October 21, 2021 at 7:30pm
Sandra Lewis & Tiffany Ou-Ponticelli, Directors
Concert Reminders
- Please silence your devices
- Please do not talk or create distractions while the performers are playing
- Please only enter, exit, or move about the auditorium between pieces.
- Please keep phones down so you do not obstruct the view of those around you
- Please stay for the entire concert
Thank you for being here today to support the Gunn High School Orchestra!
Apocalyptic (Finale from Symphony No. 8)
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896), arr. Kirk Moss
Period 3 String Orchestra
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer, organist, and music theorist. Bruckner's 8th Symphony was his last completed Symphony. Nicknamed "The Apocalyptic", the Finale movement begins belligerently, and vortexes toward a triumphant conclusion. Originally written for full symphony orchestra and adapted here for string orchestra with timpani, the spirit of Bruckner's predecessors including Beethoven and Wagner can be heard throughout.
Timpani: Maanasa Viswanath (Gunn Wind Ensemble)
El Amor Brujo
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), arr. Caryn Neidhold
Period 2 String Orchestra
Manuel de Falla was a Spanish composer and pianist. Along with Isaac Albeniz and Francisco Tarrega, he was one of Spain’s most important musicians of the 20th century. El Amor Bruno is a ballet composed in 1914 based on an Andalusian folk legend. The title translates to “The Bewitched Love” and tells the story of a young woman named Candela and the trials of her love life.
This arrangement includes three of the ballet's original thirteen movements. In The Fisherman’s Tale, the women of the village joyously dance together in the village square. Next, the bells toll at Midnight and evil spirits awaken. In the Ritual Fire Dance, Candela is joined by the village women and elders to banish the evil spirits.
Solos: Mio Wakatsuki & Mira Singhal
Serenade No. 1, Op. 9 (I. Andante)
Robert Fuchs (1847-1927)
Period 1 Chamber Orchestra
Robert Fuchs was an Austrian composer and music teacher. As Professor of Music Theory at the Vienna Conservatory, Fuchs taught many notable composers, including Mahler, Sibelius, Wolf, and Korngold. His own compositions, though, have sometimes been overlooked in comparison to those of his pupils. Fuchs' Serenade No. 1, Op. 9 flaunts beautiful, lyric phrases that float across the orchestra.
Supermaximum
Kenji Bunch (b. 1973)
Period 1 Chamber Orchestra
Supermaximum is inspired by the "chain gang" songs from the prison camps of the depression-era South. Stemming from roots in West-African folk song through generations of slavery and Jim Crow laws, this piece serves as a singular example of an unlikely group of people resorting to art for spiritual and physical survival. The word "Supermaximum" refers to the highest possible level of security for incarceration. The composer writes this piece about the need for discovering elements of one's own humanity in the face of an imposed denial of that humanity.
The work begins with unpitched rhythm of chain gang work - the swinging and clanging of axes and hammers. The antiphonal seating of the group depicts the highly coordinated sequencing of both the work and singing by the inmates. The music is then transformed over the course of the work to suggest a transcending above the conditions of this harsh reality to a spiritual state of grace. (Paraphrased from Kenji Bunch Music Publishing)
Solos: Emily Hwang, Milan Rohatgi, Clair Koo, Claire Wang, Alan Lee
Tegere Tulon
Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté (b. 1974), Arr. Jacob Garchik
Tegere Tulon revisits the hand-clapping songs of Hawa Diabaté's childhood, which are gradually dying out. Performed by girls outdoors in a circle, usually on moonlit nights, the handclapping songs consist of one or two phrases repeated in call and response. Children make them up spontaneously, using the rhythms of language to generate musical rhythm, with playful movements. Building on her own memories of the handclapping songs, Diabaté hopes this composition will encourage Malians not to abandon this rich cultural heritage. (Paraphrased from Kronos "50 for the Future")
I. Funtukuru (Per. 2) - Diabaté was inspired by a trip to film handclapping songs in Funtukuru village, where her husband is from. The song plays on the name of the village, which is made up of two words in the Maninka language. “Funtu” means “to arrive” and “kuru” means “hill”. Funtukuru is indeed surrounded by hills of big red boulders that rise sharply out of the earth.
