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Crescendo Ignace "Iggy" Jang |
Handel and Bach herald
the holidays
Most of us can name the basic groups on the food pyramid, but can we identify the four major styles of classical music?Ranked chronologically, the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary eras fill the core of classical music, with no limit on their daily consumption from the surgeon general. Au contraire, medical studies have determined that classical music offers nothing but health benefits.
A Baroque CelebrationEdwin Outwater conducts the Honolulu SymphonyIn concert: 8 p.m. Friday; 4 p.m. Sunday Place: Blaisdell Concert Hall Tickets: $21 to $64; 20 percent discount for seniors, students and military Call: 792-2000 or Ticketmaster at 877-750-4400
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Baroque music is clear, upbeat, melodic, easy to understand and easy to remember. Brides-to-be in search of wedding music will find all they need at our concert, from Bach's "Air" from the Third Suite to Handel's "Hornpipe" from "Water Music," and it's the perfect music for any holiday occasion.
Leading the symphony will be a newcomer to Hawaii, the young and energetic conductor Edwin Outwater. While attending Harvard University in the '90s, Outwater was music director of the Bach Society Orchestra, and this program will highlight his expertise. He's already requested a few changes to our routine, though he has yet to set foot on the island. You'll notice a different setup onstage, with the second violins trading places with the cellos. This arrangement is somewhat closer to how orchestras were set up in the late 1600s and early 1700s.
Bach's concerto asks for three soloists on harpsichord, flute and violin. Yours truly will join principal flutist Sue McGinn and harpsichord virtuoso Joe Pettit in a musical menage ˆ trois. In the Fifth Brandenburg, the violin and flute share a dialogue but are eventually overshadowed by the harpsichord's powerful presence. This work is considered the first harpsichord concerto ever written, both for its complexity and incredible tension-rising cadenza of the first movement.
Where does the name Brandenburg originate? At various times during his life, J.S. Bach wrote six Concertos Grosso, or concertos for a group of solo instruments. Between 1718 and 1720, the German composer met Christian Ludwig, margrave of Brandenburg and music aficionado. Bach subsequently dedicated his collection to the nobleman with the title "Six Concertos with Several Instruments."
The story of Handel's "Water Music" begins in 1714, when George I became king of England. A German native unable to speak English, the new king found himself in dire need of a public-relations boost. As a remedy, the king's adviser arranged for a show of magnificence: musical entertainment on the Thames River followed by a nighttime supper cruise. As court composer, Handel wrote pieces to be performed by musicians on a barge next to the royal family. Whether the grand party helped the king's cause is uncertain, but there is no doubt that Handel's love affair with England did not cease.
While not an exact duplicate of the Thames program, Handel's "Water Music" is a collection of pieces appropriate for a festive occasion. Similar to Bach's concerto, the "Water Music" features various solo instruments, from horn to oboe to violin. The most popular number is the hornpipe, with its distinctive trumpet calls.
In the music world, a contingent of Baroque "purists" believe the pieces should always sound authentic. This is partly a reaction to a 19th- and 20th-century trend to take great liberties. Where a faithful performer would play with clear articulation and care, a free spirit would provide a style more reminiscent of Hollywood soundtracks, with gooey tones and schmaltzy slides.
Where is the truth in all of this? I recall words I learned in college: To those who take many liberties, always do your best to play with good taste. To those who champion authentic performance, you cannot deny 400 years of musical heritage. Think of the Baroque paintings by Vermeer or Rembrandt; we admire them as much as the people who witnessed their creation. But our eyes have absorbed so much more that we appreciate their work from a different perspective. This cultural heritage we have gained throughout the centuries is what makes our interpretation and appreciation of art authentic.