Chicago Philharmonic 2019-2020

THE CHICAGO PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY | FALL 2019 13 2019 2020 SEASON: HOLIDAYS Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 -1912) Christmas Overture (1900) At the turn of the 20th century, when non-white composers were rarely considered, Samuel Coleridge- Taylor became a popular cultural gure in Britain and America. As a composer and conductor of mixed race (his mother was from England; his father was from Sierra Leone), he graduated from the Royal College of Music in London and quickly earned conducting and teaching opportunities in the city. Christmas Overtur e was originally conceived as incidental music to a children’s play, e Forest of Wild yme by Alfred Noyes. Although there are countless Christmas- themed medleys in existence, Coleridge-Taylor’s is notable for the consistency between a wide range of hymns and songs, smooth orchestration, and a great deal of original content. emes the audience will nd familiar include God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and Hark e Herald Angels Sing. Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 -1893) e Seasons, Op. 37a December (1876) In 1875, Tchaikovsky was commissioned by Nikolay Matveyevich Bernard, editor of the Russian musical journal Nuvellist , to create a piano cycle which would be published in the journal in 12 monthly installments. Bernard probably suggested the titles and epigraphs for each piece, which corresponded to the months of the year. e nal piece of the cycle, December: Christmas-Tide , was accompanied by the following epigraph by the poet Vasily Zhukovsky: Once upon a Christmas night the girls were telling fortunes: taking their slippers o their feet and throwing them out of the gate. Cheesy poetry aside, December is a light, lovely waltz evoking childhood memories of holiday fun. Alexander Gauk’s symphonic arrangement is reminiscent of Tchaikovsky’s orchestrations; it may have t right in with Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, which he composed at the same time as e Seasons. Duke Ellington (1899 -1974) Billy Strayhorn (1915 -1967) e Nutcracker Suite (1960) By 1960, Duke Ellington was one of the most in uential performers, composers, and cultural gures in America. As much of the Western world turned away from instrumental and classical music in favor of pop or rock, Ellington elevated jazz to the ranks of “serious” music with undeniable depth, elegance, and style. Although Ellington is a household name, the lesser known Billy Strayhorn was crucially important to Ellington’s style and success in his later years. Ellington’s partnership with Strayhorn began in 1939 and lasted for nearly three decades. Strayhorn was a formidable composer himself with hits like “Take the A Train” and “Lush Life," but he was also a skilled arranger of classicalmusic. Together, Ellington and Strayhorn transformedTchaikovsky’s beloved e Nutcracker Suite for big band with incredible ingenuity, and the accompanying 1960 album featured Strayhorn’s name prominently next to Ellington’s for the rst time. Holidays: Marcus Roberts Trio Sunday, December 8 2019, 3pm Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago Scott Speck conductor Marcus Roberts Trio Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 – 1912) Christmas Overture Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) (arr. Aleksander Gauk) e Seasons , Op. 37a 12. December: Christmas-Tide Duke Ellington (1899 – 1974) Billy Strayhorn (1915 – 1967) e Nutcracker Suite 1. Overture 2. Toot Toot Tootie Toot 3. Peanut Brittle Brigade 4. Sugar Rum Cherry 5. Entr'acte 6. Volga Vouty 7. Chinoiserie 8. Danse of the Floreadores 9. Arabesque Cookie Intermission George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) Concerto in F I. Allegro II. Adagio - Andante con moto III. Allegro agitato Performance time approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes Holidays Symphonic Conductor Sponsor NEXT! In the Foyer Solo repertoire from Chicago Philharmonic’s Spotlight program participants Hila Dahari violin , Isabel Chen violin , Bella Kim viola , Ava Kassinger cello , Andrew Hungness bass .