Musical Director's Notes

The programme for this term is in place and Jerry has kindly outlined his thoughts relating to it.....

Arthur Sullivan: Overture to Iolanthe Hear Overture to Iolanthe

Many of the overtures to the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were written at the very last minute, often put together by an assistant from existing material. The overture to Iolanthe was scored by Sullivan himself, and is a work of considerable merit which can stand alone in the concert hall. Much of it is derived from the operetta rather than simply copied from it.  After a delicate opening a plaintive melody on the clarinet leads to the main part of the work, an Allegro giojoso in six-eight. Much of the orchestration here is quite light, Sullivan being particularly fond of combining flutes and clarinets in scoring reminiscent of Mendelssohn. The final section is in two-four time, using the full orchestra and increasing the tempo (Animato and then Più vivo) to an exhilarating climax.

Georges Bizet: L'Arlésienne Suites 1 and 2 Hear L'Arlesienne Suites 1 and 2

Bizet composed the music for Daudet's play L'Arlésienne in the summer of 1872. When it was produced in the October the play was damned and the music almost ignored. It was scored for a small orchestra of 26 players, including an alto saxophone; almost at once Bizet salvaged four pieces which he rescored for full orchestra to form the First Suite. The Prelude consists of variations on a  traditional march, followed by the themes of the two brothers, the first given by the alto saxophone and the more passionate second theme by the full orchestra. Next is a Minuet, followed by a beautiful Adagietto for muted strings. Finally there is a Carillon, the repeated striking of the bells being represented by accented notes given to the horns.

The Second Suite was arranged after Bizet's death by his friend Ernest Guiraud. It begins with a Pastorale, followed by an Intermezzo. The third movement is a minuet, derived not from L'Arlésienne but from Bizet's earlier opera La Jolie Fille de Perth, composed in 1866. The work concludes with a Farandole, developed from the march theme of the First Suite.

The Somerset Rhapsody was written in 1906 at the request of Cecil Sharp, to whom it is dedicated. It is founded on folk songs, collected by Cecil Sharp in Somerset. Scored for full orchestra, it opens with the pastoral Sheep Shearing Song, played by the oboe - although Holst requests oboe d'amore if available - accompanied by a sustained note in the violins. This leads into a marching song, High Germany, followed by The Lovers' Farewell. The climax of the piece is reached with a reprise of High Germany. The Farewell is repeated, and as the music becomes quieter the Sheep Shearing Song reappears and the piece ends as softly as it began.

Back to the 'Homepage'