TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013

QUOTE:
"Music is the universal language of mankind.
AUTHOR: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“No matter what language you speak you can still communicate to anyone 
  your feelings through music."

COMPOSER

MENDELSSOHN

Hebrides Overture "Fingal's Cave"

Overture, The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave), Op. 26      Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy(1809-1847)

INFORMATION FROM: http://www.civicsymphony.org/Programs.html
October 10, 1993 - Program Notes by Thomas G. Rigney

Mendelssohn visited the Hebrides, islands off the west coast of Scotland, in 1829 as part of a summer vacation. One of the attractions there was a huge cavern on the island of Staffa, Fingal's cave. Upon his return to Germany he began writing the overture and completed it in 1832. It was premiered with the London Philharmonic Society with Thomas Attwood conducting and received great reviews from the critics. Even Richard Wagner, one of Mendelssohn's biggest critics, later described the work as "one of the most beautiful pieces we possess." It should be noted that the purpose of the work was not to be a tone poem, but rather as a reaction to an event, as in the Beethoven "Pastoral" symphony.

The overture opens with lower strings and bassoons playing the main theme, which is evocative of the waves of the sea. This theme is repeated in the violins. A second theme is introduced in the cellos and clarinets as a variant to the main theme. Dialogue between the strings and winds of the main theme leads back to the opening texture. The piece ends with a calm subsiding of the orchestra to silence, as if the motion of the sea itself has come to a rest.

J. M. W. Turner(artist) Staffa, Fingal's Cave, 1832 

The poet John Keats 

visited Staffa, Fingal's Cave in 1818 (Mendelssohn went in 1829) and he wrote a poem about it called 'Staffa.' The following is a section of the poem describing the natural music made by the power of nature heard in the cave:

This was architectur'd thus

By the great Oceanus! - 

Here his mighty waters play

Hollow organs all the day; 

Here by turns his dolphins all,

Finny palmers great and small,

Come to pay devotion due - 

Each a mouth of pearls must strew. 

Many a mortal of these days, 

Dares to pass our sacred ways, 

Dares to touch audaciously 

This Cathedral of the Sea! 

I have been the pontiff-priest 

Where the waters never rest, 

Where a fledgy sea-bird choir 

Soars for ever; holy fire 

I have hid from mortal man; 

Proteus is my Sacristan.

GENERAL MUSIC

01. THEORY

.......a.  STARTED THE NEXT NOTE READING PUZZLE (TO FINISH TOMORROW)

02. MAKING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS PROJECT

.......a.  COMPLETED LAST OF PRESENTATIONS

03.  VIOLIN

.......a.   LEFT PIZZICATO 

.............1.  CYCLE OF STRINGS PLUCKING EACH STRING 4X WITH EACH FINGER OF LEFT HAND

.............2.  EXERCISE USED TO DEVELOP LEFT VIOLIN ANGLE, LEFT ARM UNDER THE VIOLIN, and 

                  TO STRENGTHEN THE LEFT HAND FINGERS

ADV. STRINGS

SPRING CONCERT (THURSDAY; MAY 30TH) PREPARATION
JUNE 5th 5:00 PM (4:30 CALL TIME) DEDICATION FOR PATRICK'S GARDEN 
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION TO PLAY "STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN"
01.  REVIEWED DIRECTIONS FOR THURSDAY'S CONCERT and REHEARSAL

BEG. STRINGS

SPRING CONCERT (THURSDAY; MAY 30TH) PREPARATION
01.  REVIEWED DIRECTIONS FOR THURSDAY'S CONCERT and REHEARSAL