2022 WWCMF Commission — World Premiere

Andre Meyers (b. 1973)

Rainwater Song (2022)

for viola and harp

Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967)

String Quartet No. 2 (1918)

I. Allegro

II. Andante. Quasi recitativo - Allegro giocoso

— Intermission —

William Lloyd Webber (1914-1982)

Fermo Bellini (1804-1865)

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)

Songs for harp and cello

I. Nocturne

II. Nocturne

III. Song of the Black Swan

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)

String Quartet No. 5 (1931)

I. Poco andantino

II. Vivo e energico

III. Andantino - tempo giusto e bem ritmado

IV. Allegro

Artists: Natasha Bazhanov, violin; Timothy Christie, viola; Artur Girsky, violin; Rowena Hammill, cello; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Amy Ley, harp

What was happening roughly a century ago? Well, we are living it. Global Pandemic? Check. War in Europe? Check. Performance of a new quartet by Hungarian superstar composer Zoltán Kodály? Happily, check! While the quartet isn’t new anymore— it’s a hundred years old— it still sounds new, and that’s a comfort compared with the other two examples of history repeating itself.

If history is to repeat, we would do well to take up another of Kodály’s great musical contributions, the education of elementary and middle school children in the foundations of music. Kodály made it his life’s work and revolutionized the field. His method is taught to this day (where support for compulsory music education exists). With its folk influence, modal harmonies, and energetic country dance finale, this great quartet is a reminder to us all that history can repeat in all the right ways if given a chance.

Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967)

String Quartet No. 2 (1918)

I. Allegro

II. Andante. Quasi recitativo - Allegro giocoso

Artists: Girsky Quartet — Natasha Bazhanov, violin; Timothy Christie, viola; Artur Girsky, violin; Rowena Hammill, cello

Music of Mozart, Ravel, and Kodaly, plus the world premiere of Commedia Gallery for Flute, Harp and Viola by composer John David Earnest

Festival Series I celebrates unique combinations of instruments. As is our custom, the Festival Series will commence with the world premiere of a work commissioned for the occasion. John David Earnest, composer-in-residence at Whitman College, has created a new work for flute, harp and viola, titled Commedia Gallery. For this premiere, what better venue could there be than the gallery at the Walla Walla Foundry? Also on the program are works by Mozart, Ravel and Kodaly. The elegance of Mozart, the impressionist colorings of Ravel, and the passionate Hungarian folk music of Kodaly will set the 2011 Walla Walla Chamber Music ablaze with glorious musical fire.

Artists: Sarah Brady, Timothy Christie, Amy Ley, Philip Payton, Norbert Lewandowski, David Requiro, Maria Sampen and Kevin Schempf

Music of Mozart, Ravel, and Kodaly, plus the world premiere of Commedia Gallery for Flute, Harp and Viola by composer John David Earnest

Festival Series I celebrates unique combinations of instruments. As is our custom, the Festival Series will commence with the world premiere of a work commissioned for the occasion. John David Earnest, composer-in-residence at Whitman College, has created a new work for flute, harp and viola, titled Commedia Gallery. For this premiere, what better venue could there be than the gallery at the Walla Walla Foundry? Also on the program are works by Mozart, Ravel and Kodaly. The elegance of Mozart, the impressionist colorings of Ravel, and the passionate Hungarian folk music of Kodaly will set the 2011 Walla Walla Chamber Music ablaze with glorious musical fire.

Artists: Sarah Brady, Timothy Christie, Amy Ley, Philip Payton, Norbert Lewandowski, David Requiro, Maria Sampen and Kevin Schempf

Kodaly Duo for violin and cello, Op. 7

Tasting Music I will kick off the series in grand style at Corliss Estates. Zoltan Kodaly is known for his orchestral suite from the folk opera Háry János. In the opera, an exuberant soldier regales his companions with tall tales of exploits such as his single-handed defeat of Napoleon and the French Army… In his Duo for violin and cello, Kodaly sets in motion feats of virtuosity that you will find hard to believe.

Artists: David Requiro and Maria Sampen