Prescott Strings Winter Concert To Feature Music by Haydn, Suk, Marcello and More

Jan. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- The Winter Concert Performance of the Prescott Strings Classical Chamber Orchestra will take place at 7:30pm, Saturday, February 5, 2011 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in north Prescott.  This two-hour concert will feature the works of five varied composers as well as a wonderful oboe solo by guest performer, Nick Fleckinger.

The Prescott Strings is composed of talented musicians from the Prescott POPS Symphony as well as gifted local student musicians.  The 24-piece orchestra has remained true to chamber music form – that of playing music written specifically for a smaller number of musicians for a chamber or salon setting.  Their performance in the acoustically wonderful St. Luke’s makes for sensational listening enjoyment, while allowing for a relatively large audience.

This program’s musical pieces span diverse musical styles and eras, from the 17th  to 20th Centuries. “We are looking forward to playing these beautiful compositions, which are so often never heard and appreciated.” said Dr. Philip Kuhns, Director and Conductor of The Strings.   “We are also thrilled to have Nick Fleckinger back to perform with us on Marcello’s Concerto for Oboe and Strings in C Minor.” he added.

“The Prescott Strings Classical Chamber Orchestra strives to present innovative concerts that feature both timeless favorites and contemporary masterpieces, hailing from the baroque era through today.” stated Dr. Fulton Wright, Strings musician and Orchestra spokesman.

Performances are free, and donations sincerely appreciated.  All ages are welcome to join us for this musical performance!  More information can be obtained from our website.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is located at 2000 Shepherd’s Lane, just off Ruger Road and Hwy 89 in Prescott.  Admission is free, although donations are always appreciated.   The Prescott Strings Classical Chamber Orchestra is a 501c(3) organization and in addition to musical entertainment, provides musical scholarship assistance to gifted youth in the community.

---------------------------------------

About the Composers:

Alessandro Marcello’s (1669-1747) Oboe Concerto in C minor, SF. 799, will feature the return of Nick Fleckinger as oboe soloist with the Prescott Strings.  This concerto was originally thought to be by composer Benedetto Marcello, but was in fact later attributed to his older brother, Alessandro Marcello.  In 1719, Allesandro was named head of the Accademia degli Animosi, and as such, he did much to expand his renowned collection of musical instruments, many of which are now in Rome's National Museum of Musical Instruments. Marcello’s compositions are actually few, consisting of not much more than a dozen each of chamber cantatas, violin sonatas, and concertos. Most of his works were published under the pseudonym "Eterio Stinfalico," which is one of the reasons why it wasn't known until the mid-twentieth century.  

A leading Italian violinist in the first half of the 18th century, Pietro Locatelli (1695-1734), wrote mostly sonatas and concertos for string instruments.  Stylistically, he followed the more conservative forms of classical music while incorporating the more progressive elements found in the music of composers like Vivaldi.

Late 18th Century Austrian composer, Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), was considered among the original creators of these fundamental genres of classical music - sonatas, string quartets and symphonies. His influence upon later composers is said to be vast, including that of his most illustrious pupil, Beethoven.  

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was thought to be something of an anomaly among French composers of the 19th century in that he wrote in virtually all genres, including opera, symphonies, concertos, songs, sacred and secular choral music, solo piano, and chamber music. The Strings will be performing his “Sarabande” scored for strings with a particularly expressive melody.  

Concentrating mainly on orchestral music, Czech composer, Joseph Suk (1874-1935), composed from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.  His Meditation on an Old Czech Hymn "St. Wenceslas” was an inspired chamber piece composed during World War I, about which he expressed his belief that World War I would result in the independence of his country from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.  So popular among his countrymen, it later became a musical rallying cry for the Czech nation before and during the German occupation in World War II.

# # #

Advertising, Public Relations, Website Development.
At Foghara, imaginative ideas and advertising expertise
shape our perspective on business - YOUR business.
We focus on your needs and deliver you results, fast.
We specialize in small businesses.