Table Of Content2014 2015
.
SEASON OF EVENTS
Susan Hoeppner, flute
Teng Li, viola
Shauna Rolston, cello
Lydia Wong, piano
Monday, January 19, 2015
7:00 p.m. Walter Hall
Edward Johnson Building
The Faculty of Music gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our presenting sponsors
PROGRAM
Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale) George Crumb
for amplified flute, cello and piano (b.1929)
Vocalise (. . . for the beginning of time)
Variations on Sea-Time: Sea Theme - Archeozoic - Proterozoic - Paleozoic -
Mesozoic - Cenozoic
Sea-Nocturne (. . .for the end of time)
Susan Hoeppner, flute
Shauna Rolston, cello
Lydia Wong, piano
The Moon Reflected on Second Springs Yan-Jun Hua
(1893-1950)
Arr. by Yan-Qiao Huang
Teng Li, viola
Nadir, for flute, viola and pre-recorded sound Christos Hatzis
(b.1953)
Susan Hoeppner, flute
Teng Li, viola
Soulmate, for cello solo Ka Nin Chan
(b.1949)
Shauna Rolston, cello
Coeur a Coeur, for flute and piano Alice Ping Yee Ho
(b.1960)
Susan Hoeppner, flute
Lydia Wong, piano
Sonata for flute, viola and piano Eduardo Angulo
(b.1954)
Susan Hoeppner, flute
Teng Li, viola
Lydia Wong, piano
PROGRAM NOTES
GEORGE CRUMB (b. 1929) percussive effects and harmonics from the
Vox Balaenae (‘Voice of the Whale’), piano, often created inside the harp of the
for amplified flute, cello and piano (1971) instrument. Five variations follow, each
given a title from succeeding geological
The earliest recordings of the songs of eras, with performing directions as follows:
whales in the late 1960s caught the 1. Timeless, inchoate. 2. Darkly mysterious.
imagination of a generation awakening to an 3. Flowing. 4. Exultantly. 5. Dramatic, with
interest in environmental issues. “It was like a sense of imminent destiny. The music of
a visitation from another world,” American Olivier Messiaen is frequently alluded to
composer George Crumb said recently. “I throughout Vox Balaenae, most notably in
was just fascinated by the sound.” In his the ecstatic closing movement – as is the
1971 piece Vox Balaenae (Voice of the French composer’s desire to suspend time
Whale), Crumb succeeds in marrying the and create a feeling of endlessness through
natural world with that of the concert hall the absence of traditional sequential
in a manner that has since been much development. There are also references
imitated, but never surpassed. The three- to music from other cultures, from South
movement work puts the focus firmly on America, India, Indonesia and to the music
the musical sounds inspired by the songs of Cage and Cowell and Strauss’s Also
of the humpback whale by having its three Sprach Zarathustra. Through the three
musicians – flute, cello and piano – wear movements, though, the clarity and intensity
self-effacing black visor masks and, if of Crumb’s original vision remains at the
desired, perform under theatrical deep-blue, forefront of the listener’s experience.
acquatic stage lighting. The instruments
are amplified, with no adjustment in level HUA YAN-JUN (1893–1950),
or frequency during the performance. arr. HUANG YANQIAO
(Crotales are also included in the final Erquan yingyue (‘The Moon Reflected on
movement). The amplification enhances the Second Springs’)
a cornucopia of extended, frequently
intensely imaginative sounds that each is The son of a Daoist musician, Hua Yanjun
required to produce. The wide variety of also began his professional life performing
these advanced, non-traditional techniques in Daoist ritual instrumental ensembles
reflects the experimental spirit of the late on pipa and erhu. A downturn in his
Sixties and early Seventies and Crumb’s fortunes and reputed addictions led him to
openness and innovation in what was then street performing under the name A-Bing.
a new and evolving sound world. “I’m a His specialty (according to Grove) was
completely intuitive composer,” Crumb says extemporizing songs based on local news.
of his compositions. “Composing for me is His reputation as a folk musician grew
like groping in the dark . . . Debussy’s nature dramatically after he was recorded playing
music inspired me, and those ’night pieces’ six of his improvised songs in 1950, the last
by Bartók, and certain moments in Mahler.” year of his life. These were subsequently
In the opening Vocalise, the flute widely adapted as teaching material for
combines both playing and singing in an students of erhu and pipa. Erquan yingyue
eerily evocative fantasy marked ‘wildly (The Moon Reflected on the Second Springs)
fantastic, grotesque.’ The succeeding has since become so well known that it has
Sea Theme is introduced on high cello now gained the status of folk music.
harmonics against a background of
CHRISTOS HATZIS (b. 1953) orchestra piece, Poetry on Ice, in which the
Nadir, for flute, viola and pre-recorded sound strings played the theme in unison. The
(1988) piece describes two people who accept
each other beyond love and affection.
