Classical Music Series With Tom Steel

 

February 9  ~  7:00 PM  ~  Musical Conflicts

February 16  ~  7:00 PM  ~  Musical Therapy

February 23  ~  7:00 PM  ~  Musical Winds

March 2  ~  7:00 PM  ~  Musical Oddities

March 9  ~  7:00 PM  ~  Musical Conflicts

Musical Conflicts 

In truth, there is nothing like music to fill the moment with substance.

Conflict is part of the warp and woof of life. Yet diverse conflicts can come upon us from many directions and take us unawares. It may be the conflict of the battle field or a conflict over reputation or one of rivalry. As music reflects the culture and circumstances we may be involved with, composers have addressed these issues in their works. The opening session portrays in sound some of the things that can cause problems. It may even inspire us to say, “Been there, done that.”

Military – Light Cavalry Overture
Frans von Suppe

National – Wellington’s Victory
Beethoven

Barbarism – Scythian Suite
Prokofiev

Rivalry – Romeo and Juliet
Prokofiev
1. Romeo, 2. Morning Dance, 3. The Quarrel, 4. The Fight, 5. The Prince Stops the Fight

Reputation – Ein Heldenleben – A Heroes Life
Richard Strauss

Fairy Tale – The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky

Inner Conflict – String Quartet “From my Life”
Smetana

Cosmic Conflict – Messiah
Handel
 

Musical Therapy

Music is a secret and unconscious mathematical problem of the soul.

Music does things to people. It can make one merry, sad or pensive with its propensity to affect the emotions of man. It also can have a Therapeutic affect upon the minds of those of a distraught nature. This session will take under consideration music that at times gives insight into the jarring, hectic world in which we live. On the other hand, we will focus on music of an opposite genre that not only can soothe the troubled breast but at times my contain a healing power.

Mozart Murdered/Bruch Violin Concerto

Strauss – Czech Polka

Corigliano/Barber

Ives/Arnold

Rebel/Beethoven

Adams/Dvorak

Bernstein/Yo Yo Ma

Petrov – Creation of the World

Finale – Chopin
 

Musical Winds

There is no instrument which proclaims such vast internal satisfaction as the drum.

Whilst the string sections of an orchestra comprise two thirds of the instrumentalists, the other sections are no less important. This session will include a featured disc of great classical wind music of Holst, Handel and Bach, performed by the Cleveland Symphonic Winds made up of wind players from the great Cleveland Orchestra and conducted by Frederick Fennell. Prior to that, we will take note of the difference between the Brass Ensemble and Woodwind Ensemble, comparing as we go along the sound of the Military/Marching Band with that of the Brass Band.

William Byrd – The Earl of Oxford’s March

Grimethorpe Colliery Band – 1. Our Blessed Redeemer
2. Stand up for Jesus

Kabalevsky – Galop from The Comedians

Sousa – Hands across the Sea

Yorkschen Marsch

Glinka – Russlan and Ludmilla

Featured Disc
Holst – Suite No 1 for symphonic winds
Holst – Second Suite
Bach – Fantasia
Handel – Music for the Royal Fireworks

Finale
Grainger – Shepherd’s Hey
Sousa – Stars and Stripes Forever

Musical Oddities

Music is the best means we have of digesting time.

For those who have not heard the shortest piece of music ever written, or heard a duet for two cats written by a famous opera composer or an overture written for vacuum cleaners and floor polishers by a well known English composer, this session is for you. In fact, no less a person than Haydn wrote a symphony nicknamed “The Hen.” If you wonder why? - the music will explain it all. Be prepared to be surprised, educated and entertained with the closing session of this series.

Mozart—The Toy Symphony

Rossini—The Cat Duet

Arnold—Bats

Wolf-Ferrari Susanna’s Secret

Bach Coffee Cantata

Mozart—Musical Joke

Cage—4’.33”

Haydn—Symphony No 83 “The Hen”

Rossini—Cinderella

Rimsky—Korsakov Flight of the Bumble Bee

Paganini—Introduction and variations on a theme by Rossini

Larson—Saxophone Concerto

Haydn—String Quartet No 30 “The Joke”

Arnold—Sweeney Todd

Arnold—A Grand, Grand Overture
 

The Instructor

Tom Steel was born in northeast England and came to America in 1981. Along with his wife, Jean, and two children, Tom settled in Mathews County in 1987. Tom serves as pastor of Peniel Friends Church, a position he has held since coming to Mathews.