Symphonic Odyssey
Join your Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra on a musical journey from the countryside to the concert hall, featuring Haydn's rarely-performed Symphony No. 28 in A major, a work brimming with sunshine and rustic charm.
A never-before-heard orchestration of Marie Jaëlle's Les jours pluvieux (Rainy Days) provides contrast with moments of quiet brooding and lyrical beauty. Gustav's Holst's St. Paul's Suite for strings weaves together traditional jaunty tunes from across the British Isles, while Béla Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances closes out the program in a wild celebration for the entire orchestra.
SUNDAY, MAY 7TH @ 3 PM
VENUE: THEATER 3 OF BAINBRIDGE CINEMAS AT 403 MADISON AVE
TICKETS: $18 GENERAL ADMISSION - $15 SENIOR / MILITARY
Guests under 18 may attend symphony events at no cost thanks to Wycklund Dental and the Youth in Music Initiative.
PROGRAM
Joseph Haydn - Symphony No. 28 in A major
Jaëlle, Marie (orchestrated by Ryan Farris) - Les jours pluvieux (Rainy Days)
Gustav Holst - St. Paul’s Suite
Bela Bartok - Romanian Folk Dances
Ryan Farris, Guest Conductor
Ryan Dakota Farris is an up-and-coming conductor and performer in the Pacific Northwest community. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Washington where he is the conductor of the Campus Philharmonia Orchestras and assistant conductor of the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra. Ryan has served as cover conductor for professional orchestras across the country, including the Auburn Symphony in Washington and the Boulder Philharmonic in Colorado. He has served as an assistant conductor for Colorado MahlerFest, Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras and works a sectional conductor for Harmonia Orchestra & Chorus. Ryan was a proud student of the late maestro Michael Jinbo at the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival in Maine for five summers. He has also studied with many notable conductors including Ludovic Morlot, David Rahbee, Nicholas Carthy, Donald Schleicher, Kensho Watanabe, and Tiffany Lu. The
Ryan has served as principal cellist with the Boulder Opera Company, Seattle Philharmonic Strings, and the University of Washington Symphony. He has appeared as a featured soloist with the South Pudget Sound College Orchestra, and regularly performs in chamber music groups across the region. Before moving to Seattle, he performed regularly with some of Colorado’s best orchestras, including the Boulder Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, and Colorado MahlerFest. Ryan also composes his own music, performs on viola da gamba with the UW Baroque Ensemble, and busts out the traditional Irish fiddle with acclaimed Seattle-based Celtic group Cavort.
PROGRAM NOTES by Ryan D. Farris
Symphony No. 28 in A major Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn is often remembered today as the “Father of the Symphony” for his innumerable contributions to the genre, and yet the majority of his over a hundred symphonies are rarely, if ever performed today. The charming but seldom-heard Symphony No. 28 in A major dates from 1765, relatively early in Haydn’s career when he was working as Kapellmeister in the court of the wealthy Esterházy family in Austria-Hungary. Here the young composer had a huge range of responsibilities, including running the orchestra, playing chamber music for and with his patrons, and even mounting operatic productions. This symphony shows early Haydn at his best, delivering a balance of exciting orchestral effects, sublime beauty, and an exquisite craftmanship of form.
Selections from Les jours pluvieux [Rainy Days] Marie Jaëll/orch. Ryan D. Farris
Marie Jaëll was a renowned French pianist, composer, and pedagogue. She was born and raised in the region of Alsace, but was forced to settle permanently in Paris after Germany annexed the region following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. As a pianist, Marie specialized in the music of Schumann, Liszt, and Beethoven, composers who would leave a lasting impression on her own style. Jaëll’s collection of piano pieces Les jours pluvieux [Rainy Days] dates from the early 1890s when she was extremely active as a concert pianist. This charming collection of short pieces focuses on the different forms rain can take and the emotions they evoke. I have orchestrated seven of my favorite movements from the suite for woodwinds, horns, cellos and double bass.
St Paul’s Suite Gustav Holst
St Paul’s Suite for string orchestra is one of the most popular compositions by English composer Gustav Holst. It takes its name from St Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, London where Holst served as the school’s “music master” from 1905-1934. The first movement is a jaunty jig which alternates between 6/8 and 9/8 time. The second movement is like a waltz floating over an incessant ostinato played by the second violins. The third movement alternates between lamentation and lively dancing, showcasing soloists from each of the string sections. The fast-paced finale presents the popular folk tune ‘The Dargason’ which is later combined with ‘Greensleeves’ to marvelous effect.
Romanian Folk Dances Béla Bartók
Hungarian composer Béla Bartók spent much of his early career traveling the countryside of eastern Europe collecting traditional folk melodies. His ever-popular Romanian Folk Dances is actually a selection of dance tunes from Transylvania which he originally arranged for piano and later for orchestra. Most of the dances have a charming nickname attached to them, for instance Joc cu bâtă (Stick Dance), Pe loc (In One Spot), and Poarga Românească (Romanian Polka). All of the movements are quite short and played together without a break, building up to a toe-tapping and thrilling conclusion!
Bainbridge Performing Arts is pleased to offer an “Open Doors” program. Free and reduced-cost tickets to most events are available to community members in need through our partner Helpline House thanks to a grant from BCF Discretionary Grant Fund, BCF Community Grant Cycle Partners, Plan B Fund, Sada Ross Fund, Debbie & Tom Kuffel, David & Kathleen Thorne, Brigette & Jeremy Yates, and the Mabee Family Foundation.
To reserve tickets please contact either the BPA Box Office at 206.842.8569 or Helpline House at 206.842.7621.