Tehachapi Symphony Concert

The Tehachapi Symphony, directed by Dr. David Newby will perform on Sunday, May 18, 2014. The concert begins at 4 p.m. in Country Oaks Baptist Church, located at 20915 Schout Rd., Tehachapi, CA. This year's Young Artist Competition winner will perform Bloch's "Nigun" from "Baal Shem". The Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus and director Kathy Kelly will join the symphony for Brahms' "Love Song Waltzes". Brahms' Symphony No. 4 in E Minor will also be performed.

The program begins with selections from Johannes Brahms's Liebeslieder Walzer, or Love Song Waltzes, which were composed in 1868-9 and were premièred in Vienna the following year by Brahms and Clara Schumann. Most of the songs, modeled after music Brahms had loved throughout his life, are quite short and explore the excitement that mirrors the eagerness, anxiety, and hopefulness of new love. The lyrics for the Liebeslieder come from Georg Friedrich Daumer's Polydora collection of folk songs and love poems. From simple to sophisticated, the lyrics are sung by The Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus and director Kathy Kelly.

Bloch composed his Baal Shem Suite in 1923 and was inspired by two charismatic personalities: Israel ben Eliezer of Miedziboz, better known as Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of modern Hassidism and Swiss violinist André de Ribaupierre. The centerpiece of the Suite, Nigun, means "tune", but in the Hassidic context refers to a genre usually composed by holy men for the purpose transporting both performer and listener to transcendental realms of spirituality. The opening and closing sections of Nigun provide the soloist with fiery flights of temperament, requiring great technique but also inviting passionate, soulful commitment. The contrasting section is more in the nature of an intensely measured folk-dance.

After the intermission, there will be a drawing for the yearly fundraiser, for which tickets may be purchased from any Tehachapi Symphony member, board member or Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus member.

Brahms composed Symphony No. 4 during the summers of 1884 and 1885 and is his only symphony to launch directly into the principal theme of its first movement. Its' two-note figures merge and expand to form a long, expressive melody. Brahms uses the theme of the second movement to create surprisingly beautiful melodic variations. Brahms described the scherzo as "noisy, with three timpani, triangle and piccolo" and is possibly Brahms most animated and energetic music. The finale, which introduces the dark, forceful sound of trombones, irrefutably confirms the tragedy of the work. With the theme-and-variation structure (32 variations in all), Brahms offers a constantly evolving drama encompassing a range of emotion.

There is a reception following the concert, so that community members may meet the Young Artist competition winner, as well as symphony and chorus directors and members.

Admission is always free to the community. For more concert information call 661-821-7511 or go to the website www.http://tehachapiorchestra.com