www.cisymphony.org   Q2  2012  

Our Mission: The Central Iowa Symphony Association is a community, united by a love of music and a dedication to the art of orchestral performance, whose collective goal is to foster quality performances, offer satisfying musical experiences, and nurture educational and cultural growth in central Iowa.

  QUARTER NOTES

Conductor’s  Notes  By  Eric  L.  McIntyre  

1

 It  is  always  a  thrill  to  conduct  an  orchestra  through  a  large-­‐scale  work  by  one  of  the  greatest  composers  of  the  past.    I'm  also  particularly  excited  when  I  get  to  conduct  a  newer  work  by  a  composer  who  has  lived  during  our  own  time,  especially  if  that  new  masterpiece  is  

previously  unknown  to  our  audience  and  even  most  of  the  orchestra's  musicians.      The  centerpiece  of  our  May  CIS  concert  is  truly  the  best  of  both  worlds  and  sure  to  be  an  amazing  experience  for  everyone  involved.    Rendering  is  an  ambitious  tenth  symphony  by  Franz  Schubert,  begun  during  the  last  weeks  of  the  master's  life  and  left  only  in  sketch  form  when  he  died.    It's  also  a  recent  composition  by  Italian  composer  Luciano  Berio,  who  plays  a  dual  role  here:    He  fleshes  out  Schubert's  sketches,  bringing  them  to  life  with  orchestration  that  is  meticulously  Schubertian,  and  he  injects  his  own,  unique  compositional  voice  in  a  sort  of  musical  cement  that  span  the  gaps  left  by  the  old  master.    The  result  is  a  mesmerizing  journey  through  early  romanticism  and  late  twentieth  century  soundscapes  on  musical  clouds  that  slip  seamlessly  between  these  distant  worlds.    Of  course,  the  combination  of  contrasting  musical  styles  and  Berio's  

1

The  Gala  is  coming!  Please  join  us  in  celebrating  the  completion  of  our  25th  concert  season  at  the  Ames  Golf  and  Country  Club  on  June  10th  from  4  to  7  pm.  Enjoy  live  music,  wine,  hors  d’oeuvres  and  desserts  while  you  mingle  with  our  maestro,  musicians,  board  members  and  friends,  old  or  new!  Invitations  will  be  in  the  mail  soon,  but  if  you  would  like  to  make  sure  we  don’t  miss  you  on  our  mailing  list  or  are  new  to  the  CIS  Gala,  please  email  us  at    info@cisymphony.org.  

2

This  important  fundraising  event  provides  money  for  rehearsal  and  performance  space,  music  rental,  honoraria  for  special  guest  artists  and  more.  Be  a  Gala  Sponsor!  $135  includes  two  Gala  admissions  plus  recognition  both  at  the  Gala  and  in  the  upcoming  season  program.  Individual  Gala  tickets  are  also  available  for  only  $35  per  person.  Please  come  and  support  your  Central  Iowa  community  orchestra!  

CIS  10th  Annual  Gala  2012  Approaches  –  Save  the  Date!  

2011  –  2012  Season  Upcoming  Concerts  

Adults  $15,  Seniors  $10,  Children  &  Students  Free  

By  Noelle  Fultz  

2

intricate  textures  provide  the  orchestra  with  plenty  of  challenges,  but  that  makes  it  all  the  more  worthwhile.    Not  many  orchestras  like  ours  have  what  it  takes  to  play  works  like  this.    It's  going  to  be  a  rare  treat  for  everyone.      You  will  not  want  to  miss  this  concert.    

Ames  Golf  and  Country  Club  

Date:  Sunday,  June  10th,  2012  Time:  4:00  –  7  pm  

Ames  Golf  and  Country  Club  5752  George  Washington  

Carver  Ave.  |  Ames,  IA  50011  RSVP  by  June  4,,  2012  

Season  Finale  Sunday  May  6th,  2012  3  pm  Ames  City  Auditorium  2:15  Concert  Conversations  

2012-­‐2013  Kick  Off  FREE  Summer  Concert  Thursday  August  2nd,  2012  8  pm  Durham  Bandshell  Park  

 

 

www.cisymphony.org   Q2  2012  

   

Central Iowa Symphony Association P.O.  Box  1080    

Ames,  IA  50014-­‐1080  

The  Central  Iowa  Symphony  is  supported  by  funding  from  the  Ames  Commission  on  the  Arts  (COTA)  and  other  donations.  CIS  is  a  member  of  the  Ames  Community  Arts  Council  (ACAC)  

1

Alan  Henson's  first  love  was  the  cello.  But  his  4th-­‐grade  music  teacher  traced  his  hands  on  a  piece  of  paper—to  demonstrate  how  big  they  were—and  convinced  him  to  play  the  double  bass.  (Henson,  an  “easy  mark”  back  then,  believes  his  hands  are  average  or  small.)  Playing  the  bass  has  been  “good  for  him,”  Henson  says.  It  paid  for  most  of  his  college  education,  and  gave  him  the  foundation  to  be  the  first  chair  bassist  in  many  orchestras,  including  the  Des  Moines  Symphony.  But  playing  the  bass  is  stressful  on  the  body,  he  says,  and  alternating  between  bass  and  cello  requires  changes  to  fingerings  and  modes  of  thinking.    He  prefers  the  cello,  which  he  picked  up  in  high  school,  because  it  “feels  like  an  extension  of  him.”  He  believes  the  cello’s  range  is  closest  to  the  human  voice,  and  he  loves  “all  of  the  gorgeous  music  [written  for]  cello.”  But  it  didn’t  occur  to  him  to  play  the  cello  as  a  primary  instrument  until  after  he  finished  college.  

2

Following  a  serendipitous  turn  in  his  job  in  the  I.T.  field  in  2006,  Henson  decided  to  concentrate  full-­‐time  on  his  musical  interests.  He  teaches  cello  and  bass  technique  while  playing  professionally,  when  he  can,  with  several  orchestras.  Henson  says  he  has  never  been  “driven  to  be  a  soloist,”  and  instead  enjoys  the  closeness  of  small  ensembles  and  the  harmonies  of  chamber  music,  a  passion  he  shares  with  wife  Julie,  a  violinist.    He  also  played  previously  with  music  director  Eric  McIntyre.  Together  they  agreed  that  Henson  would  be  the  featured  soloist  for  Kol  Nidre  by  Max  Bruch  during  the  season's  final  concert.  The  piece  is  “bittersweet,”  Henson  says,  and  "tells  a  story  of  tragedy  and  catharsis."  It  doesn’t  have  the  “bells  and  whistles”  of  many  pieces  written  for  soloists,  but  instead  is  an  “expressive  narrative.”  Much  like  Henson’s  own  musical  journey.  

Spotlight  –  Alan  Henson  By  Aaron  S.  Fultz