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TROUBADOUR is published once each semester by the Willamette University Department of Music, 900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301.Tel 503-370-6255 Fax 503-370-6260 Email music-info@willamette.edu

TROUBADOURWILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC SPRING SEMESTER 2015

The Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series: 2014-15 SeasonThe Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series presents two groundbreaking ensembles that challenge, invigorate and renew the concert experience with innovative and imaginative programming. (For ticket information see the events calendar inside.)

ETHOS PERCUSSION GROUP 8 p.m. April 17, Hudson HallHailed by critics as “spellbinding,” “astonishing” and “immaculate,” the Ethos Percussion Group has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater, London’s Wigmore Hall and the Library of Congress. Equally at home with contemporary classical repertoire or in collaborations with master musicians from non-Western traditions, Ethos seamlessly transports global influences into Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. Ethos performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, and include traditional influences from India, West Africa and the Middle East, as well as works by composers such as John Cage, Philip Glass, Lou Harrison, Steve Reich and Frank Zappa. Ethos has commissioned more than 25 new works for percussion quartet from composers steeped in the musical traditions of Argentina, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Korea, Palestine and the United States.

ANDERSON & ROE PIANO DUO 7:30 p.m. April 1, Hudson HallKnown for their adrenalized performances, original compositions and Emmy-nominated videos, Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe are revolutionizing the piano duo experience for the 21st century. Described as “the intense synchronization of genius” (ThirdCoast Digest) and “the most dynamic duo of this generation” (San Francisco Classical Voice), the Anderson and Roe Piano Duo aims to make classical music a relevant and powerful force around the world. Of a recent performance, Bachtrack wrote, “Believe all the hype: Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe … are electric.” Highlights of their upcoming season include a worldwide tour and promotion of their new joint release, “An Amadeus Affair.” Together they have appeared on MTV’s “Total Request Live,” NPR’s “All Things Considered,” “From the Top” and dozens of summer chamber music festivals, including Portland Piano International. Their highly inventive program will include beloved masterworks like Ravel’s “La Valse” in addition to their own arrangements and transcriptions of Mozart, Radiohead, Pharrell Williams and Camille Saint-Saens.

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Faculty Recital — In Memory of Brian SwingleOn Feb. 8, mezzo-soprano Allison Swensen-Mitchell, tenor Les Green and pianist Jean-David Coen will present a faculty recital. The program will feature selections of Brahms Lieder, Fauré mélodie, and early songs of Copland. We will also present iconic aria pairings such as “Habanera” and “La Fleur” from “Carmen,” and “The Letter Aria (Werther, Werther, qui m’aurait dit la place)” and “Pourquoi me réveiller” from “Werther.” Please join us at 4 p.m. in Hudson Hall.

Community Building: An Important Platform for Music-makingMy first semester as conductor of both the University Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble has flown by in a flash. In this short time, both ensembles have rehearsed a total of 70 hours and have presented four performances. In addition to our music-making, we have spent a great deal of time getting to know one another through community-building and social events such as a movie night, pumpkin carving and several pizza parties. The result of these extra-musical activi-ties has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on both of the ensembles and their performances. I have always believed that nothing compares to making music with your friends, and my most recent concerts here at Willamette continue to strengthen that belief. In the coming semester, I plan on keeping the social events both as a tool to introduce the new members that we usually gain each semester and to facilitate an avenue by which our students can develop lasting memo-ries of their participation in our music program. The Wind Ensemble and the University Cham-ber Orchestra will present two joint performances this spring semester. The first performance in March will consist of a lighter program that ushers in spring with a mix of popular marches and lighter classical works. The second performance in April will be a little more serious and will feature the winners of our annual concerto and aria competition. I hope that you can join us as we continue to build musical bridges that will last a very long time.

Héctor Agüero

Willamette Master Chorus ‘Sing for the Cure’The Willamette Master Chorus concludes its 30th anniversary season with a “Concert for Life” at 7 p.m. May 2 and 3 p.m. May 3. We welcome the Salem Chamber Orchestra as partners in this special concert, which honors and recognizes survivors, medical person-nel, caregivers, family members and all those who have shared the journey through the mysteries of cancer. Music will come from “Sing for the Cure,” a musical proclamation of hope written for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Commissioned works include a musical triptych by Derek Sup ’14; John Peel, chair of the Music Department at Willamette; and Dave Metzger, a local film score composer/orchestrator. Please visit the website at willa-mettemasterchorus.org.

