While we gear up for our weekend residency at Tahoe Music Alive, let's take a deep dive into our program!
Insight Chamber Players' Inaugural performance at the Clocktower Salon September 2022
The program we will present is an encore of our very first Insight concert given in September 2022! It's hard to believe it's already been two years since we began sharing our "Insight"s with you 😉
Dimitri Shostakovich ⎹ 5 Pieces for Two Violins and Piano
Dimitri Shostakovich was born in 1906 in St. Petersburg and began conservatory at the age of 13 to study piano and composition. By age 19, Shostakovich was famous across Europe and the United States. His fortune turned as the Soviet Composer's Congress deeply criticized his work which led to him joining the Communist Party and to adhere to their artistic and political messaging. His health declined significantly and spent long periods of time in the sanatoria until his death in 1975.
The collection of pieces for Two Violins and Piano was written in 1955 and is surprisingly light hearted given Shostakovich's personal turmoil at this point is his life. The collection was assembled and arranged by Shostakovich's close friend, Levon Atovmyan with Shostakovich's permission. It features a survey of Shostakovich's past compositions such as the Prélude from the Gadfly Suite Op. 97a. and the Gavotte from Ballet Suite No.3 .
As you listen to the full orchestra version of the Prélude, note the romantic lyricism of the strings while the harp and lower instruments provide a "motor" underneath which propels the motion of the melody. The main theme is then expanded upon by the woodwinds, venturing into a darker and dramatic mood until the tension erupts with the strings rejoining the ensemble. Finally, as if recuperating from the outburst, the woodwinds assume the main melody once again.
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If the word cinematic came to mind... you're right! This music was originally written for film released in 1955. Here is an edited clip of excerpts of the Gadfly.
This concludes our first sneak peak of our Tahoe Music Alive! Program. For more information and tickets, visit their ticketing website below.
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