekend because the orchestra will be seated much closer to the audience than usual. That's so we can make room for the 134 members of the Honolulu Symphony Chorus. Some musicians, myself included, will be seated on the edge of the stage.
The chorus will join us in celebrating Brahms' magnificent Requiem, a masterpiece the chorus has been rehearsing since last summer.
The majesty of Brahms
The Honolulu Symphony presents Brahms' Requiem:In concert: 8 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Sunday
Place: Blaisdell Concert Hall
Tickets: $16, $28, $33, $44 and $59
Call: 792-2000
For the uninitiated, here is a quick "cheat sheet" about the Requiem:
Theologians tell us that the Requiem is a variation of the Mass, the religious service of the Roman Catholic Church. It contains Latin text dealing with death, and for that reason, it's also called the Mass for the Dead.
Music and religion go hand in hand. Since early times, the Mass and the Requiem contained distinct musical numbers, originally sung a cappella -- without accompaniment. Musical instruments were introduced sometime in the late 14th century for harmony. Then, in the 18th century, Haydn and Mozart produced versions for symphonies that were perfect for the concert stage. In the 19th century, the Mass itself lost some of its appeal, as composers found the Requiem's dramatic content more attractive.
Brahms moved away from the liturgical, or religious, tradition with his German Requiem. He carefully selected German-language passages from Luther's Bible rather than using Latin, which few understood by then. Brahms also divided the work into seven individual movements: consolation, patience, hope, joy, grief, trust and redemption.
Brahms' Requiem premiered in 1868 and is closely associated with the death of Brahms' mother three years earlier. Brahms sought consolation in the creation of the Requiem to help him accept his loss. The fifth movement, in which a solo soprano voice expresses the comforting words of a mother, was composed in her memory. It ends movingly with the words, "I will see you again."
Upon completion of the Requiem, Brahms felt rejuvenated. He wrote: "Now I am consoled. I have surmounted obstacles that I thought I could never overcome, and I feel like an eagle, soaring ever higher and higher."
Indeed, while sorrow and despair are felt at times during the performance of the Requiem, the musicians and chorus always leave filled with a sense of serenity and peacefulness.
In addtion to the wonders of the Requiem, the evening's featured soloist will be clarinetist Scott Anderson performing Busoni's Concertino clarinet and chamber orchestra and Debussy's Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra.
I urge everyone to recognize Scott for his uncompromising artistry. He is an essential member of the orchestra, often providing words of wisdom to us all. Wind players, such as clarinetists, are known to have a more calming influence than string players like me. Then again, you haven't met our flute section!
Joined by maestro Samuel Wong, Scott will demonstrate the clarinet's expressive range. He describes Busoni's Concertino as charming and lighthearted, with flashes of the operatic. Debussy once described it as "one of the most pleasing pieces I have ever written."
In 1909, Debussy was appointed to the Supreme Council of the Music Section of the Paris Conservatory and composed two test pieces for the clarinet competition of 1910. The Rhapsody was one of these pieces, and at the competition, Debussy heard it performed 11 times. Had Scott been a clarinetist in those days, I believe that he would have won hands down.
This weekend, when the musicians are close to you, you will be able to detect every move we make. In the midst of all the excitement, you could get an unexpected gift of a violin bow from me. If you do, please send it right back!
Ignace "Iggy" Jang is the Honolulu Symphony's concertmaster. His column will appear on the Monday prior to each concert of the season to illuminate works to be performed. E-mail comments and questions to Jang at suggestions@honolulusymphony.com
