in a concert of new compositions
and some golden oldies.
Daniel Rothman and Beyond Baroque present Judicanti Responsura - Joseph Mitchell, percussion and William Roper, tubas and similar instruments in performance on April 26, 2009 at 7:30 PM.
Judicanti Responsura is:Joseph Mitchell - has established a career in southern California as performer, teacher, and composer. As a performer he works with numerous ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He is on the faculties of Los Angeles City College, El Camino College, and California State University, Dominguez Hills. His compositions for mixed ensembles have been performed at the South Bay Center for the Arts, Music in the Chambers (Culver City), Classical Notes at Cal Tech, and Barnsdall Art Park. In 2006, Mr. Mitchell released Songs of the Diaspora, a collection of six of his own works for tuba and percussion.
and
William
Roper, tubaist & composer, has
released five recording projects as leader, five as co-leader on
various labels. He is represented on over 40 recordings as a side man
as well having worked on movie soundtracks. Examples of the range of
artists he has worked with include Wadada Leo Smith, L.A. Philharmonic,
James Newton, Horace Tapscott, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Cleveland, Thomas
Mapfumo, Bobby Bradford, Michael Vlatkovich, Anthony Braxton, Vinny
Golia, Francis Wong, Glenn Horiuchi and numerous others. He composes
works for solo instruments and small ensembles as well as stage works of
various descriptions.
The
program will be:
- Funky Ward Nine - Mitchell
- Bid 'em In/Prayer - Mitchell (premiere)
- Alytes obstetricans - Frieden mein kleines Ei, lasse ich Sie nicht. - Roper (premiere)
- Cygnus olor - Schwanengesangen - Roper
- Southern Mansion - Mitchell (premiere)
- The Perfect Construction of Decisive Moments - Vlatkovich
- Lacri me - Flow My Tears - Roper
Notes on the pieces:
Inspired by the
rhythms of the Crescent City, Funky
Ward Nine
features drums and sousaphone taking license with a variant of a
“second line” drum beat. Hurricane Katrina and its’
aftermath is the subject of the middle section with tuba and drum solos
respectively.
It is remarkable to
note the numbers of art works which have been created as a result of
African bondage in the New World. One such piece, recited in the
style of an auctioneer, is Bid ‘em In
by Oscar Brown, Jr. Bid ‘em In
is followed by Prayer for
solo marimba.
Alytes
obstetricans is the Latin name
for the Midwife Toad. It is part of the
series Postkarten aus Schwandorf.
Common around Schwandorf, the male carries the fertilized eggs around
his legs to protect them from predators. When ready to hatch, he wades
into shallow water and allows them to leap out of their eggs. This
piece is the moment of transition from egg to water.
Cygnus olor also belongs to the
series Postkarten aus Schwandorf.
Cygnus olor is the Latin name for the Mute Swan. Legend has it that the
swan is mute throughout its life. Finally, immediately before it dies,
it sings a single, beautiful, extended song. This final song can melt
the hardest heart.
Southern Mansion
is a setting for tuba and percussion of Arna Bontemps’ poem of
the same name. The scene is a plantation below Mason and
Dixon’s Line where contrasts are stark between master and
servant. The version being performed this evening is a revision
inspired by the inauguration of President Obama.
Vlatkovich says of The Perfect Construction of Decisive Moments, "Often the title is the inspiration and source for the composition, however in this case a visual artist living in New York City was the source. The title is the method."
Details:
- Sunday, April 26, 2009
- 7:30 PM
- at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291, 310.822.3006
- $15.00 at the door
- contact William Roper at: kyanite@pacbell.net