Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

TRIO IN A MINOR, OP. 114

for piano, clarinet and cello

I. Allegro

II. Adagio

III. Andantino grazioso

IV. Allegro

— Intermission —

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

BRANDENBURG CONCERTO NO. 6 IN B FLAT, BWV 1051

I. [Allegro]

II. Adagio, ma non tanto

III. Allegro

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875–1912)

FIVE NEGRO MELODIES FOR PIANO TRIO, OP. 59, NO. 1

I. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

II. I Was Way Down A-Yonder

III. Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?

IV. They Will Not Lend Me A Child

V. My Lord Delivered Daniel

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Philip Payton, violin; David Requiro, cello; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Joshua Skinner, bass; Meta Weiss, cello; Xiaohui Yang, piano

The Six Brandenburg Concertos of Johann Sebastian Bach represent one of the more interesting cover letters in the history of job searches. Bach wanted to change gigs. His patron, Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, was a Calvinist, and music was not an integral part of his worship. Bach wanted the opportunity to compose sacred music, having focused primarily on instrumental works during his service to Leopold. And so, he drafted an elaborately self-deprecating letter of interest and sent it along with the manuscript of his set of concertos for a variety of instruments to the Margrave of Brandenburg.

The Margrave employed a modest house band, likely incapable of playing these demanding works or even fielding a team, which included flutes, recorders, trumpet, horns, harpsichord, and all manner of strings. It doesn’t appear that Bach received any reply for his efforts, and the manuscript remained unplayed in the Margrave’s library until his death. It was sold shortly after for a sum of about $22 in equivalent value for the time. Even with the manuscript’s sale, the concertos would remain unplayed until 1850 upon their discovery in the Brandenburg archives. The Sixth Concerto, heard tonight, is scored for the enlightened, ingenious, heroic combination of two solo violas, keyboard, and a consort of viols. Like the Margrave, we don’t have the exact instruments required, but we do have a very capable consort of cellos to fill in for the viols… Don’t worry. We’ll explain it all.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

BRANDENBURG CONCERTO NO. 6 IN B FLAT, BWV 1051

I. [Allegro]

II. Adagio, ma non tanto

III. Allegro

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Philip Payton, violin; David Requiro, cello; Joshua Skinner, bass; Meta Weiss, cello; Xiaohui Yang, keyboard

In the year 1741, @jsbach tweeted:

“Excited to begin production on 32 Short Films About @GlennGould!”

#GoldbergVariations #NotAboutInsomnia #AllAboutThatBass

Scholars may disagree whether the tweet attributed to Bach is authentic or not, but all agree that publication of the Goldberg Variations, BWV. 988, in 1741, set in motion a narrative that continues up to and beyond our present time. Today, the mere mention of Goldberg Variations elicits reverential nods of assent.

The work is 32 movements in total, the first and last taking the form of a 32-bar aria. The variations are not on the aria’s melody, rather its bass line. Numbers play an important role throughout. The variations are in groupings of three consisting of two free variations followed by a canonic variation voiced in musical spacings of ever-widening intervals. The first canon begins at the unison (just like Row, Row, Row Your Boat) and is followed by canons at the second through ninth degrees. Instead of a 10th canon, Bach chooses a form called “quodlibet,” a glorious jumble of overlaid musical quotations and references. Heady stuff. At last, the aria returns, and we are all changed, performers and audience alike.

Tonight, we present Bach’s masterpiece in an arrangement for string trio (violin; viola; cello) by violinist Dimitri Sitkovetski. And that is a new and worthy topic unto itself…

Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

GOLDBERG VARIATIONS, BWV 988 (1741)

Arr. Dmitry Sitkovetsky (b. 1954)

for string trio

Aria

Variatio I.

Variatio II.

Variatio III. Canone all’Unisono

Variatio IV.

Variatio V.

Variatio VI. Canone alla Seconda

Variatio VII. al tempo di Giga

Variatio VIII.

