This preview has been provided by the Mallarmé Chamber Players.
The Mallarmé Chamber Players will present a program that follows the progression of Cuban classical chamber music to Danzón, a musical and dance style with roots in European classical and Afro-Cuban music.
The program is Sunday, March 22 at 7:30 pm at the Motorco Music Hall in Durham.
The first half of the program will feature the “classical” part of the program with chamber music composed by Cubans. The program will start with La Bella Cubana for mixed quartet (flute, violin, viola and bass) by José Silvestre White (1832-1916) a Black Cuban who won First Grand Prize for Violin at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1856. Pianist Eric Hirsh (of Orquesta GarDel and The Beast) will follow, performing two dances by Ernesto Lecuona (1895-1963) who wrote over 150 works for solo piano. He was Cuba’s most influential musician during the first half of the 20th century and is best known for composing Malaguena.
The great-nephew of Ernesto Lecuona, Leo Brouwer (b. 1939 in Havana) didn’t fall far from the family tree. Only 17 when he made his own professional debut as a guitarist, he appears on more than 100 recordings as a performer, composer, conductor, or some combination thereof. His trio for 2 violins and viola by Leo Brouwer is an early work which characterizes Cuban style with syncopations and a lush texture. Alma, by Tania León (b. 1943), for flute and piano will end the first half. “In Spanish, “alma” means soul or spirit; invisible forces, like the wind that caresses the chimes outside my window. The opening and closing of the piece evokes the sound of these chimes. The mood of the middle sections is propelled by the cascading of pitches that at times converge and diverge, a myriad of colors in playful conversation of bouncing gestures.”
The second half of the program brings current and former members of Charanga Carolina to present Danzón, an iconic dance form that has been an important root for Cuban music up to today. The ensemble, led by Eric Hirsh of Orquesta GarDel and the Beast, will follow the history of Danzón, beginning with music composed in 1879 by cornet player Miguel Faílde, called “ Las Alturas de Simpson” or ”Simpson Heights”. Faílde is considered the official originator of the Danzón. Other works include music of Enrique Jorrin, violinist and the originator of the Cha-cha-cha, and several other well-known Cuban musicians. All the Danzón music is arranged by David Garcia and Eric Hirsh. Mallarmé Chamber Players
Series Concert 5: DANZÓN
Sunday, March 22 / 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Motorco Music Hall
723 Rigsbee Ave, Durham
ARTISTS
Eric Hirsh piano
Leah Peroutka violin
Elizabeth Phelps violin
Sam Gold viola
Peter Kimosh bass
Ellye Walsh flute
Robert Cantrell percussion
Ramon Ortiz percussion
Members of Charanga Carolina: D’Shaun Cooper and Kei Kurosu violin
PROGRAM
José Silvestre White – La Bella Cubana for mixed quartet
Ernesto Lecuona – Y La Negra Bailaba and La Comparsa from Danzas Afro-Cubanos for solo piano
Leo Brouwer – String Trio
Tania León – Alma for flute and piano
DANZÓN arranged by David Garcia and Eric Hirsh:
Miguel Faílde – Las Alturas de Simpson
Félix Reina – Angoa
Arsenio Rodríguez – Pueblo Nuevo se Paso
Enrique Jorrín – Liceo del Pilar
Jose Herrera – Me Voy Pa’ Moron
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
$5 Students at the door with I.D. www.MallarmeMusic.org 919.560.2788
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The Mallarmé Chamber Players are a flexible ensemble of professional musicians based in Durham, North Carolina, whose mission is to enrich the lives of their community through outstanding chamber music. The ensemble distinguishes itself by its innovative educational programs, its commitment to creative collaboration with other organizations, its creation of significant new work and its dedication to serve a diverse population.
Mallarmé annually presents a series of five concerts that features great, diverse, and multidisciplinary chamber music. Mallarmé performs everything from Bach with period instruments to brand new works. In this past year alone, Mallarmé has presented two world premières by composers Stephen Jaffe and Bo Newsome. In 2010, Mallarmé released a CD on Albany/Videmus records of chamber music by African American composers, featuring jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon, to great acclaim.
Mallarmé is in its 31st season and has been the recipient of grants from The National Endowment for the Arts, North Carolina Arts Council, Durham Arts Council, Target Foundation and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.
Mallarmé is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c) (3) organization. The 2014-15 concert season is made possible in part by grants from the Durham Arts Council’s Annual Arts Fund and the North Carolina Arts Council. mallarmemusic.org