Paul Klemme, WMC, Artistic Director

“Trickery, greed and love twist together on the Willamette stage”This season, Willamette University’s Dramatic Vocal Arts program, in collaboration with the Willamette University Music Department and Theatre Department, presents “Gianni Schicchi,” directed by Allison Swensen-Mitchell and orchestra director Héc-tor Agüero. In this lighthearted, witty and vibrant opera, the cast dazzles and delights as they draw us into Puccini’s darkly comic tale of intrigue.

After waiting for their wealthy aristocratic father Buoso to die, the Donati family gathers for the reading of the will, only to discover that he has left his vast fortune and estate to the local monastery. The comically self-centered relatives hatch a plan to alter the will and reclaim the prize, but they need Schicchi’s assistance to pull it off. Will he help the family accomplish their scheme, or just help himself?

Based on an incident mentioned in Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” Puccini’s opera high-lights themes of greed, love and honor. Featuring a phenomenal cast of Willamette students, alumni and guest artists, and an unfailingly beautiful score, this English adaption of the original Italian is a lively opera that will be enjoyable for all.

Performances will be in Smith Auditorium at 7 p.m. March 12-14 and 3 p.m. March 15. Tickets are available at thtr-tix@willamette.edu, 503-370-6221, or music-info@willamette.edu, 503-370-6255, and cost $5 for students, $10 for regular admission.

Allison Swensen-Mitchell Les Green Jean-David Coen

New Music at Willamette Spring ConcertThe spring new music series will present a residency and a concert with violinist Rolf Schulte and pianist James Winn at 7:30 p.m. April 30 in Hudson Hall. Schulte is renowned for his premieres of works by major contemporary Ameri-can and European masters, including Carter, Martino, Davidovsky, Kurtág and Babbitt. Schulte studied in Germany, Switzerland and Italy before coming to the United States to study with Ivan Ga-lamian at the Curtis Institute of Music. Schulte’s concert program at Willamette University will include: Ruth Crawford Seeger’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, Elliott Carter’s “Rhapsodic Musings” and “Mnemosyné,” Arnold Schoenberg’s “Lied” from the Serenade Op. 24, two movements from Igor Stravinsky’s “Le Rossignol,” Bela Bartok’s Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano and composer-in-residence John Peel’s “Cadenza-Caprice” from his Violin Concerto. In addition to the concert, the residency with Schulte and Winn will include the performance of works for vio-lin and piano by Willamette University student composers.

Small Ensembles Plan Charitable EventFor the second year in a row, the Department of Music’s chamber ensembles will perform a benefit concert for the Music Education Assis-tance Project as part of the Camerata Musica concert series at the Salem Public Library. Sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians Local 99 (Portland), the concert will take place at 2:30 p.m. April 26. The proceeds from this concert provide funds for low-income music students who would benefit from private lessons.

Prior to this event, the Small Ensembles Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 20 in Hudson Hall. Among the featured ensembles are the World War 5 woodwind quintet, the Apollo String Quartet, the Baroque Duo and House Party 7, a percussion ensemble. Admission is free and no ticket required.

Music Tech Updates….We’re fortunate to announce that the Ford recording studio is now equipped with a Shigeru Kawai grand piano. Students in our studio recording class “Advanced Digital Music Techniques” are now able to study recording and mixing techniques with both electric and acoustic pianos in a hands-on way. The new piano allows for students to gain experience both recording and performing a greater range of classi-cal music, and offers choice between electric or acoustic sounds when recording jazz and other styles. The new piano was inaugurated in a recording by the Willamette Jazz Collective, part of their festival audi-tion package. Faculty can likewise record with an acoustic instrument in a studio environment.

In other studio-related news, summer grants will be once more be available to students. This past summer, eight students used the studios working through three programs. Their work was presented on campus this past fall.

