What’s old is new again — well kinda.
Composers have often looked back on their predecessors for ideas and inspiration, be it form, style, or even actual tunes. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra has put together a program of 20th century works that reflect upon composers and music of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Coincidentally, all works on the first half of the program were penned during World War I.
Opening the concert is Sergei Prokofiev’s precocious “Classical Symphony,” full of Haydn-esque surprises. The work is a popular and zippy 15-minute, four-movement piece that fits well within 21st century listening sensibilities.
Maurice Ravel’s “Le Tombeau de Couperin” follows as a tribute to the French Baroque suite championed by Francois Couperin. From the six movement suite, originally composed for piano, Ravel later orchestrated 4 movements and dedicated them to friends who were lost in the War. The piece features the oboe and orchestral woodwind section.
Sixteenth century Italian lute works provided Ottorino Respighi’s inspriation for his tender “Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 1.” Vincenzo Galilei, father of famed astronomer Galileo Galilei, penned the Galliard movement.
Following intermission, the KSO welcomes 19-year old flutist Annie Wu to perform Lukas Foss’ “Renaissance Concerto for Flute and Orchestra.” Written in 1986 for flutist Carol Wincenc (with whom Wu has studied the piece), Foss revels in taking the listener back in time describing the work as “an homage to something I love, a handshake across the centuries.”
As an encore, Wu will perform her YouTube hit “Three Beats for BeatBox Flute” by composer Greg Pattillo. Check it out here.
The program concludes with “The Wise Virgins,” a one-act ballet that was created in 1940 to a score of well-known cantata music by Johann Sebastian Bach, as orchestrated by William Walton. The ballet is based on Matthew’s Gospel and parable of the ten wise and foolish virgins.
The KSO will perform this concert at 8 p.m., Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14 and 15, at Notre Dame Academy. Tickets are $19, $27, $35 (children 6-18 receive 50% off) and are available online here, by phone (859) 431-6216 or at the door.
From KSO