Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra: Mendelssohn and Mozart

Our first Sandbar Chamber Series concert kicks off with a delightful program of Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Bunch!

Program:

Mozart Viola Quintet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, KV 174

Kenji Bunch Viola Quintet "String Circle" (2006)

Mendelssohn String Quintet No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 87

General Admission $35 - Children and Students FREE

St. Christopher's Church, 625 Main St, Chatham, MA, 02633

Program Notes

In the final decade of his short life, Felix Mendelssohn balanced artistic commitments in London, Berlin, and Leipzig. He founded the Leipzig Conservatory in 1843, teaching composition alongside Ignaz Moscheles and Robert Schumann. In the fall of 1844, Mendelssohn decided to take a break from his busy schedule, moving temporarily to Frankfurt, where he relaxed and focused on writing. He described this time as "happy days" in a letter to his brother Paul.

During the summer of 1845, Mendelssohn composed his Second String Quintet, one of eight chamber works he created in the 1840s and among his last. Notably, Mendelssohn chose not to publish this Quintet, believing the finale was "not good," as he told Moscheles. It was published posthumously in 1851. The autograph score, with few markings, suggests Mendelssohn's ambivalence; he sometimes finished pieces despite not being entirely satisfied with them.

Despite Mendelssohn's reservations, the Quintet is now recognized as a strong chamber work from his later years, reflecting his evolving style. It features a prominent energy, beginning with a lively Allegro vivace, characterized by fierce tremolos and a sprightly theme. The Andante scherzando shifts to a light, courtly waltz mixed with pizzicato moments. The Adagio e lento contains some of Mendelssohn's most somber writing, with weighty chords over a steady cello line, culminating in intense tremolos. The Allegro molto vivace, which Mendelssohn found problematic, is the only monothematic finale in his works but ends the Quintet with a burst of energy.

"String Circle (2006) by Kenji Bunch was written for pairs of violins and violas plus cello, the title refers to the continuum of history and tradition that string instruments offer us. Our country is particularly rich in a variety of approaches to string playing, so each of the work's five movements offers tribute to a particular idiom of American music. The first, Lowdown," recalls the uniquely raw, driving music of odd-time Appalachian fiddling. A scherzo, "Shuffle Step," follows, paying homage to Texas swing. "Ballad," is based on the folk song "Wayfaring Stranger." next comes "Porch Picking," a second scherzo played entirely pizzicato. The work ends with "Overdrive," a fast, furious dance that updates the musical influences from folk to funk."

URL:
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2736887-0?pid=176

Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Price: General Admission: USD 35.00