EVENTS CALENDAR

willamette.edu/go/music_events

JANUARYSunday 25 Oregon Symphony, 8 p.m., SA*

FEBRUARYTuesday 3 Faculty String Trio Recital with Dan Rouslin, violin,

Holland Phillips, viola, Jason Duckles, cello, 7:30 p.m., HH**Sunday 8 Faculty Recital with Allison Swensen-Mitchell, mezzo soprano,

Les Green, tenor, Jean-David Coen, piano, 4 p.m., HH**Wednesday 11 Trombone Quartet Recital, 7 p.m., HHSaturday 14 Faculty Recital with Laura Aguero, soprano, Crystal Zimmerman,

mezzo soprano and Crystal Renee Zimmerman, pianist, 2 p.m., HH**

Friday 20 Oregon Symphony, 8 p.m., SA*Saturday 21 Brahms Requiem featuring Willamette Master Chorus, Salem

Chamber Orchestra, Willamette University Chamber Choir, 7:30 p.m., HH*

Sunday 22 Brahms Requiem, 3 p.m., HH* (see above)

MARCHSunday 1 Winter Choir Concert, 7 p.m., HHTuesday 3 Wind Ensemble & University Chamber Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., HH

Dramatic Vocal Arts Performance: Puccini’s “Gianni Schichi” Thursday 12 7 p.m., SA* Friday 13 7 p.m., SA* Saturday 14 7 p.m., SA* Sunday 15 3 p.m., SA*

Tuesday 17 Faculty Recital with Christine Welch Elder and Marva Duerkson, 7 p.m., HH*

Tuesday 31 Goudy Series Master Class, Anderson & Roe, 7-9 p.m., HH

APRIL Wednesday 1 Goudy Artists Series, Anderson & Roe Piano Duo, 7:30 p.m., HH*Thursday 9 Duo Piano Student Recital, 7:30 p.m., HHFriday 10 Oregon Symphony, 8 p.m., SA*Sunday 12 Salem Chamber Orchestra, 3 p.m., HH*Thursday 16 Goudy Artists Series, Ethos Percussion Group Master

Class, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Student Composer’s Reading and Recording Session,

2:30–5 p.m., HHFriday 17 Goudy Artist Series, Ethos Percussion Group, 8 p.m., HH*Monday 20 Small Ensembles Concert, 7:30 p.m., HHThursday 23 Wind Ensemble and University Chamber Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., HH Friday 24 Vocal Jazz Invitational Festival Concert, 7:30 p.m., SASunday 26 Spring Choirs Concert, 7 p.m., HHThursday 30 New Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., HH

MAYSaturday 2 Willamette Master Chorus, 7 p.m., HH*Sunday 3 Willamette Master Chorus, 3 p.m., HH*Friday 8 Oregon Symphony, 8 p.m., SA*Saturday 16 Senior Honors Recital, 2 p.m., HH

TICKETSTickets for the following at Travel Salem, 181 High St. NEabsolutelytix.com, 503-581-4325 Oregon Symphony orsymphonysalem.org, 503-364-0149 Willamette Master Chorus willamettemasterchorus.org, 503-370-6929 Goudy Distinguished Artist Series willamette.edu/arts/goudyartistseries, 503-370-6255 Salem Chamber Orchestra salemchamberorchestra.org, 503-480-1128

Willamette University Music Department: willamette.edu/cla/music, 503-370-6255*Admission will be charged **Donation Requested ($8 adults, $5 students)

LocationsSA: Smith Auditorium; HH: Hudson Hall; RR: Rogers Rehearsal Hall; CC: Cone Chapel

NONPROFIT ORGUS Postage PAID

Salem, ORPermit No.152

Department of Music900 State StreetSalem, OR 97301

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

GET THE MUSICTo order Music Department CDs visit

willamette.edu/cla/music or call 503-370-6255

Busy Spring Semester for the Choral Program Fall ended with another wonderful production of Christmas in Hudson Hall, which wel-comed a collaboration with the University Chamber Orchestra and its new conductor, Dr. Héctor Agüero. During the last week of winter break, the Chamber Choir and Willamette Singers produced a very successful winter tour to Washington state. The choirs performed 11 concerts in seven days. During the nine-city tour, 17 high school choirs performed in concert with the Willamette choirs.

Musical energy will now be focused on the shared performance of Brahms’ “Requiem” by the Chamber Choir, the Willamette Master Chorus and the Salem Chamber Orchestra. Male Ensemble Willamette and Voce Femminile will share a winter concert with the Chamber Choir from Chemeketa Community College, directed by Dr. Kerry Burtis.

The Willamette Singers are looking forward to the Vocal Jazz Invitational Festival, which will feature Origin Records artist and Grammy-nominated vocalist Jeff Baker. Baker graduated from Willamette in 2001 and is director of the vocal jazz program at Portland State Universi-ty. The festival concert will feature Baker with the Willamette Singers, along with high school vocal jazz ensembles from South Salem High School, West Salem High School, Sprague High School and special guests from Astoria High School.

Please take a look at the calendar and make plans now to hear some wonderful choral music this spring.