Variatio IX. Canone alla Terza

Variatio X. Fughetta

Variatio XI.

Variatio XII. Canone alla Quarta in moto contrario

Variatio XIII.

Variatio XIV.

Variatio XV. Canone alla Quinta: Andante

Variatio XVI. Ouverture

Variatio XVII.

Variatio XVIII. Canone alla Sesta

Variatio XIX.

Variatio XX.

Variatio XXI. Canone alla Settima

Variatio XXII alla breve

Variatio XXIII.

Variatio XXIV. Canone all'Ottava

Variatio XXV. Adagio

Variatio XXVI.

Variatio XXVII. Canone alla Nona

Variatio XXVIII.

Variatio XXIX.

Variatio XXX. Quodlibet

Aria da Capo

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Artur Girsky, violin; and Rowena Hammill, cello.

Natasha Bazhanov, violin

Russian-American violinist Natasha Bazhanov enjoys a vibrant career as a member of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

A musician of varied interests, Natasha is also a member of the Seattle-based Girsky String Quartet. She brings a unique perspective as a master of the inner voice. What do I mean by “inner voice?” Simply that Natasha spends her time in the second violin section and playing second violin in the quartet. But what does that mean in terms of music? It means versatility. In baseball terms, Natasha can play the outfield or the infield. She bats .300, brings in 100 RBIs and steals 30 bases. She’ll even pitch an inning when needed. Such is the nature of excelling in the role of second fiddle.

Tonight she’ll take the spotlight all to herself. Join us at Revelry Vintners for what will surely be an exciting and enlightening performance of music by Dvorak, Kreisler and Bach.

Artists: Natasha Bazhanov, violin; Timothy Christie, viola; Artur Girsky, violin; and Jingwen Tu, piano.

Jingwen Tu, piano

Pianist Jingwen Tu has been heard around the world in iconic venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Matav Music Hall (Budapest) and the Banff Centre. Now she makes her WWCMF debut in the beautiful gallery of Foundry Vineyards.

WWCMF Founder and Artistic Director Timothy Christie joins Jingwen for a conversation and recital of works by Berg, Bach and Chopin. Kick off the 2019 June Festival in style with this extraordinary mix of sonata, partita and ballade.

Artist: Jingwen Tu, piano

Violist, Dr. Marcus Thompson is the Artistic Director of the Boston Chamber Music Society, Institute Professor at MIT and on the faculty of the New England Conservatory. He also has a role in the origin story of WWCMF. You’ll have to attend his Portrait of an Artist recital to find out the details and partake in an incredible evening of music for viola and piano.

We return to the gallery at Foundry Vineyards for this virtuoso recital featuring music of Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Clarke, and Enescu.

Artists: Marcus Thompson, viola and Henry Kramer, piano.

Beethoven’s creative life is divided into three neat sections, Early, Middle and Late. The Early Period is defined by his tendency to shake up convention and thwart expectations with persistent and needling harmonic escapades and emphatic rhythmic accentuations where they don’t belong. In the Middle Period, Beethoven confronts form itself, testing the limits of Classical proportion. In the Late Period, Beethoven moves into a completely uncharted territory, looking ever inward. His shadow would loom large across the 19th century and beyond.

Here in the 21st century, we have the opportunity to visit with a remarkable violinist and WWCMF Lifer, Stephen Miahky. Steve played the first-ever June Portrait of an Artist recital back in 2013. He was in his Early Period back then. Life has thrown a lot his way in the last half-decade, and he has thrown a lot back. Welcome to his Middle Period!

Kick off the 2018 June Festival at Rasa Vineyards with Portrait of an Artist, Stephen Miahky 2.0. Back in 2013, we didn’t have the capacity to program works with piano at satellite locations like Rasa, but thanks to the inspired work of the Walla Walla Piano Group, we now benefit from a magnificent Steinway Grand in all of our locations. The program will include music of Mozart, Bach, Debussy/Heifetz, Mark O’Connor, and Ysaÿe.