IV. Wawani (Per. 3) - Wawani is an onomatopoeic term in the Maninka language for the sound that people make when celebrating. This movement is in two parts: the first is about the importance of solidarity and understanding; the second is in praise of a ‘soma’, one who has special mystical powers and is wise. Violin Solos: Michelle Lee & Neha Rishi
III. Kalimè (Per. 1) - Kalimè is a word in the Maninka language that refers to a very specific type of first cousin, which in anthropological terms is known as “cross-cousin”. In southern Mali, the kalimè relationship is accorded a special status. The composer uses the evocative minor pentatonic scale of central Mali in this humorous depiction of familial teasing.
r(E)volution
Armond Wimberly (b. 1996)
Per. 2 and 3 Combined String Orchestras
Armond Wimberly is a 23-year-old multidisciplinary musician from Toledo, Ohio. He received his bachelor's degree in Music Education from the Ohio State University where he studied with Dr. Robert Gillespie. His compositions often juxtapose classical structures with elements of hip-hop.
r(E)volution was written to honor the life of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died in 2019 after a violent police encounter while walking home from a convenience store. McClain was known by friends and family as a gentle soul, who would often play violin for animals at a shelter. Composer Armond Wimberly says, "It tears me up to hear this piece come to life because of what it represents and because of my personal experiences as a Black man in the United States and the adversity I overcame to be able to even write this... This piece symbolizes resilience, anger, betrayal, pride, sadness, and celebration... Despite odds though, I do see a brighter future."
Cello Solo: Ted Jung
Special thanks to:
Gunn Band and Orchestra Music Boosters
Booster Board Members: Greta Olbrich - President, Andrea Jelks – Treasurer, Catherine Phillips – Secretary, Claire Kirner – Membership, Elizabeth Lee – Publicity, Star Teachout - Volunteer Coordinator
Tri-M Music Honor Society (ushers and concert support) - Sandra Lewis, Advisor
Gunn Administration, Wendy Stratton - Principal
Kelly Martin, PAUSD VAPA Coordinator
Kari Johnson, PAUSD VAPA Administrative Assistant
Kyle Langdon, Supervisor of Theatre Facilities
Camille Kelly, Spangenberg Theatre Technician
Tonight's Parent Volunteers
Gunn Custodial Team
Private instrumental teachers of our orchestra musicians
Thank you for joining us for this evening.
Please meet your students in the courtyard outside of the lobby.
Next Concerts:
Small Ensemble Concert #1: Nov 9 at 7:30pm
Winter Orchestra Concert: Dec 7 at 7:30pm
Orchestra Personnel
Period 1 Chamber Orchestra
Violin 1: Milan Rohatgi*, Clair Koo*, Jenna Kang, Ilan Kim, Sage Leland, Phoebe Li
Violin 2: Olivia Pham*, Wolfgang Edholm, Charlie Ennis, Heeseo Jeong, Elena Kobayashi, Anna Stine-Uchino, Mahina Yasutake, Chris Yeo, Avery Yun
Viola: Emily Hwang*, Nathan Bao, Daniel Lee, Uijin Lee, Ella Leppert, Emily Zhou
Cello: Claire Wang*, Alan Lee*, Allyson Dinh, Dana Kim, Christy Law, Anna Rodden
Bass: Griffin Teller*, Elise Naddell
Period 2 String Orchestra
Violin 1: Mio Wakatsuki*, Seongju Kim*, Ari Afar, Leia Chan, Roger Fan, Deborah Ha, Jason Lin, Richard Liu, Justin Oh, Ben Race, Sophie Wu, Brandon Yea
Violin 2: Mira Singhal*, Hana Kurizaki*, Gwen Bryant, Stephanie Castillo, Ethan Chen, Elliot Choi, Aris Esfahani, Yonhao Fan, Inés Garcia, Bertina Ho, Melinda Huang, Eliska Injayan, Dante Morse, Noor Parak, Lita Sone, Yayoi Tomaszewski, Kean Tong, Jerry Wang
Viola: Andrew Hwang*, Talya Afar, Anne Mazza, Evelyn Shen, Danielle Vahdat
Cello: Oren Kim*, Kai Lee*, Alma Caselles, Joel Chen, Cameryn Holtman, Vir Lane, Bryan Lee, Arda Turgut, Max Zeller
Bass: Charlotte Dunlap*, Sophie Nam, Mylie Rodrigo, Marianna Smith, Abby Torres
Period 3 String Orchestra
Violin 1: Michelle Lee*, Eian Akama-Garren, Willa Bednarz, Daniel Chang, Fayina Chen, Cameron Ennis, Ria Kalra, Melody Lyu, Neha Rishi, Alicia Wu
Violin 2: Ashley Siu*, Sophia Zhang*, Hana Bae, Emmi Ben Tovim, Hunter Chan, Siyona Dhingra, Audry Doan, Rishi Hariharan, Noah Huerta, Nico Julia, Gene Lee, Jason Luo, Celine Safa, Luis Vega, Chloe Wang
Viola: Michelle Koo*, Sophie Brown, Noah Cheng, Shana Ebrahimnejad, Lauren Kane, Nicholas Manou, Naya Nebriaga, Jannah Zabadi
Cello: Ted Jung*, Laura Cheunkarndee*, Ebie Albrecht, Leo Assimes, Angus Chen, Elena Garcia, Midori Masuda, Meha Mathur, Jay Thapar, Sophia Turean
Bass: Alex Chang*, Evan Holtman, Eric Ni
*Section Leader