Combined String Orchestras

Suite of Carols............................................................LeroyAnderson

Wassail Song

Symphony Strings

Introduction and Allegro for Strings....................................Edward Elgar

The Introduction and Allegro is unique work, projecting Romantic emotion from within a Baroque concerto grosso format. It contrasts a string quartet concertante group of principal

players with the full string orchestra, and creates a fascinating fusion of periods as the historic form is infused with romantic texture and feeling, enriched by Elgar's subdivision of the orchestral string sections and the characteristic sweep of his phrasing.

The opening of the Introduction reveals the broad second theme of the main Allegro movement, while the quartet's first entry provides material for the Allegro's first theme. The Allegro proceeds to a brilliant fugal section that leads back through a return of the first theme; the second theme then reappears in a new key before a final exultant reference to the Introduction closes the work.

program notes by Sinfonia Toronto

Symphony No. 8 in B Minor "Unfinished"................. ...... .........Franz Schubert

I. Allegro Moderate

Schubert may have composed Symphony No. 8 (dated October 30, 1822) as an offering to the Stryian Musical Society of Graz, which was considering presenting Schubert with an honorary membership. Schubert gave this symphony to his friend, Answlm Huttenbrenner. Huttenbrenner kept the work in his care until 1865 (43 years after it was written, and 43 years after Schubert's death) when he was persuaded to release the score for performance. Symphony No. 8 has been dubbed the "Unfinished Symphony because Schubert only composed two movements, rather than the usual four, due to his untimely death.

program notes by Teaching Music Through Performance

Espańa …………………………………………………………….…Emmanuel Chabrier

Espana was written after a trip to Spain by French composer, Emmanuel Chabrier. The first two themes— a jota and a malaguena are folk melodies, and the third theme is Chabrier's own. These themes were used some years later by the Parisian composer, Emil Waldteufel, in his famous waltz, Espana.

Carol of the Bells.... ..................................Leontovich-Wilhousky/arr. Hayman

This melody is originally a Ukranian folk tune which was written as a winter well-wishing song. In fact, it had no Christmas connections until Peter Wilhousky added those words in 1936. This well-known, "catchy" tune was conceived by Shari Lewis and her famous hand puppet, Lambchop. In this arrangement, you will hear excerpts from other holiday carols. Listen for snippets of "We Three Kings", "What Child is This", "Silent Night", and "Joy to the World".