December 23rd. Happy Festivus! Let the airing of grievances begin.
Then enjoy this postmodern, pandenominational, mid-winter concoction by Christopher Rouse, called “Karolju.” The title, fabricated by the composer, puts an Old World spin on the word “carol.” The “ju” is merely because, as Rouse states, he happens to like words that end in “u.” The text is totally pidgin, and the musical allusions to Orff, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams, Prokofiev, and others only add to the fun.
The American composer Christopher Rouse has died. Rouse was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1993 for his Trombone Concerto. His final work, his Symphony No. 6, will be given its world premiere by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on October 18-19. A life-long Baltimore resident, Rouse was 70 years-old.
Jasmine Choi plays Rouse’s Flute Concerto:
Hanukkah begins at sunset. Get ready for the Festival of Light.
String quintets by Mozart will illuminate your lunch hour, on today’s Noontime Concert on The Classical Network. The Manhattan Chamber Players will perform the Quintet No. 2 in C minor, K. 406, and the Quintet No. 4 in G minor, K. 516.
The musicians will appear with guest artist/violist Samuel Rhodes tomorrow night (Wednesday at 7:30) in concert in Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch College in New York City. The program will include Maurice Ravel’s “Introduction and Allegro” for harp, flute, clarinet, and string quartet, Frank Bridge’s “Lament” for two violas, Brahms’ Clarinet Trio in A minor, and Arnold Schoenberg’s “Verklärte Nacht.” A pre-concert talk will be given at 7:00. You’ll find more information at manhattanchamberplayers.com.
We’ll also hear the Symphony No. 3 by English composer Stanley Bate, on his birthday, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ballet “On Christmas Night,” inspired by Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
If you like Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols,” I think you’ll enjoy Samuel Adler’s “The Flames of Freedom.” The cantata, scored for three-part treble chorus, is based on ten well-known Hanukkah songs and hymns, alongside original music to two other liturgical Hanukkah texts. The work is cast in eight movements to represent the eight candles of the menorah.
Then, in the festive spirit of midwinter celebrations of all cultures, we’ll hear Christopher Rouse’s “Karolju,” a wholly fabricated holiday blow-out based on a kind of pidgin text drawn from many different languages. Even the title is pure invention, suggestive of the word “carol,” but ending with “u” (because the composer always liked words that end with “u”). Hey, just like “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Hanukkah,” it’s the thought that counts.
There will be much multi-cultural merriment, this Tuesday from 12 to 4 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
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