Artists: Stephen Miahky, violin; with Kristin Vining, piano; and Christina McGann, violin

Tonight’s event has been made possible by the generosity of a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

Spektral Quartet actively pursues a vivid conversation between exhilarating works of the traditional canon and those written this decade, this year, or this week. Tonight, we will pursue a vivid conversation with each member of the quartet.

What’s it like working so closely with the same three colleagues every day? Any annoying habits we should know about? We’ll find out who thinks what about whom within the quartet while we delight in a program of various works for violin, viola and cello by Bach, Tartini, Mario Lavista and David Reminick. Will this be the end of Spektral Quartet?

No.

It is only the beginning…

Artists: Spektral Quartet: Doyle Armbrust, viola; Mauve Fein, violin; Clara Lyon, violin; and Russell Rolen, cello.

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Al Marshall. The Steinway grand piano has been generously provided by the Walla Walla Piano Group.

Finnish-born cellist Katri Ervamaa, DMA, is a versatile performer, who specializes in chamber music, new music and creative improvisation. She has performed and given master classes throughout North America, Europe and Taiwan. Her festival appearances include the Orlando, Kuhmo, Bowdoin, Lyckå and Norrtäjle Chamber Music Festivals (with the Finnish Owla String Quartet) as well as the Denison University Tutti! New Music Festival, Poison City Music Festival and Finnfest, among others.

Katri is a musician who is deeply influenced by her inherent love for the cello, pride in her native Finland and her close network of musical friends. Tonight’s program reflects those influences in works by Bach, Sibelius and Gabriela Lena Frank.

We’ll also take a few moments to explore the always tricky Finnish language. HYVÄÄ PÄIVÄNJATKOA! (Have a nice day!)

Artists: Katri Ervamaa, cello; and Jan Roberts, piano.

For the final Portrait of an Artist recital of the 2016 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival, you are in for a treat. Taiwanese-American pianist, Wei-Han Wu has established himself as one of the most versatile musicians in a crowded field. At home in the sometimes disparate worlds of art song, contemporary music, chamber music and concert repertoire, Wei-Han brings a cheerful sense of camaraderie to his every performance. At roughly 90 pounds soaking wet, do not underestimate Wei-Han at the dinner table… No one knows where he puts it, but he will keep eating long after you have thrown in the towel.

Tonight, however, Wei-Han Wu will provide you with a feast in works for piano by Liszt, Gershwin, Rachmaninov, Bach and more. We close the Portrait of an Artist Series for 2016 at the always air-conditioned and stylish Foundry Vineyards gallery and tasting room.

All selections will be announced from the stage.

Artist: Wei-Han Wu, piano

Commentary: Timothy Christie

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

Due to performance-related injury, Benjamin Hochman will be unable to perform this June. Pianist Winston Choi has generously agreed to step in. We wish Benjamin a speedy recovery. We look forward to a return engagement once he heals.

The Chicago Tribune had this to say about Winston Choi: “There doesn’t appear to be anything Choi can’t play — and with virtuosic panache to boot.” I think that sums it up pretty well. Winston is the winner of several prestigious international competitions including the 2002 Orléans Concours International and the 2003 Honens International Piano Competition.

But more importantly, Winston was the inspiration for the Festival’s Portrait of an Artist Series.

It all began in Boston at the exclusive St. Botolph Club. Several musicians, Winston among them, were relaxing following a delicious meal. Before long, someone noticed the grand piano across the room. It was suggested that Winston play through some of his repertoire for an upcoming recital. After a few beautifully rendered selections, musicians began calling out requests. Winston gamely played through a staggering amount of repertoire that night, and we all felt that we knew him better for it.

Tonight’s recital will be moderated by Festival Founder and Artistic Director, Timothy Christie. Tickets are extremely limited for this special event.

