Summer of Concerts: Week of August 14

August 14: Staunton Music Festival - Barococo

BAROCOCO is a collaboratively devised ensemble work in which Happenstance Theater portrays oblivious entitlement on the brink of extinction. This timely reflection on history is a physical-comedic dive into the late Baroque and flaunts 18th century finery, wigs, panniers, gestural styling, elaborate ornamentation and the excesses of Rococo. The characters navigate dangerous curves of manners and the Age of Enlightenment from the exquisite to the revolting.



Featuring Gwen Grastorf, Caleb Jaster, Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, Sarah Olmsted Thomas and Alex Vernon.

August 14: Staunton Music Festival - Collegium Musicum

The concept of the Collegium Musicum pulls together chamber works from across the centuries. Two directors of the famous Leipzig collegium are featured (Telemann and Bach). In between their concertos we enjoy the delightful Octet of Paul Hindemith, who took inspiration from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - works likely performed at the collegium all those years ago.



Bach | Concerto in A Major, for fortepiano and strings

Hindemith | Octet

Telemann | Concerto in D Major, 53:D5, for violin, cello, trumpet, strings, and continuo

August 15: Staunton Music Festival - 

Nordic Light & Darkness

This program of Scandinavian music combines darkness and light. The concert begins in deepest pathos (Sibelius may have penned Malinconia after the death of his young daughter), touches on a famously ethereal theme (the Arietta from Beethoven's Op. 111) given new life by Anders Hillborg, and closes with radiant lyricism of Edvard Grieg.



Sibelius | Malinconia, for cello and piano

Roman | Trio Sonata TBD

Hillborg | Kongsgaard Variations, for string quartet

Grieg/Wadsworth | Songs Op. 48, for voice and chamber ensemble

August 15: Staunton Music Festival - 

Early Keyboard Extravaganza

The annual Early Keyboard Extravaganza concert remains an audience favorite, where the spotlight shines on numerous harpsichords, fortepianos, and organs. Hear Baroque and Classical era works performed on authentic and replica instruments from the relevant period, from Buxtehude to Schubert.



D’Anglebert | Suite in C Major for three harpsichords

J.S. Bach | Concerto in A Minor, for four harpsichords and strings

Buxtehude | Motet: Jubilate Domino, for countertenor, gamba, and organ

Schubert | Adagio and Allegro, for piano quartet

Schubert | Allegro in A Minor ("Lebensstürme"), for piano four hands

Handel | Organ Concerto in F Major, Op. 4/5

August 15: Staunton Music Festival - Nightcap: from Camerata to Broadway

Relax with a drink and a short concert of vocal music ranging from madrigals to showtunes.

August 16: Staunton Music Festival - 

Serenades at Noon

Violist and composer Vladimir Mendelssohn was a formative and friendly presence at Staunton Music Festival for 20 seasons. After his death in 2021, friends and professional clleagues organized an international composition competition in his honor, partnering with a dozen festivals around the globe. Staunton is honored to be lone U.S. festival included in that list, charged with presenting the premiere of the top prize winner, Rosita Piritore's String Quartet. Piritore's work appears between music of Scarlatti and Debussy.



Scarlatti | Three sonatas for fortepiano

Piritore | String Quartet*

Debussy | Sonata for flute, viola, and harp

August 16: Staunton Music Festival - 

Meet the Composer: Anders Hillborg

Anders Hillborg gained his first musical experience singing in choirs; he was also involved in various forms of improvised music at an early age. From 1976 to 1982 he studied counterpoint, composition and electronic music at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where his teachers included Gunnar Bucht, Lars-Erik Rosell, Arne Mellnäs and Pär Lindgren. Brian Ferneyhough, who was a guest lecturer at the College of Music on several occasions, was also an important source of inspiration. Apart from occasional teaching positions, Hillborg has been a full-time freelance composer since 1982. His sphere of activity is extensive, covering orchestral, choral and chamber music as well as music for films and pop music.



In this free event, Hillborg will speak about his musical style and ambitions. The program includes a performance of Hillborg's Duet for clarinet and violin.

August 16: Staunton Music Festival - 

The Breathing of the World

Midway through the 2023 festival we celebrate nature and the world we all share. From evocations of moonlight and a solar eclipse, the program advances to Hillborg's choral reflection on the present state of global ecological peril. Beethoven's grand Symphony No. 4 provides a burst of emphatic joy and energy as culmination of this "nature-lyric" evening.



