Ancestral Voices 2014-2015 SEASON Apollo has found fruitful territory... -- Houston Chronicle
On behalf of Apollo Chamber Players, I am delighted to announce our 2014/15 season of Ancestral Voices, an exploration of the cultural heritage and folkloric inspirations of classical composers. Journeying from the Czech Republic and Hungary to Mexico and Japan, folk-based classical works and original arrangements/transcriptions connect seemingly disparate composers. Research collaborations with and pre-concert lectures by University of Houston and Rice University musicologists add contextual depth to the programs. Ancestral Voices also heralds the inauguration of Apollo s exciting commissioning project, 20x2020. (Project details on page 7.) New works by American composers Libby Larsen and Marty Regan see premieres in season concerts, while a new work by the winning composer of an international commissioning contest is featured alongside Bartók and Beethoven in the season finale concert. Finally, Apollo continues to expand its national presence with performances across the country: we open Chamber Music Society Little Rock s concert season in October and look forward to concert engagements in Grand Junction, CO; Fredericksburg, TX; and Lake Charles, LA. Join Apollo for a season of inspiration whispered by Ancestral Voices. Warm Regards, Matthew J. Detrick, Artistic Director
Ancestral Voices Season Concerts..zesty folk arrangements for string quartet. -- WQXR, New York City CONCERT I: Bohemian Inception, American Inspiration September 21, 2014 6:00pm Duncan Recital Hall Shepherd School of Music, Rice University Apollo s season-opening concert combines the inspirations of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák with the soundscapes of African-American spirituals. Dvořák, an avid proponent of incorporating folk idioms into compositions, was so moved by African-American folk song (shared by protégé Henry Thacker Burleigh) that he imbued many of his works written while living in the US with this rich music. Florence Price was one of the first African-American female composers to gain notoriety, and she was inspired by Dvořák to use the folkloric music of her ancestors in her works. Featured in this program is the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by internationally acclaimed American composer Libby Larsen, based on Dvořák s relationship to African-American spirituals. James Dunham, professor of viola at Rice University and Grammy winner with legendary Cleveland Quartet, will join Apollo as guest artist for Dvořák s quintet. James Dunham PROGRAM Libby Larsen: Commissioned Work, WORLD PREMIERE Henry Thacker Burleigh: Six Plantation Melodies (Arr. Apollo) Florence Beatrice Price: American Folksongs in Counterpoint (Unpublished manuscript) & Fantasie Negre (Arr. Apollo) Antonin Dvořák: String Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 97, featuring guest artist James Dunham, viola Libby Larsen
Ancestral Voices Season Concerts CONCERT II: East & West Transcended January 11 6:00pm January 13 7:30pm Christ the King Lutheran Church (Parish Hall) East & West Transcended features the richness of Japanese folk music traditions and their relationship to Western musical language. Esteemed Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu maintained a complex relationship to Japanese folk music and was intrigued by the colors of French Impressionist music; Kosaku Yamada, who studied with Max Bruch in Berlin, is Marty Regan responsible for introducing Western music to postisolationist Japan. Showcasing the program is the world premiere of a new work by composer Marty Regan, a piece fusing Western compositional style with Japanese folk music aesthetics. Pianist Viktor Valkov, first prize winner of the New Orleans International Piano Competition (2012), makes a return appearance as guest artist. PROGRAM Marty Regan: Commissioned Work, WORLD PREMIERE Takemitsu: Rocking Mirror Daybreak Max Bruch: 8 Pieces for violin, viola and piano, Op. 83 Debussy: Piano Trio in G Major Kosaku Yamada: String Quartet No. 1 & selected Japanese folksongs (Arr. Apollo)
CONCERT III: Mexican Kaleidoscope March 22 6:00pm March 24 7:30pm Christ the King Lutheran Church (Parish Hall) Time travel with Apollo from colonial New Spain and 18th century Italy to modern Mexico and back again. Manuel Ponce revisits the spirit of his ancestor Manuel de Zumaya in a revival of neo-baroque styles. Nationalistic composers Carlos Chávez and Silvestre Revueltas - while reviving the folkloric music of their native Mexico - also found inspiration in the radical musical styles of Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. Explore the fascinating cross-pollination of musical murmurs and inspirations in this musical kaleidoscope. University of Houston musicologist Dr. Howard Pollack presents a pre-concert lecture. PROGRAM Carlos Chávez: String Quartet No. 1 Silvestre Revueltas: Quartet No. 4 Musica de Feria (Music of the Fair) Stravinsky: Three Pieces for String Quartet Manuel Ponce: Petite suite dans le style ancien (Little Suite in the Ancient Style) & Estrellita folksong (Arr. Apollo) Vivaldi: Trio Sonata No. 12 in D Minor, La Folia Manuel de Zumaya: Si ya a aquella nave..wonderful program.. inspired performance... -- Stanislav Benes, Consul General of the Czech Republic in New York
