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All concerts will be performed at: Postable Brochure for our 2009—2010 Concert Series (8 1/2" x 14", PDF Format)
Saturday 21 November 2009 at 8 pm (until approx. 9:20 pm) The program of the June concert features the full Collegium Westchester orchestra in a world premiere of music by Matthew Mendez, a recent Ossining High School graduate, along with the lyrical Violin Concerto by Saumel Barber, and the Te Deum - song of praise to God - by Dvorak. In this program the meaning of the season title finally becomes clear: Copland, Barber, and Mendez all lived significant parts of their lives in Westchester, while Brahms and Dvorak lived most of their lives in Europe, and the season's programs explore connections and coincidental relations between those two groups of composers. The initial link between 19th century Europe and 20th or 21st century Westchester that I wanted to show was the similarity between Barber's lyrical Violin Concerto and Brahms's lyrical first Violin Sonata, both in the same key. I then thought it would be interesting to throw into the mix music of Barber's most famous contemporary, Copland, and to continue our efforts to present new music by living area composers with a new piece by Matthew Mendez. I had for a while been wanting to perform Brahms's Serenade in D with Collegium, and felt that it would fit very nicely with Nanie, and with the rest of the season. Finally, Dvorak's Te Deum appropriately represents the bridge between the two groups of composers, since Dvorak, himself a protege of Brahms, lived for several years in the US, doing much to nurture budding American composers. He actually wrote his Te Deum shortly after his return from the US, and it seems to be influenced by what he heard in the US. - Eric Kramer, Collegium Westchester Music Director
All concerts are free (contributions gratefully accepted) Information subject to change, so
please call 914-282-8611 Revised 4 June, 2010. Further information available:  
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