ANNOUNCED FROM THE STAGE

Partita No. 1 in B Flat, Bach

6 Bagatelles, Op. 126, Beethoven

Prelude in D-Flat, Op. 28, No. 15, “Raindrop,” Chopin

Variations on a Theme of Handel, Brahms

Fugue, Bach (Encore)

Artist: Winston Choi, piano.

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Mary and David Meeker.

The tasting room at Canoe Ridge Vineyards will resonate not with bells as it did back when it housed the Walla Walla Traction Company’s trolleys, but with the songful tone of solo cello. David Requiro is one of the finest cellists of our generation, garnering numerous awards including First Prize at the prestigious 2008 Walter W. Naumburg Foundation International Violoncello Competition. What's the difference between a violoncello and a cello? It’s really the same thing as the difference between a violin and a fiddle. We’ll settle the matter and much more during this must-see recital.

ANNOUNCED FROM THE STAGE

Allemande, Sarabande and Gigue from C Major Suite, Bach

Preludio-Fantasia from the Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, Cassado

5 Bukoliki, Lutoslawski — with Timothy Christie

Cello Duo, Sollima

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; David Requiro, cello; and Meta Weiss, cello.

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Tom and Margo Scribner.

Festival Founder and Artistic Director, Timothy Christie, usually hosts and moderates the Portrait of an Artist Series, asking probing questions of the Festival’s roster of artists and revealing aspects of musicians’ lives that do not typically make it into the artist biographies in your program book. For the kick-off event of the 2015 Season, Tim becomes the subject of the portrait.

This provokes many a question: Who will host? Will it be courteous, or will it turn into a flat out roast? In all likelihood, there will be a roast-like tenor to the proceedings, but as you might guess, there is only one way to find out. Garrison Creek Cellars lends the acoustics of a Renaissance chapel and bucolic perfection to the proceedings.

ANNOUNCED FROM THE STAGE

Scotland the Brave, traditional — with Charlotte Christie

Duo in G Major for violin and viola, III: Rondo, Mozart — with Maria Sampen

Trio Sonata in D Major, Op. 3 No. 2, Corelli — with Stephen Miahky and Meta Weiss

Trio Sonata in C Major, Op. 4 No. 1, Corelli — with Stephen Miahky and Meta Weiss

Roumanian Folk Dances, Bartok — with Christina McGann, Maria Sampen and Norbert Lewandowski

Chaconne from the d minor Partita, Bach

TIM’S "DESERT ISLAND" MUSIC SELECTIONS

Mahler Symphony No. 2, “The Resurrection”
Respighi "Church Windows”
Mozart Serenade in B Flat for winds, K. 361, “Gran Partita”

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Christina McGann, violin; Stephen Miahky, violin; Maria Sampen, violin; and Meta Weiss, cello.

Andrew Jennings, Violin

From his inaugural season of concerts with the Concord String Quartet in 1971 through captivating performances at WWCMF in recent seasons, Andrew Jennings is one of the most important violinists, pedagogues, and chamber musicians of our time.

WWCMF is honored to present Andrew Jennings on Portrait of an Artist 2. The beautiful gallery at Foundry Vineyards will set the perfect stage for this evening of insights and delights. Music will include a wide array from Bach to Dvorak to Stockhausen and even the champion Scottish fiddler, Alasdair Fraser.

Artists: Timothy Christie, Norbert Lewandowski, Maria Sampen, and Sally Singer Tuttle.

Tonight’s performance is made possible by the generosity of the Bonnie and Clifford Braden Trust.

Portrait of an Artist 1 finds us at the idyllic Basel Cellars. Majestic views of the Blue Mountains will have a soundtrack. Cellist Norbert Lewandowski is a multifaceted artist who serves as Principal Cellist of the Charleston Symphony in South Carolina and solo cellist of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble. He is in demand on chamber music series around the country.