Ancestral Voices Season Concerts CONCERT IV: Hungarian Folk Lyricism Friday, May 1, 2015 8:00pm Duncan Recital Hall Shepherd School of Music, Rice University Apollo s season-finale program continues the group s Bartók string quartet cycle and showcases quartets inspired by the Gypsy (Roma) and Hungarian folk traditions. Beethoven weaves a Roma-flavored melody in the finale of his String Quartet in C minor, for him a rare excursion into this style, while American composer Dana Wilson captures the Hungarian musical mood in his contemporary work, Hungarian Folk Songs. This concert features the world premiere of a work from 20x2020 s international commissioning contest based on Hungarian and Roma idioms. University of Houston ethnomusicologist Dr. Barbara Rose Lange assists in research and presents a pre-concert lecture. PROGRAM 20x2020 commissioning contest winning work, WORLD PREMIERE Dana Wilson: Hungarian Folk Songs (2008) Beethoven: String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18 No. 4 Bartók: String Quartet No. 3 Hungarian folk music (arr. Apollo) Roma folk music (arr. Apollo)
20 new folk music-inspired works by 2020. Apollo is thrilled to announce the embarkment of an ambitious, multi-year commissioning project: 20x2020. During the course of this six-season venture, 20 new folk-inspired works will be commissioned from a diversity of composers. Acclaimed American composer Libby Larsen launches 20x2020 with a work exploring the connections between Czech folk music and African- American spirituals, premiered at our season-opening concert; a Japanese-themed work by Marty Regan highlights our January program. During the project s tenure additional composers of note - to be announced at the start of each season - will write Apollo new commissioned works. An integral aspect of 20x2020 is a recurring international commissioning contest to seek out new works and emerging talent. Following a world-wide call for scores, Apollo and its 20x2020 advisors will select a winning composition and award the composer with a commissioning contract. Concurrently, student-only competitions will help foster the next generation of composers, while educational programs curated from select 20x2020 works will touch thousands of students in Houston and around the country. Kindly consider a gift to 20x2020. Your generous contributions are essential to ensure the project s reach and vitality. Support this endeavor to cultivate one of the great treasures of Western culture, and experience folk music as a timeless muse! (See below for contribution levels.) 20x2020 Advisory Panel Dr. Art Gottschalk, Professor of Composition and Theory, Rice University Dr. Karim Al-Zand, Associate Professor of Composition and Theory, Rice University Dr. Marcus Maroney, Assistant Professor of Composition, University of Houston 20x2020 Contribution Levels (All benefits cumulative.) Apollo Angel ($50,000+) Leave a timeless musical legacy. Fund one commissioned work of substantial length by a composer of wide acclaim.* Collaborative possibilities on composer/theme; exclusive naming rights. Private, in-home preview. Underwriter ($20,000-$49,999) Fund one commissioned work of moderate length by a composer of wide acclaim.* Collaborative possibilities on composer/theme; naming rights. Dinner with the artists and composer. Benefactor ($5,000-$19,999) Fund one commissioned work.* Naming rights. Autographed copy of manuscript. Patron ($1,000-$5,000) Fund a portion of one commissioned work. Naming opportunity. Meet & greet and pictures with 20x2020 composers. Exclusive invitations to post-concert receptions. Sponsor ($500-$999) Reserved seating at all season concerts Commissioned work CD (release date TBA). One complimentary season ticket. Contributor ($100-$499) Named recognition in concert programs and publicity materials. *Fees vary according to composer and length of work; please inquire for further details. Please contact Artistic Director Matthew Detrick for 20x2020 inquiries and gift planning: 832-496-9943 mattdetrick@apollochamberplayers.org
Touring and Regional Concerts Czech Center Museum 10th Anniversary Celebration 9/5/14 Houston, TX St. James Episcopal Evening Concerts 9/28/14 Conroe, TX Concert for Peace, Music at St. Philip Presbyterian Church 10/4/14 Houston, TX Chamber Music Society Little Rock 10/9/14 Little Rock, AR Lake Charles UMC Concert Series 11/11/14 Lake Charles, LA Grand Junction Symphony Chamber Series 2/21/15 Grand Junction, CO St. Paul Lenten Recital Series 3/12/15 Houston, TX Fredericksburg Music Club 3/15/15 Fredericksburg, TX Music Under the Stars, Classical Concert Series 4/17/15 West University, TX Calder Baptist Chamber Music Series TBA Beaumont, TX