Beethoven/Bierey | Kyrie in C Minor, for chorus and orchestra (after the "Moonlight" Sonata)

Wadsworth | Eclipse for harp and chamber ensemble

Hillborg | The Breathing of the World, for chorus

Milhaud | La Création du Monde, for piano quintet

Beethoven | Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60

August 17: Appalachian Chamber Music Festival - ACMF 2023 Opening Night: Places That Inspire

We start our 2023 journey with a collection of exciting works for strings, piano and banjo that evoke a sense of place through folklore, our environment, and the effervescent energy of musical roots in slavic folk tunes. Featuring world premieres of Steven Snowden and Noam Faingold and special artists, John Bullard, banjo and Efi Hackmey, piano.

Voodoo Dolls (2008): Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981)

Murder Ballads (World Premiere): Steven Snowden (b. 1981)

In the Pines

Two Sisters

Banks of the Ohio

Sonata for Viola da Gamba in D Major, BWV 1028: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Adagio

Allegro

Andante

Allegro

-Intermission-

Elevation for Solo Violin and Strings (2022) Paul Frost

The Air is on Fire for Cello and Piano* (World Premiere): Noam Faingold (b. 1984)

String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 77: Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

Allegro con fuoco

Scherzo. Allegro vivace

Poco andante

Finale. Allegro assai

August 17: Staunton Music Festival - 

Song Fest

The human voice is unequaled for its range of expressivity, as shown by the three works gathered together on this one-hour noon concert. From folk music of the British Isles to music of profound introspection and gravity to the radiant joy of Bach - all is possible.



Britten | Folksong Arrangements

Shatin | Vayter un vayter, for bass, clarinet, cello, and piano

J.S. Bach | Cantata No. 51, for soprano, trumpet, strings and continuo

August 17: Staunton Music Festival - The Great Elopement

Love is one of the most common themes of music. This evening program takes a look at love from various angles, from comedy and class in "The Marriage of Figaro" to the heady passions of Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet." The featured work, however, is a little-known arrangement of Handel's music made by English conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, titled "The Great Elopement" and featuring pantomime by Happenstance Theater.



Mozart | Overture to Le Nozze di Figaro

Trouvère Song

C. and R. Schumann | Romanzen, for oboe and fortepiano

Hillborg | O dessa ögon, for voice and string quintet

Tchaikovsky/V.Mendelssohn | Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture, arr. for piano sextet

Handel/Beecham | The Great Elopement, or Love in Bath, with pantomime by Happenstance Theater

August 18: Appalachian Chamber Music Festival - Behind Every Great Woman...

We’ve all heard the saying “Behind every great man is a great woman” but we are now in a time where we can flip this, and explore works by incredible women in the past 100 years, who were all no doubt inspired as all classical musicians are by the music of Mozart.

In this enchanting program, we feature works mostly written by women around the world in the past 100 years, with fascinating stories to tell. This program journeys from Azerbaijan across Europe and the British Isles before finishing in Washington D.C. with Caroline Shaw’s captivating “Plan and Elevation” inspired by the historic Dumbarton Oaks home in Georgetown.

Program:

Rəqs (Dance) (2015): Franghiz Ali-Zadeh (b. 1947)

Clarinet Quintet in A Major, KV 581: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Allegro

Larghetto

Menuetto

Allegretto con variazioni

-Intermission-

Poem: Adagio for String Quartet (1926): Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979)

Plan & Elevation: The Grounds of Dumbarton Oaks (2015): Caroline Shaw (b. 1979)

The Ellipse

The Cutting Garden

The Herbaceous Border

The Orangery

The Beech Tree

August 18: Staunton Music Festival - 

Bach Materia

This noon concert is built around a substantial contemporary work, the "Bach Materia" by composer-in-residence Anders Hillborg. Hillborg's piece was commissioned by the Swedish Chamber Orchestra in 2017. For its US premiere, it is paired in Staunton with two related works by Bach: the striking Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 and Hillborg's own arrangement of the Bachian chorale melody "Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ."



J. S. Bach | Brandenburg Concerto No. 2

Hillborg | Bach Materia for solo violin and strings

Bach/Hillborg | Ich ruf zu dir, for oboe and strings

August 18: Staunton Music Festival - 

Baroque Inside-Out: The Brandenburgs

The 2023 Baroque Inside-Out concert is devoted to J.S. Bach. Four of the captivating Brandenburg Concertos are planned (the remaining two of the set can be heard on surrounuding concerts on Friday and Saturday), interspersed with two of his sacred motets. In addition, audience members are invited to step into the courtyard for a drink and non-Baroque musical treats during the extended intermission.