Tonight you’ll hear Norbert all by his lonesome... kind of. With an interest in electronics, Norbert has found a way to accompany himself. Featured musical selections include Bach, Britten, U2, and even some folk music. Norbert’s an interesting guy, but don’t take our word for it. Check it out. One night only.

Artists: Norbert Lewandowski

An edge-of-your-seat set of multi-genre chamber music. From Bach to Radiohead.

The 2013 Winter Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival comes to a close with a program of tremendous variety. J.S. Bach is perhaps the most prolific composer of all time. His Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 weaves together 9 independent melodic lines with seamless continuity. Some 270 years later, Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov deployed nine musicians in a completely different idiom. His nonet The Last Round distills the sounds and imagery of the Tango: the wheezing of the accordion-like bandoneon, the intricate interplay of entwined legs, and the macho posture of the tanguero. Tying the whole program together, renowned ensemble Sybarite5, fresh from their Carnegie Hall debut, will take the stage for a set of multi-genre chamber music. From Bach to Radiohead, Sybarite5 brings freshness and virtuosity to their innovative approach to music in the 21st Century.

Artists: Louis Levitt, Sami Merdinian, Laura Metcalf, Angela Pickett and Sarah Whitney as Sybarite5 along with Timothy Christie, Benjamin Gish, Julia Salerno, and Maria Sampen

The Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048

WWCMF returns to the acoustically superior Foundry Vineyards Gallery to present one of the all-time-greatest-masterpieces-in-the-history-of-human-achievement… No hyperbole, we promise. The 6 Brandenburg Concertos by JS Bach represent some of the finest compositions of the Baroque, or any, period. Period. Tonight, the musicians of WWCMF will perform Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048.

The story of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos is the stuff of an Antiques Roadshow dream. Presented by Bach to Christian Ludwig, the Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, in 1721, the 6 concertos lay unplayed in the Brandenburg archives until they were discovered in 1849. The opportunistic Siegfried Wilhelm Dehn purchased the 6 concertos for the extraordinarily paltry sum of $22 in today's money and published them within a year.

The Brandenburg Concertos contain some of the most recognizable music ever composed, thanks in part to present day advertisements, cartoons, films and all manner of pop culture references. Though sometimes relegated to the status of musical "Clip Art," the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 ingeniously weaves together 9 independent melodic lines and represents both the ultimate in Baroque polyphony, and also our ability to hear it.

We'll unweave some of the harmonic tapestry and show you how it all comes together. Be sure to enjoy some Foundry Vineyards wine along the way, but don't stain the tapestry.

Artists: Louis Levitt, Sami Merdinian, Laura Metcalf, Angela Pickett and Sarah Whitney as Sybarite5 along with Timothy Christie, Benjamin Gish, Julia Salerno, Maria Sampen

The Icicle Creek Piano Trio performs music by Turina, Haydn, Bach and Ravel. Plus, a world premiere string quartet by Washington composer, Robert Hutchinson

Opening night of the 2010 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival Series! The program begins with the World Premiere of a new String Quartet by Washington composer, Robert Hutchinson. Then, the critically acclaimed Icicle Creek Piano Trio takes to the stage to perform works by Haydn, Turina, Bach and Ravel.

Whether it’s the Baroque poise of Bach’s B Minor Sonata for Violin and Keyboard, the classical charm of Haydn’s Trio in E Major, Hob. XV:28, or the sheer impressionist virtuosity of the Ravel Trio, you will see why the Icicle Creek Piano Trio is one of the rising stars of the classical music world. Their 2009 recording of the Schubert E Flat Trio and the Ravel Trio (Con Brio Recordings) has garnered much praise.

“The playing is warmly considered, meticulous in articulation and blend, and silken in sonority.”

—Gramophone Magazine

This is your one chance to hear the Icicle Creek Piano Trio during the 2010 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival. Don’t miss it!