The McIntosh String Orchestra Program will present a free Spring Concert, under the direction of James C. Hagberg, on Thursday, Apr. 15, at 7 p.m. in the McIntosh High School auditorium.
Two groups will be featured on the program – McIntosh Philharmonic Strings and the McIntosh Symphonic Strings.
The concert will begin with the Philharmonic Orchestra. They will perform Egyptian Legacy by contemporary composer Soon Hee Newbold. Newbold, a prolific composer with many prestigious composition awards to her credit, is known especially for her many works for middle and high school orchestras.
The concert will continue with a string arrangement of Ravel’s Pavane pour une Infante Defunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess). Maurice Ravel, famous French composer of the early 20th century, originally composed the work for piano solo in 1899. It was first performed in Paris on April 5, 1902. The composer later orchestrated the pavane, as we know it today, for chamber orchestra.
The Philharmonic Strings will conclude their portion of the concert with Variations on a Well-Known Sea Chantey by Richard Stephan, a contemporary composer from New York State.
The second half of the concert will feature the McIntosh Symphonic Strings. The ensemble will perform 3 works which they have been preparing for an upcoming concert in New York at Carnegie Hall on April 19.
The Symphonic Strings will start with the first movement of Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony entitled, “Boisterous Bourree.” The work, originally written for piano, is a playful and energetic representation reminiscent of the dances of the older Baroque style of the Elizabethan era.
The second work performed will be Elegy for String Orchestra by McIntosh Orchestra director, James C. Hagberg. Originally scored for large orchestra in 2002, Elegy is a very powerful and passionate work which musically speaks directly to those who have grieved for a loved one. The work for large orchestra has been performed in several states.
The string version was premiered at a benefit concert in January at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City. The work was written in memory of Mr. Hagberg’s beloved sister.
The final portion of the concert will conclude with the final movement of Tschaikowsky’s Serenade for Strings, op. 48-Finale. Serenade, a large-scale work for string orchestra was, by Tschaikowksy’s own acknowledgment, a companion piece to the 1812 Overture, both of which pleased him greatly.
Hagberg chose this work in commemoration of the inaugural concert at Carnegie Hall on May 5, 1891 in which Tschaikowsky himself conducted his 1812 Overture.
The concert is open to the public starting at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at McIntosh High School.
