Third Concert of the 69th Season

Rossini was born of a musical family. His father was a horn player, and his mother, a singer. The Wikipedia describes him as a musical prodigy, and cites as evidence that he played the triangle at the age of six. In all modesty, I, too, played the triangle at the age of six, but my promise as a musical genius was not fulfilled as it was for Rossini

Rossini was the most successful Italian composer of his time. Oddly, not much is known about him during his years of composing, but much has been written about his life after his early retirement. William Tell was his last opera, written when he was only thirty-seven. He did continue to produce some religious pieces, including the wonderful Stabat Mater three years later. Ill health might have been the principle reason for his change of attitude. He suffered greatly in the early 1850s, and when his Italian doctors could not help him, he and his wife moved to Paris, where his health improved. It is also true that he was rather demoralized by his waning career in Bologna after such stellar success earlier. There was likely a political reason for that change of fortune, since he did not support the Bolognese movement for national unity.

With the return of his good health, his humor and wit also returned. His home in Paris quickly became a gathering place for all the artistic people of the period, and there are countless anecdotes about his eating, drinking, and his witty criticisms of other composers. "Mr. Wagner has beautiful moments, but bad quarters of an hour," he said. During this time he did complete many songs and piano pieces, but would not let them be published. They have been heard only since the mid-twentieth century.

When asked what he thought would be his legacy, he said, "Do you know what will survive me? The third act of Tell, the second act of Otello, and the Barber of Seville from one end to the other!" He was right, at least, about the Barber, but the only thing about William Tell that most people remember is the Overture, and that mostly because of a masked rider and his faithful sidekick, Tonto.

Zoltán Kodály was born in Hungary, and died there. He was not simply a composer, but an educator, and one of the earliest ethnomusicologists. He was a very fast learner, and mastered the piano, violin, and cello almost self-taught. His Overture in D Minor was performed by a full orchestra when he was only sixteen years old.

Kodály took diplomas in composition and teaching, and finally a Ph.D. in the Strophic Construction of the Hungarian folk-song. He and his younger friend, Béla Bartók, often roamed the countryside with recording devices to collect folk-songs, and the effect can be heard in the music of both men.

Kodály was a great teacher, and he took particular interest in young people, establishing a choral society that became a national institution.

His "play with music," Háry János, is seldom performed, but the suite he derived from it is very popular. It's the story of an aging soldier who is telling tall tales about his exploits. It consists of six parts.

1. Prelude (The Fairy Tale Begins)

2. Viennese Musical Clock -- Háry and his girl-friend are in Vienna, and are amazed at the moving figures of the clock.

3. Song -- In the original, this was sung, but here is rendered by the viola and oboe, accompanied by the Hungarian cembalom ... For this performance, a harpsichord is substituted.

4. The Battle and Defeat of Napoleon -- Here is where Háry defeats Napoleon's army. The music is a parody of military music and the dirge.

5. Intermezzo -- This is based on an 18th Century recruiting piece.

6. Entrance of the Emperor and his Court -- Here is a march movement done tongue-in-cheek, suggesting the march of toy soldiers.