Bach | Brandenburg Concerto No. 1

Bach | Motet: Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf

Bach | Brandenburg Concerto No. 5

Bach | Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

Bach | Duet: "O Menschenkind," from Cantata 20

Bach | Brandenburg Concerto No. 4

August 18: Staunton Music Festival - Nightcap: Baroque Bash

The Baroque immersion rolls on with a short concert of instrumental and vocal treasures, presented in an intimate space with complimentary drinks.

August 19: Garth Newel Music Center - String Extravaganza I

String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36 – Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Allegro non troppo

Scherzo: Allegro non troppo – Presto giocoso

Poco adagio

Poco allegro

2 Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11 – Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Prelude: Adagio

Scherzo: Allegro molto

Nicholas Danielson, violin

Joel Fuller, violin

Juliette Kang, violin

Teresa Ling, violin

Fitz Gary, viola

Evelyn Grau, viola

Thomas Kraines, cello

Isaac Melamed, cello

Dinner Menu

• House made Flatbread with Green Chickpeas Hummus, Black Garlic, Warm Olives, Artichoke Hearts, Cherry Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Parsley Caper Gremolata
• Spinach with Red Apple, Sliced Almonds, Sun Dried Cranberries, Blue Cheese, Shaved Red Onions with Honey Pomegranate White Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Halibut, White Bean and Lentil Puree, Pesto Beurre Blanc, Celery dill Cucumber Slaw and Goat Cheese and Black Garlic Vinaigrette
• Lemon Mousse, Lady Finger Crumble, Banana Crème Anglaise, Blueberry and Blackberry Compote and Almond Tuile

August 19: Appalachian Music Festival - Duo Delights and More!

Come join us for a one-hour late morning concert filled with delectable miniature works for two players. This concert will feature the coming together of our talented wind and string players in works by Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Villa-Lobos and traditional Irish tunes and music by our very own ACMF artists. Featuring Irish musicians Sinead Frost and Sinead Farrell. Not to be missed!

Due to the intimate venue, we anticipate these duo concerts will be sold out.

Program: TBD / Featuring ACMF Wind and String Artists

August 19: Appalachian Chamber Music Festival - ELEVATION

We take our inspiration for this concert from a lofty place; the view of an inspiring place from above. The regal Beethoven horn sextet starts this program, before venturing into award-winning works by Caroline Shaw, and Igor Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks, written for the historic home of the same name in Washington D.C. Featuring Welsh violinist, Martin Gwilym-Jones in the American premiere of Paul Frost’s “Elevation” for string ensemble and solo violin.

Sextet for Two Horns and Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 81b: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Allegro con brio

Adagio

Rondo. Allegro

Plan & Elevation: The Grounds of Dumbarton Oaks (2015): Caroline Shaw (b. 1979)

The Ellipse

The Cutting Garden

The Herbaceous Border

The Orangery

The Beech Tree

-Intermission-

Elevation for Solo Violin and Strings (2022): Paul Frost

Chamber Concerto in E-flat Major (“Dumbarton Oaks”): Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Tempo giusto

Allegretto

Con moto

August 19: Staunton Music Festival - 

Fin de Siècle

In 1900 Romanian composer Georges Enescu completed his substantial Octet for Strings, arguably the greatest work in that genre outside of Mendelssohn's famous example. A few years later French composer Maurice Ravel created one of his more popular works, taking inspiration from the newly developed pedal harp designed by the Pleyel firm. Both works celebrate the lavish sounds of turn-of-the-century Europe: a style evolved from the excesses of Wagner to touch the intimate colors and nuance of the Impressionists.



Ravel | Introduction and Allegro for harp and chamber ensemble

Enescu | Octet for Strings in C Major, Op. 7

August 19: Staunton Music Festival - Baroque Lovers' Afternoon

This afternoon program delivers an extra dose of Baroque chamber music for listeners who cannot get enough of a good thing. Bach's Sixth Brandenburg Concerto, a delightful ode for two countertenors, and French cantata make for a sumptuous one hour concert.



Blow | Ode on the Death of Henry Purcell

Bach/Davids | Fugue in C for two violins

Campra | Silène et Bacchus, for voice, flute and continuo

Bach | Brandenburg Concerto No. 6

August 19: Staunton Music Festival -

España

Headlining this evening's focus on music of and about Spain, Manuel de Falla's miniature puppet-opera Master Peter's Puppet Show calls upon the visual artistry and comedy of Happenstance Theater. Other works on the program range from the haunting beauty of Victoria's Renaissance Ave Maria to George Crumb's mystical setting of poems by Lorca.



