Saturday, September 24, 2011

Centenary's Dr. Todd Gabriel to debut flute composition at NSU, Thursday 9-29-2011


Courtesy of an NSU David West news release -

 

Dr. Todd Gabriel on viola
 A casual conversation just over a year ago led to a rare opportunity for the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra: the debut of Todd Gabriel’s Four Attitudes Made with 12 Tones Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is $10 for non-season ticket holders and free for Northwestern State University, Louisiana School for Math, Sciences and the Arts and BPCC@NSU students with a current I.D. Dr. Douglas Bakenhus conducts the orchestra.

Four Attitudes Made with 12 Tones features Northwestern State Professor of Flute Dennette McDermott. Gabriel and McDermott each perform in the Longview and Shreveport Symphony Orchestras.

“One day Todd told me he had been listening to me play and asked if he could write a composition for me,” said McDermott. “I am honored he did this. Most flutists don’t have this type of opportunity to have something written for them. Most pieces are for flute and piano, but a work for orchestra allowed Todd to work with the whole box of crayons instead of just a couple of magic markers.”

This is the first time Gabriel wrote a flute composition in almost a decade. His late wife, Katherine Kitzman, was a flutist and Gabriel wrote several compositions for her.

“I avoided writing for the flute until now,” said Gabriel, a professor of theory/composition and conductor of the Hurley School of Music Orchestra at Centenary College. “Katherine had a large library of flute music which I gave to Dennette for her and the university to use. That’s how the relationship began.”

Gabriel has attended several orchestra rehearsals to hear the orchestra play his work.

“The orchestra has done a good job,” he said. “They seem to be enjoying it.”

According to Gabriel, he doesn’t begin to write a composition with an end result in mind.

“Ideas start small then it’s like putting a puzzle together,” he said. “You have a general idea about the characteristics, and as you go, you make decisions along the way that can take you in different directions. It starts to form its own life. You get a version and everything works out.”

Writing 12 Tones with McDermott in mind did help the process.

“Sometimes when you start a piece, you have nothing to relate to, but this is more of a character piece,” said Gabriel. “It’s not necessarily Dennette as a person, but takes into account her approach to the flute. I wrote it considering her strengths as a player.”

McDermott has practiced 12 Tones for months and appreciates Gabriel’s approach.

“The piece has elements of modern style and also draws on traditional elements,” said McDermott. “It also has some rock and roll and bluesy parts. There is a lot packed in there. It’s very clever.”

Also on the program will be Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major, “The Great.”


For more information on the concert, contact Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society President Marilyn McMurtry at 238-2312 or at marilyn@mcmurtry.net.





Friday, September 23, 2011

The Shreveport Symphony takes the stage at Riverview Theatre Saturday night 9-24-2011

Your Shreveport Symphony takes the stage at Riverview Theatre this Saturday night at 7:30 PM, 9-24-2011 for an eclectic evening of jazz and classical music to begin its 2011-2012 season called Simply Classic.

'Cellist Zuill Bailey, who first impressed me  when he soloed with the TSO in November of 2009 will play the plaintiff Elgar Concerto (in which there are 4 movements, not the traditional 3) and composer/musician David Amram will play his own composition with the orchestra on various instruments in addition to the piano - penny whistle(s) and percussion. The finale piece after the intermission will be the wonderful Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, with that famous, rousing  horn call in the beginning statement and the fast and furious ending in the 4th movement which will have everyone in the audience patting their feet and out of breath waiting for those final chords. That goes for the musicians as well. (The out of breath part.)

