Nature and Music: Appalachian Spring

Post-concert Meet & Greet Reception in the Fellowship Hall following this event.

This extra-special concert is a tour-de-force of what ACMF is all about: great music in community spaces with music that we really love. Come and join us for a magical evening of music that takes nature as inspiration and is designed to transport the audience to a special time and place in each piece.

This year we’re bringing you one of the most special works to the heart of our ACMF artists: Copland’s Appalachian Spring. When we performed this work in 2022, the tears of joy were flowing from the players and the audience. This work, that quotes the Shaker tune “Simple Gifts” is one of the most iconic works of American music and the American sound that Copland so brilliantly captured. There is just something profound about experiencing this piece performed in the foothills of Appalachia- it is truly an experience not to be missed.

The concert will also feature Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night and Kenji Bunch’s String Circle.

String sextet, “Transfigured Night” (Verklärte Nacht) is a beautiful romantic masterpiece based on the German poem by the same name. This exquisitely lush and tonal work is one of the most beloved works of chamber music by musicians and audience alike. It draws upon themes from the Romantic era of literature and the awe and magic of natural world- a woods at night. It was written before Arnold Schoenberg’s early life before creation of the second Viennese school, and it. This programmatic work tells the story of a woman, confessing to her new love that she is pregnant with a child of another man. Through the magic of the transfigured night, the man decides through their love, the child will become his.

String Circle (2006) 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.”

Shepherdstown has been a special place for ACMF in its past 5 years and we want to extend our thanks to the supportive audience of the Shepherdstown community by joining us for a special reception after the concert in the fellowship hall.

Performers

Violin | Audrey Gray, Martin Gwilym-Jones, Chris Jusell, Rachelle Hunt, Jennifer Kim
Viola | Sam Kelder, Danielle Wiebe-Burke
Cello | Katie Tertell, Schuyler Slack
Double Bass | Sam Suggs
Flute | Sinéad Farrell
Bassoon | Sinéad Frost
Clarinet | Nick Jordan
Piano | Efi Hackmey

Program

Schoenberg - Verklärte Nacht

– Intermission –

Kenji Bunch - String Circle 
     Lowdown
     Shuffle Step
     Ballad
     Porch Picking
     Overdrive

Copland - Appalachian Spring Suite, version for 13 instruments

Please note: Anticipated program and musicians are subject to changes.