Albéniz | Triana, for two pianos

Victoria | Ave Maria, for eight voices

Crumb | Night of the Four Moons, for voice and chamber ensemble

Boccherini | Night Music in the Streets of Madrid

De Falla | Master Peter's Puppet Show, with pantomime and puppetry by Happenstance Theater

August 20: Garth Newel Music Center - String Extravaganza II

String Quintet No. 4 in G minor, K. 516 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Allegro

Menuetto: Allegretto

Adagio ma non troppo

Adagio – Allegro

Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20 – Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Allegro moderato ma con fuoco

Andante

Scherzo: Allegro leggerissimo

Presto

Nicki Danielson, violin

Joel Fuller, violin

Juliette Kang, violin

Teresa Ling, violin

Fitz Gary, viola

Evelyn Grau, viola

Thomas Kraines, cello

Isaac Melamed, cello

Picnic Menu

• Seared Skirt Steak with Pomegranate Arugula Scallion Salsa, Pickled Radish, and Onions
• with Avocado Aioli on Cabbage Kale Slaw
• Roasted Cauliflower Au Gratin with Green Chickpea Mayo
• Various sides, salads, and desserts

August 20: Appalachian Chamber Music Fesitlval -  Family Concert: Travel the World Through Music!

Bring the whole family and enjoy ACMF's first KIDS CONCERT! This less formal and relaxed one hour concert is designed for younger audience members. All are welcome! Whether this is your family's first concert experience or you have students who study music - this concert will be fun and accessible.

This family-friendly kids concert is designed to engage, educate and enlighten our younger audience members, but is delightful for all ages. Join us on an hour-long journey exploring how composers from around the world express the idea of “Places that Inspire” through their music.

What to expect:

This concert will be one hour with no intermission. Wiggling and dancing in your seats is welcome! The instruments on stage will include violin, viola, cello, flute, and bassoon. Musicians will perform in a variety of groupings including quartets, duos, and a larger chamber ensemble piece with six players. House lights will be dimmed for this performance (not completely dark). Franklin Park Arts Center is a wonderful venue with a modern stadium style theater space (audiences look down onto the stage) and plenty of free parking. Learn more about the venue on their website.

Program may include:

Die Forelle ("The Trout"): Shubert (Arr. Farrington)

Flute Quartet: Mozart

Duo Delights with Flute and Bassoon

Poem: Rebecca Clarke

August 20: Appalachian Chamber Music Festival - Festival Favorites: Encore Concert

The first weekend of our festival ends with a bang with an hour long concert featuring some of the most exciting works from our first week. Join us in the Shepherdstown Opera House for a vast array of repertoire, featuring our string and wind artists. A great way to end a weekend with a shorter performance that’s sure to pack a punch.

Program:

Rəqs (Dance) (2015): Franghiz Ali-Zade (b. 1947)

String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 77: Antonin Dvorak

Scherzo. Allegro vivace

Poco andante

Finale. Allegro assai

Chamber Concerto in E-flat Major (“Dumbarton Oaks”): Igor Stravinsky

Tempo giusto

Allegretto

Con moto

August 20: Staunton Music Festival - 

Mozart's Math and Magic

Three works from Mozart's later years show the many sides of his genius. Wind music adapted from the lyrical highlights of The Magic Flute start the program, which closes with one of Mozart's masterful string quintets. In between, composer-in-residence Zachary Wadsworth updates one of the favored pasttimes of 18th-century parties: the musical dice game, where high art and happenstance come together.



Mozart | Harmoniemusik from The Magic Flute

Mozart/Wadsworth | A Musical Dice Game, for actor and chamber ensemble

Mozart | String Quintet in C Major, K. 515

August 20: Staunton Music Festival - 

Finale: Mozart Extravaganza

The 2023 summer festival concludes with six late works by the incomparable Mozart. The programmed music everything from a song for voice and piano to the powerful G-Minor Symphony No. 40. Works touch upon the composer's religious and masonic beliefs, as well as celebrating his ability to compose in vocal, chamber, and symphonic mediums.



Mozart | Two quintets from The Magic Flute

Mozart | Andante and Variations from Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453

Mozart | Abendempfindung, for voice and piano

Mozart | Symphony No. 40 in G Minor

Mozart | Eine kleine Freimaurer-Kantate

Mozart | Gloria, from Mass in C Minor, K. 427