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Crescendo Ignace "Iggy" Jang |
Gershwin and Copland
capture spirit
The Honolulu Symphony dedicates this weekend's concerts to all veterans who have served in the struggle for peace. Led by maestro Samuel Wong, our Veterans Day concerts will feature music that represents America's spirit and greatness: George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" and Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" and Symphony No. 3.
'America's Heroes'Halekulani MasterWorks Veterans Day TributeIn concert: 8 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Sunday Place: Blaisdell Concert Hall Tickets: $21, $33, $43, $51 and $64; 20 percent discount for seniors, students and military Call: 792-2000 or Ticketmaster at 877-750-4400
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As American as apple pie, "Rhapsody in Blue" has become a cornerstone of American music. It's rooted in jazz, which is an authentic American culture of its own. The "Rhapsody" has been used in countless movies and TV shows, and is often remembered as the soundtrack to airline ads. Thankfully, the 30-second morsels of this masterpiece are currently off the air. In our concerts, every minute will be savored in its purest form, commercially unstained.
IN 1924, Gershwin was already a musical icon, revered as a songwriter. Using fashionable jazz formulas, he had an instinctive gift for catchy melodies and inventive rhythms. His "Swanee," written at age 19, was enormously popular and sold more than 2 million records. But Gershwin wanted to create larger works and realized that his musical ideas had to be organized in a more scientific manner. After years of studying, he achieved a milestone with "Rhapsody," his first major work and one that required a full orchestra. With its jazz idioms that blend seamlessly within a classical format, the triumph was total. It forever secured his place in the musical pantheon.
Still, some questioned Gershwin's skills as a serious composer. So he sought the tutelage of the great composer Igor Stravinsky during Stravinsky's visit to the United States. Stravinsky was at first curious about Gershwin's financial success. When told of his fortune, Stravinsky said, "Well, maybe I should be the one studying with him!"
When "Rhapsody in Blue" premiered in New York, Gershwin performed the piano part to a mesmerized audience. Expect the same reaction this week when pianist Thomas Yee juggles the intricate rhythms and romantic melodies.
Tommy, as we all know him, has taken Hawaii by storm. He's on the University of Hawaii faculty and is active teaching and performing. Having shared the stage with him on a few occasions, I can attest to his expertise. Like a glove that fits perfectly, his touch adds warmth to the ensemble.
In the music of Copland, audiences discovered music that was original and contemporary yet somewhat familiar. His melodies evoked scenes from all parts of the nation, from the streets of New York to the deserts of the Southwest. His "Fanfare for the Common Man," often imitated but never equaled, is one of the proudest brass calls Americans can enjoy to this day.
In 1942, Copland began a project to write a musical portrait of a great American. After searching for the ideal figure, he selected Abraham Lincoln. The outcome was "Lincoln Portrait."
Copland sets the mood in the first section with solemn trumpet calls that gradually rise to the grandeur of the full orchestra. Two folk songs of the period -- "Camptown Races" and "Springfield Mountain" -- can later be heard, and the energetic rhythms of the middle section remind us of steam-engine locomotives.
In the third and final section, the Civil War-era letters and speeches of Lincoln are introduced by a narrator. Copland captures the statesman's aura and the historic decisions thrust upon this great American. In this concluding section, the composer explained that his purpose was "to draw a simple but impressive frame about the words of Lincoln himself."
Our narrator for the evening will be actor George Takei, who is no stranger to narrating, having earned a 1987 Grammy nomination in the "Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording" category. But of course for Trekkies, Takei was Mr. Sulu in the original "Star Trek" series and has appeared in countless movies and television shows. He has even guest-starred in episodes of "Hawaii Five-O" and has recently lent his voice to "The Simpsons" (the cartoon, not the famous sisters).
While cultivating his career as an actor, Takei has also made great contributions to the social status of Japanese Americans through his involvement in the Japanese American Citizens League. Prior to his concerts with us, he'll fly to Japan to receive a decoration from the government of Japan: the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in recognition of his contributions to the Japanese-American community and his efforts to promote Japanese-U.S. relations. His visit will include an audience with the emperor of Japan in the Imperial Palace. We're looking forward to hearing more about this historic trip and meeting one of America's favorite actors!