Brian S. Wilson, director
Friday, March 11, 2021
7:30 p.m.
Schroeder Hall
A concert celebrating the music of Les Six. Les Six, (French: “The Six”) was a group of early 20th-century French composers whose music represents a strong reaction against the heavy German Romanticism of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, as well as against the chromaticism and lush orchestration of Claude Debussy. Member of Les Six are
Georges Auric (1899–1983)
Louis Durey (1888–1979)
Arthur Honegger (1892–1955)
Darius Milhaud (1892–1974)
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
Germaine Tailleferre (1892–1983)
Works to include movements from the Milhaud’s Saudades do Brasil, Op. 67 for piano, Tailleferre pieces for 3 trumpets, Honegger’s Danse Le Chèvre for flute and more.
About Sonoma Musica Viva
Sonoma Musica Viva was founded in 2010 at Sonoma State University as a chamber music alliance dedicated to the recognition of significant works from the 20th and 21st centuries. Founding director and conductor Brian S. Wilson combines the talents of university faculty and North Bay professionals alongside qualified student performers. Students by invitation only.
Sonoma Musica Viva's debut concert took place on October 10, 2010, with a program of Hungarian and Czech music written before 1940 that included Bartók's Contrasts for clarinet, violin and piano; Mikrokosmos for piano; and Janáček's Capriccio for piano left hand, flute, two trumpets, three trombones and tenor tuba. The ensemble has presented programs of Stravinsky and Ravel; an all-Messiaen program; and Music From the Second Viennese School and most recently a program devoted to the music of Charles E. Ives.
Mission Statement
Sonoma Musica Viva's goal is to increase awareness of significant, lesser-known works composed after 1900, specializing in the repertoire for mixed chamber ensembles. Sonoma Music Viva creates performances in an inviting and informal atmosphere without the stuffy trappings of traditional classical concerts.
For information contact Brian S. Wilson, music director brian.wilson@sonoma.edu.
Past Programs
First SMV program - 2009
Messiaen - Oiseaux Exotiques for piano and chamber orchestra
Ravel Stravinsky - song cycles
October 17, 2010
Bartók and Janáček
Bartók - Contrasts; Suite Paysanne Hongroise; Mikrokosmos selections
Janáček - Dumka; Říkadla - Nursery Rhymes; Cappricio
November 9, 2011
Arizona Connection
Dan Asia - Piano Trio; B for J
Jesus Contreras - String Octet
Brian S. Wilson - Yizkor from Alchunun; Byron Songs (premiere)
April 6, 2013
The Second Viennese School
Schoenberg — Verklarte Nacht (Transfigured Night)
Webern — Three Little Pieces op. 11
Berg — Seven Early Songs
Schubert — Three Songs
Berg — Sonata, op. 1
Berg — Satz Aus Dem from ‘Kammerkonzert’
October 24, 2013
SMV: Anderson & Roe; Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
Stravinsky - Rite of Spring (two pianos)
Benjamin Britten - Cello Suite 3
Witold Lutoslawski - Five Dance Preludes
Student composers
November 14, 2014
Agamemnon, an opera in one act
by Brian S. Wilson
October 15, 2015
Music from Eastern Europe
Lutoslawski - Mini Overture for Brass Quintet
Karel Husa - Divertimento for Brass Quintet
Brian S. Wilson, arr. - Klezmer Set for Brass
Jenni Brandon - Five Frogs
Ernesto Lecuona - La Comparsa
Gyorgy Ligeti - Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet
Jim Parker - King Oliver Steps Out from Mississippi Five
Endre Szervanszky - Quintet
Brian S. Wilson - Klezmer Overture (premiere)
November 20, 2016
Music by Gurdjieff/de Hartmann
Charles Ketcham, piano
February 6, 2018
The Music of Charles Ives
Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, performed by the Navarro Trio
Selections from 114 Songs, SSU Select Choir, Jenny Bent, conductor
At the River (1916)
The Children's Hour (1901)
Two Little Flowers (1921)
The Cage (1906)
Songs My Mother Taught Me (1895 )
Memories (1897)
Forward Into Light (1898)
Serenity (1919)
The Unanswered Question, performed by Daniel Gianola-Norris, trumpet, Kathleen Reynolds, flute, Laura Reynolds, oboe, Roy Zajac, clarinet and student String Quartet
Three Quarter Tone Pieces, Madison Kaminsky and Nicholas Maritz, pianos
From the Steeples and the Mountains, Daniel Gianola-Norris and Dave Len Scott, trumpet; Tony Collins, trombone; Thom Limbert and Anthony Gonzales, chimes
Variations on “America,”Paul Blanchard, organ
March 1, 2019 - Edgard Varese and friends, including music by Frank Zappa
Varese - Octandre | Poem Electronique (tape)| Density 21.5 (solo flute) Ionisation
Frank Zappa - Bebop Tango
Heitor Villa Lobos- The Three Marias (piano)
Solo works for Theremin
March 8, 2020 - William Walton and Paul Hindemith - Façade & The Viola Connection
Walton
Prelude and Fugue from Spitfire (brass)
5 Bagatelles (guitar)
Viola Concerto
Façade and Entertainments (narrator and ensemble)
Hindemith
Rondo for 3 guitars
Quartet for clarinet, violin, cello and piano
Sonata for Four Horns
Exercises from Elementary Training for Musicians (percussion