Professor Christos Hatzis writes: “During Their understanding is subtle, mutual, and
the early stages of composing this work wordless, like a pair of dancers on ice. The
in November and December 1987, I was unending melody depicts their graceful florid
shocked by the untimely death of Canadian movement as well as their voices from their
poet and dear friend Gwendolyn MacEwen. heart. Transcription to cello was not difficult,
A couple of months earlier my teacher, although the end result was very different.”
composer Morton Feldman, had also died
and even though we were not on talking ALICE PING YEE HO (b. 1960)
terms since my student years, his loss was Coeur à Coeur, for flute & piano
deeply felt. Gwendolyn had a thorough
knowledge of the Arab world. She wrote a “Colours and tonality are two attractive
novel set in ancient Egypt and travelled the resources to me: they form certain mental
Middle East extensively before writing her images that connect to audiences in a very
greatest work, The T. E. Lawrence Poems. basic way,” says Toronto-based composer
Morton had a great interest in Oriental rugs and pianist Alice Ping Yee Ho. The diverse
and Arabic art in general, in the patterns influences on her music reflect the world of
of which he recognized aspects of his the city that the Hong Kong-born composer
own work. I remember a number of times now makes her home – Chinese folk and
that both of us were seated on one of his operatic idioms, Japanese Taiko and African
own rugs studying the patterns whose drumming, and jazz. Ho says that her
symmetries are often imperfect because ongoing goal is to explore new musical styles
‘only Allah is perfect’. I was thinking about that are provocative to the ears.
all that and also about the war between Iran Alice Ho writes: “As the title Coeur à
and Iraq, where people blinded by religious Coeur (Heart to Heart) describes, this piece
fanaticism and hatred have plunged into the is conceived as an imaginary conversation
wholesale business of destruction seeking between two voices: exchanging inner
and causing death in the name of God, not thoughts, confessing their feelings to each
realizing perhaps that God is one, but He/ other. There is an emotional aspect of
She has many names. All of these thoughts the music that suggests deep affection
crystallized finally into Nadir, a death dance. and mutual understanding between two
So Gwen and Morton dance on . . . for death individuals, which is equivalent to the kind
is only the awakening from the terrible of support and receptiveness between
nightmare of life.” players in a duet situation. The music travels
from expressive lyricism to high animation,
CHAN KA NIN (b. 1949) and concludes in transcending high notes
Soulmate for cello solo (1995/2000) uttered by both instruments signifying
everlasting tenderness or consolation.”
Professor Chan Ka Nin writes: “I am very
grateful that cellist Shauna Rolston has EDUARDO ANGULO (b. 1954)
performed the solo version of Soulmate Sonata for flute, viola, piano (2007)
in many of her recitals since 2000.
She was also featured as the soloist in Mexican composer Eduardo Angulo studied
Peggy Baker’s dance video Words Fail, a in his home country at the Conservatorio
production by Veronica Tennant for Bravo! Nacional de Música in México City and at
Arts TV. This piece has gone through an the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He
unusual transformation. Soulmate was performed in Dutch string quartet before
originally the second movement of a string returning to Mexico City where he has built
a catalogue of symphonic works, chamber generally dynamic thematic ideas in quick
and choral music, and concertos for a wide succession which are to generate much
variety of instruments including violin, harp, of the development throughout the work.
viola, guitar, harpsichord and flute. He also These are contrasted with a broad, soaring
continues to appear as violin and viola melody which soon evolves into a central
soloist in his own compositions. Angulo’s slow movement which, in turn, returns to a
single-movement Sonata for flute, viola, revisiting of the opening material.
piano dates from 2007 and is a compressed
sonata structure. It opens with three rising — Program notes to Crumb and Angulo ©
scales on piano and a brief four-note 2015 Keith Horner. Comments welcomed:
falling theme on flute, plus several other [email protected]
BIOGRAPHIES
Appreciated for being a “born soloist” (The Having recently returned from 2 separate
Globe & Mail), where “one can almost hear tours to China, Ms. Hoeppner’s upcoming
the words in her flute song” (Washington 2015 performances include recital and
Post), Canadian flutist SUSAN HOEPPNER concerto appearances in Austria, Italy,
is regarded for her deeply lyrical, colourful Toronto, Mexico, Salt Lake City, New York,
phrasing, dazzling virtuosity and a “no holds Belgrade and Montenegro.
barred” approach in performance. She is Susan Hoeppner has recently been
an established international soloist and appointed a Wm.S.Haynes Artist by the
chamber musician, and her appearances renowned Boston-based flute company. As
include prestigious venues spanning the their Canadian Artist, she will represent
continents of North America, South America, them throughout the world in future
Europe and Asia. performances and master classes year-
Ms. Hoeppner has performed as a guest round. Ms. Hoeppner resides in Toronto.
