Listening Guide to Your Orchestra CD.

Chris has provided you with a CD that features music that your kids have played, some that they will play and some that is, well, just fun to listen to. She has asked me to write a bit about each. I would encourage you to listen to these with your kids, chat about what they hear, and above all ENJOY THE MUSIC! - Pablo Plasencia


Pachelbel Canon in D and Gigue: This was played by Herbert VonKarajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. Listen to the Harpsichord and the way it doubles the cellos. The cellos provide a pulse, like a walking bass in jazz, that anchors the music and allows the higher voices to soar. Compare this to Here's That Rainy Day included below.

William Tell Overture: This is an excerpt from a much longer piece that was the overture to Rossini’s opera by the same name. Everybody has heard this and, as you may imagine, it is quite a challenging piece. You can feel the footfalls of horses in this heroic overture.

Appalachian Spring and Simple Gifts: Aaron Copeland set the Shaker melody as an orchestral piece commissioned by Martha Graham for the American Dance Theatre. His arrangement is anything but simple. He plays with the melody and the listener can feel the dance. Interestingly, the Worship Tune "Lord of the Dance" is set to this melody. Compare this to the version played, on cello, by Yo-Yo Ma and sung by Allison Krause. The beautiful modulation allows the cello to provide a pedal tone to Allison Krause as she sings the original lyric to this tune.

Arkansas Traveler: Two versions here; the first played by Jimmy Bryant and Harold Hensley is a more traditional fiddle tune. The second was played by the 70s rock band Seals and Crofts. Both are lots of fun.

Enter Sandman: The original version of this tune was done by Metallica. This version is played by four cellos (with no drums!) by the German group Apocalyptica. Listen closely, there are no electronic effects. This is pure red-blooded cello! They have maintained the intensity that Metallica created on their recording, but with acoustic instruments.

Hall of the Mountain King: Again by Apocalyptica, but with other instruments. You might want to watch for this tune in future programs. Now the cellos are using effects generally used by guitarists (such as distortion, flange, reverb, and the like). Edvard Grieg originally composed this as incidental music for Heinrich Ibsen's play "In the Hall of the Mountain King". Again, remaining very true to the original intent, Apocalyptica rocks the tune and makes Grieg into a heavy metal composer.

Julie-O: Mark Summer, of Turtle Island String Quartet, plays this solo piece on cello, using pizzicato, bow, and various percussive techniques. This is one player with no overdubs. Summer's technique is a marvel to behold. All stringed instruments are capable, in the right hands, of a great variety of sounds and serve as a nearly perfect vehicle for emotional expression. It only takes practice, practice, practice and then more practice.

Stolen Moments: A jazz masterpiece, composed by Oliver Nelson, here performed by the Turtle Island String Quartet. Turtle Island is highly regarded as innovators blending classical music and jazz, stressing improvisation and classic technique.

Here’s That Rainy Day: Stephane Grapelli and the Gary Burton Quartet doing the venerable jazz standard. Grapelli is the master of Gypsy Jazz, having played as Django Rheinhardt’s violinist. A master technician, here he plays beautifully and improvises freely. Listen for his use of harmonics (overtones) and slides. On a side note, the bassist, Steve Swallow, for Gary Burton is worth listening to. He maintains rhythm, establishes the chord while driving the band with a harmonically interesting line that never intrudes on the soloist. Jazz is such a beautiful thing.

A Mighty Fortress: The Lutheran Fight Song! Composed by Martin Luther, this was originally a German drinking song that Luther used – 16th century contemporary worship! – as a familiar tune to teach the laity God’s word. The original version was quite syncopated. The version that is performed here is the Bach arrangement. You might want to give this a listen as this version will be performed by the Orchestra in a concert to come soon.

Hard Times Come Again No More – sung by James Taylor, with Yo-Yo Ma on Cello, Edgar Meyer on Bass, and Mark O’Conner on Violin. This tune was composed by Stephen Foster in 1854 and was one of the first songs to be recorded (by Thomas Edison in 1905) and achieve popularity via recordings. Standing the test of time, it was the encore used by Bruce Springsteen in his 2009 tour. The song became very popular during the Civil War giving voice to those who suffered violence and hatred during this conflict. It still speaks gentle truth and is our supplication for "hard times (to) come again no more."