Bay-Atlantic Symphony | Educational Concerts | 2012 Gus Cilento, MD
HOW MUSIC TALKS: “Earthy, Elegant, and Electric”
Bartok Romanian Folk Dances, Bizet Symphony, Beethoven Egmont Overture “Earthy, Elegant, and Electric” continues Bay-Atlantic Symphony’s highly successful “How Music Talks” series, ongoing and with constant development since 1998. Music Director Jed Gaylin scripts, narrates, and conducts the series. Jed Gaylin scripts study guides (available online) that match the NJ State Board of Education Curriculum. These popular guides are excellent and easy to use.
“Earthy, Elegant, and Electric” presents three completely contrasting expressions.
EARTHY: Bela Bartok revolutionized our knowledge of folk music by traveling to the countryside. The music there was actually far more exotic, insistent, and viscerally powerful than watered down touristic versions. The Romanian Folk Dances are Earthy: like other folk dance music (Riverdance, for instance) they speak of the country and the soil with great rhythmic vitality and color.
ELEGANT: Bizet’s youthful symphony is rhythmically flashy with direct, simple, and beautiful melodies. Clarity and elegance are hallmarks of French music. But, as Bizet shows us, you can be elegant and folksy, too. The third movement of this Symphony also speaks of the countryside with exotic harmonies, and a sunny, vigorous feel. We will also play the fast-paced flurry of a Finale, a perpetual motion that exhilarates the audience.
ELECTRIC: Beethoven’s Egmont celebrates political heroism, resistance against evil and the ultimate victory of spirit. The Overture is by turns, driving, bold, fierce, and dramatic. It is Electric.
In discussing the “how music talks” with an audience, Jed Gaylin invokes the great variety of moods music can elicit. This program highlights great music’s wildly contrasting impressions. We can’t wait to share it with you and your students!
JED GAYLIN, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR
After attending public schools as a child, Mr. Gaylin enrolled at Oberlin Conservatory majoring in Physics, and then graduated with a Bachelors in Piano and a Masters in Conducting. He studied conducting privately with Jahja Ling. Mr. Gaylin obtained his Doctorate in Musical Arts from Peabody Conservatory, studying with Frederik Prausnitz. Other conducting teachers include Leonard Slatkin and Murry Sidlin. Maestro Gaylin has received numerous awards as a conductor, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant, a Conducting Fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival, the Presser Music Award, and membership in the National Musical Honors Society.