'Cellist Zuill Bailey
Photo taken from my seat in the TSO horn section - Nov 2009


 SSO members 2nd Horn Susan W Rogers, (me),  Bassist Chris Allen and David Amram
at the Jazz-In AmRap, Centenary College, Monday evening 9-19-2011

 www.shreveportsymphony.com
  for tickets

Back stage Photo requests to follow

David Amram autographing book for Sally and Tom Hundemer

David Amram autographing book for Arthur Williams























David Amram, Susan Rogers, Dr. Todd Gabriel,  Dr. Douglas Bakenhus

 'cellist Belinda Viesca with  guest artist 'cellist Zuill Bailey

'cellist Pam Martin with Zuill Bailey
photo provided by Pam Martin


SSO's Tom Philips and Dr. Rick Rowell w/ David Amram

Monday, September 19, 2011

A Monday evening 9-19-2011 with David Amram, composer and multi-talented musician

Tonight was a very special evening for Ark-La-Tex-ans who showed up at the Centenary College wind ensemble rehearsal hall  for a "walk-about in music" with famous composer/musician David Amram, who, by the way, is a featured guest artist along with 'cellist Zuill Bailey this Saturday evening 9-24-2011 with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Michael Butterman Music Director. Those who arrived early got to sit down. Otherwise it was standing room only.

I spent the evening photographing and listening to the music, some written down but most improvised with local musicians joining with the legendary Amram in several  "jam sessions". No, I did not participate. Too much fun taking photos and listening to AmramRap, here-in referred to as AmRap.

sjwrogers with friend, bassist Chris Allen and David Amram
I will begin posting more photos later in the week. My husband and I will be in Dallas celebrating my mom's 90th birthday along with my two sisters. Back on Wednesday night for SSO rehearsal.

Centenary College host violist Dr. Todd Gabriel accompanied by Dr. Gay Grosz

Hornist Tom Hundemer - "Blues Variations for Thelonius Monk" by David Amram

Flutist Sally Horak
Jesse Gabriel

sop. sax player Bob Maynard


AmRapping with Matt Harris on piano


Centenary's Gay Grosz

Impromptu Jazz groups


AmRapping with Centenary Choir member
miking the acoustic guitar
Ruben Reyes on piano
Elizabeth West waiting to AmRap
Ruben on Vibes

Go, Georgie


 Symphony orchestra crowd enjoying the show
SSO Chan Teague in the middle

Sunday, September 18, 2011

The West Edge String Quartet with pianist Anna Bulkina 9-18-2011

 THE WEST EDGE STRING QUARTET WITH PIANIST ANNA BULKINA
in concert 9-18-2011
An absolutely exquisite performance
Thanks to the Friends of the Wideman Competition for sponsoring this free event at FBC, Shreveport

Concert photos to follow

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Marshall Symphony Orchestra - Jeans 'N Classics - Saturday 9-17-2011

Marshall Symphony begins its Diamond Jubilee 60th season with Symphony in the Square, Jeans and Classics, Music from the Jersey Shore, Saturday night September 17, 2011 7:00 PM. Join us in the historic downtown Marshall Square for music of Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons, "the Boss" Bruce Springstein, and Jon Bon Jovi with the Jeans and Classics Band and your Marshall Symphony Orchestra.


Shops in the square will be open. Food and drink, picnic and concert seating available. Relive your teens or your 30's 40's and 50's again and dance to the music, like Dancing in the Dark, Born in the USA, Can't Take My Eyes off You, Rag Doll, Sherry, Wanted Dead or Alive, Celebrate.


Maestro Leonard Kacenjar rehearsing the orchestra Monday night at ETBU Band Hall

For more info about the event online


or call Marshall Regional Arts Council for tickets

903.935.4484

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
IN REHEARSAL

percussionist Doug Parmelee

bassoonist David Gibson warming up


MSO lower strings

Jenny
 
Nathan Scott - MSO student guest conductor rehearsing with the orchestra

MSO 2nd Vice President Bruce Tankersley taking it all in - reh at ETBU band hall

Jeans 'N Classics drummer
me

Terry

Some of the MSO ladies we can't do without. They keep us nourished!


winds & brass

 bassist Chris Allen
violist Eleanor Boyd




Members of the Jeans 'N Classics Band

IN PERFORMANCE

MSO 'cellist Pam Martrin with Maestro Kacenjar just before the performance
Me with hubby

MSO orchestra members Mario and Jenny Torres with friend relaxing during intermission