...virtuosic, genuine and passionate...its original folk arrangements tour-de-force compositions that feature the group s strengths. -- CultureMap Houston Through its mission to explore the rich intersection of classical and folk/ethnic music, Apollo Chamber Players has gained prestige through innovative, thematically programmed concerts and culturally enriching educational activities. During their 2013 East Coast Tour and Carnegie Hall debut, the group performed for over 1,000 enthusiastic concert-goers, including dignitaries from the Consulates General of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic of New York. Winner of HoustonPress 2014 MasterMinds award, Apollo was one of three organizations in Houston to be recognized for positively impacting the local arts community. Top, L to R: Anabel Ramirez, Matthew Detrick European Folkscapes, Apollo s debut Bottom, L to R: Whitney Bullock, Matthew Dudzik album, was named Album of the Week by WQXR-FM in New York City and has been featured on radio stations across the country. It showcases traditional European folk melodies in dynamic new contexts, featuring original arrangements transcribed from field recordings and Fantasy on Bulgarian Rhythms, a newly commissioned work by Rice University composer Karim Al-Zand. European Folkscapes was sponsored in part by Houston Arts Alliance and the City of Houston. 1702 Drew Street, Houston, TX 77004 info@apollochamberplayers.org 832-496-9943 apollochamberplayers.org Photography by Cris Stephens Graphics/Teresa Southwell/tbsgraphics.com
Season Subscriber Benefits SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW BY JUNE 30 FOR: 30% SAVINGS ON INDIVIDUAL TICKETS Free ticket for a friend (one per subscription) EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS FOR ALL SEASON SUBSCRIBERS: Reserved seating for you and your guests Complimentary ticket exchanges; option to donate ticket(s) to students, low-income patrons Exclusive invitation to post-concert receptions (select concerts) Mix and mingle with guest artists and 20X2020 composers 20% discount on all Apollo merchandise (including CD s) INCLUDE A DONATION WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Contribution Levels INDIVIDUAL Kindly consider a gift at one of the membership tiers below. FANDANGO membership is the most prestigious level of donor involvement with Apollo Chamber Players. Members make significant gifts at the Mazurka ($1,000 or more) and Csárdás ($500 or more) levels to ensure that Houston s most creative and dynamic chamber music organization continues to thrive. (All benefits cumulative.) Fandango ($2,500+) A private, collaboratively curated concert by Apollo Chamber Players at your home or business Access to select PRIVATE REHEARSALS during the season Additional pair of complimentary season tickets Mazurka (1,000-$2,499) Exclusive invitations to post-concert receptions Meet & greet and pictures with guest artists and 20X2020 composers Two complimentary season tickets Csárdás ($500-$999) Reserved seating at all concerts 20% discount on all Apollo merchandise One complimentary season ticket Danzón ($100-$499) Autographed European Folkscapes CD Complimentary pair of single concert tickets Polka ($50-$99) Named recognition in concert programs Support and Major Funding Provided by: Apollo Chamber Players is fiscally sponsored by FreshArts, a non-profit arts service organization.
SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM To subscribe now: Call 832.496.9943 Order online at apollochamberplayers.org Fill out the subscription form below and mail it to: Apollo Chamber Players 1702 Drew St. Houston, TX 77004 Name Address City/State/Zip Email (order confirmation will sent by email) Phone Ancestral Voices Subscription Packages 4- CONCERT SUBSCRIPTION Concert 1 (Bohemian Inception, American Inspiration): Sep. 21 Select one: Concert 2 (East & West Transcended): Jan. 11 OR Jan. 13 Select one: Concert 3 (Mexican Kaleidoscope): March 22 OR March 24 Concert 4 (Hungarian Folk Lyricism): May 1 General Senior Donation Amount Total Admission (65+) (tax-deductible) $85 $70 $ $ 3-CONCERT SUBSCRIPTION MIX & MATCH your choice of three concerts Select Dates: Concert 1 (Bohemian Inception, American Inspiration): Sep. 21 Concert 2 (East & West Transcended): Jan. 11 OR Jan. 13 Concert 3 (Mexican Kaleidoscope): March 22 OR March 24 Concert 4 (Hungarian Folk Lyricism): May 1 General Senior Donation Amount Total Admission (65+) (tax-deductible) $60 $50 $ $ PAYMENT: Check (preferred) Visa Mastercard American Express Card # Exp. Date Signature CW # Please make checks payable to: Apollo Chamber Players
1702 Drew Street Houston, Texas 77004...vibrant performances of original arrangements. -- Arts & Culture Texas Presorted Std. U.S. Postage PAID Houston, TX Permit No. 2057