soloist with many orchestras, starting her
professional career in Buenos Aires at the Violist TENG LI is establishing herself
famed Teatro Colon. Over the years, she as a diverse and dynamic performer
has been invited to perform at numerous internationally. Along with her TSO solo
Canadian Embassies throughout the world appearances, Ms. Li has performed with the
and has inspired renowned Canadian National Chamber Orchestra, the Santa Rosa
composers Christos Hatzis to write a Flute Symphony, the Munich Chamber Orchestra,
Concerto called “Departures” which she the Haddonfield Symphony, Shanghai
premiered with the Kyoto Symphony (2011) Opera Orchestra, the Canadian Sinfonietta
and Gary Kulesha to write a Flute Sonata and Esprit Orchestra. Her performances
and premiered with the composer in Toronto have been broadcast on CBC Radio 2,
(2014). National Public Radio, WQXR (New York),
She was nominated for a JUNO Award WHYY (Pennsylvania), WFMT (Chicago),
in 2012 for “Best Classical Album of the and Bavarian Radio (Munich). Ms. Li is also
Year: Solo or Chamber” for “American Flute an active recitalist and chamber musician
Masterpieces” with pianist Lydia Wong participating in the festivals of Marlboro,
on the Marquis Classics label, on which Santa Fe, Mostly Mozart, Music from Angel
her many recordings are available. Susan Fire, Rome, Moritzburg (Germany) and the
Hoeppner graduated from The Juilliard Rising Stars Festival in Caramoor. She has
School where she studied with Julius Baker. performed with the Guarneri Quartet in New
An esteemed mentor herself, Susan is a York (04/05), at Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital
member of faculty at The Glenn Gould Hall) and with the 92nd St. “Y” Chamber
School and the University of Toronto. Music Society. Teng was also featured with
the Guarneri Quartet in their last season Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from
(2009), and was also a member of the Yale University and a Master of Music degree
prestigious Lincoln Center Chamber Music from the Yale School of Music where she
Society Two Program. studied with the distinguished cellist and
Ms Li has won top Prizes at the Johanson pedagogue, Aldo Parisot.
International and the Holland-America Shauna Rolston is managed world-wide
Music Society competitions, the Primrose by Michael Dufresne, President, Michael
International Viola Competition, the Irving M. Gerard Management Group (www.mgmg.ca).
Klein International String Competition and
the ARD International Music Competition in One of Canada’s most sought after
Munich, Germany. She was also a winner of collaborative pianists, LYDIA WONG appears
the Astral Artistic Services 2003 National regularly with the world’s pre-eminent
Auditions. performers in venues across the globe from
Teng is a graduate of the Curtis Institute Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City to
of Music in Philadelphia. London’s Wigmore Hall.
Active in New Music, Ms Wong, has
Award-winning Canadian cellist SHAUNA enjoyed a special association with composer
ROLSTON is considered by peers and fans Krzysztof Penderecki following the North
alike to be one of the most compelling American premiere of his Sextet at the
and unique musical voices on the stage Banff Summer Music Festival. She was
today. Since receiving a mini cello for subsequently invited to perform the Sextet
her 2nd birthday, Shauna has appeared around the world. With violinist Erika Raum,
around the world, performing in the world’s she also gave the North American premiere
major concert halls including Wigmore of Penderecki’s Violin Sonata No.2 in Toronto
Hall, Concertgebouw, Lincoln Center, and and performed at Maestro Penderecki’s
Carnegie Hall, and was the featured artist at 70th birthday celebration in Warsaw, Poland.
the 1988 Olympics. She has served as a member of the
Praised for her blazing technique and her jury for the Seventh Annual International
ability to touch the heart of each audience Contemporary Chamber Music Competition
member, Shauna continues to astonish and in Krakow, Poland, music commissioning
delight with concerts, recordings, and world program for the Ontario Arts Council in
premieres. Her passion for contemporary Toronto and the JUNO Awards.
music has led to the commission and Ms. Wong’s most recent CD, Glistening
creation for her of more than 50 works for Pianos with pianist Midori Koga featuring
cello, including concerti by Canada’s leading music by Canadian Chinese composer
composers. Alice Ping Yee Ho, was released this past
The diversity of Shauna’s artistry is February on CentreDiscs. She can also be
reflected in her many honours including an heard on Naxos, Marquis Classics, Phoenix
invitation to join the Governor-General’s Records and has performed for networks in
State Delegation to Finland and Iceland, her North America, Africa and Europe besides
appointments as Canadian Music Centre broadcasting regularly for the CBC. Her CD,
Ambassador and Honorary Ambassador for American Flute Masterpieces with flutist
Sistema-Toronto, and the prestigious Oskar Susan Hoeppner was nominated for a 2012
Morawetz Award for Excellence in Music Juno Award.
Performance. Ms. Wong has been on faculty at the
Shauna is Professor of Cello and Head University of Toronto since 1998. She is
of Strings at the University of Toronto and also artistic co-ordinator of the Collaborative
a Visiting Artist for the Music and Sound Piano Internship program at the Banff Centre
Programs at The Banff Centre. She holds a where she has been on faculty since 1993.
PLEASE SUPPORT CHAMBER MUSIC
AT THE FACULTY OF MUSIC
This evening’s program would not be possible without the generous support of
donors to the Faculty of Music. The Chamber Music Program is thriving with
exciting work happening on stage and in the classroom. For the stage, we have
appearances on the Monday Evening Concert Series by both Ensembles in
Residence and Visiting Artists. In the classroom, in addition to their regularly
scheduled lessons and coachings, our students have the opportunity to work with
our visitors in master classes and private coaching sessions.
We need your help – it is our hope that we can continue to present a variety of
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