by Daniel Hathaway
HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:
Saturday: Wit’s Folly plays at the Brownhoist at 3, Franz Welser-Möst conducts The Cleveland Orchestra in Mozart’s Magic Flute at 7 at Severance, Alex Bevan performs with the Akron Symphony at 7:30, and the Re:Sound Festival continues at 7:30 at Convivium 33 Gallery.
Sunday: Cleveland Composers Guild features young composers at 3 at the Music Settlement, harpsichordist Sean Kleve plays at Rocky River Methodist at 3, Suburban Symphony features competition winners at 3:30 at Beachwood High School, Singers Companye (pictured) sings at the Maltz at 4, St. James in Lakewood hosts chamber music at 4, and the Re:Sound Festival wraps up at 7:30 at Convivium 33 Gallery.
Visit our Concert Listings for details of these and other events.
WEEKEND ALMANAC:
May 18:
German composer and conductor Gustav Mahler died in Vienna on this date in 1911, leaving nine-and-a-half monumental symphonies that were performed during his lifetime, but languished until their revival later in the century, notably by Leonard Bernstein. The works suited the conductor’s extroverted personality, as can be witnessed in this 1973 performance of No. 2, the “Resurrection” Symphony, at Ely Cathedral. I had the unforgettable experience of singing the work with Bernstein and the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood in the early 70s.
The roots of Mahler’s music are explored by Bernstein’s spiritual successor, Michael Tilson Thomas, in two episodes of Keeping Score with the San Francisco Symphony.
And on this date in 1975, American composer and arranger Leroy Anderson died in Woodbury, Connecticut. Long associated with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, the Harvard grad was famous for such light classics as Bugler’s Holiday, played here by Cleveland Orchestra principal trumpet Michael Sachs with the UCLA Wind Ensemble and two of his young colleagues. Occasionally, Anderson aspired to more ambitious works. Watch a rare performance of his Piano Concerto here.
May 19 — by Jarrett Hoffman
Events on this date in history include the passing of composer Charles Ives — who harnessed wide-ranging influences and experimental techniques to eventually become recognized as an “American original” both nationally and internationally — as well as anniversaries for two lesser-known women composers.
Born on this date in 1839, Alice Mary Smith became the first British woman known to have composed a symphony. The first of her two contributions to that genre, in the key of c minor, was written at age 24 and premiered by the Musical Society of London in 1863. Listen here to a recording by conductor Howard Shelley and the London Mozart Players, and here for the beautifully lyrical Andante for Clarinet and Orchestra, where the orchestra is joined by soloist Angela Malsbury.
Pianist and composer Linda Martinez only lived to the age of 29 — she took her own life on May 19, 2005 — but in that time she carved out a unique career in film, television, and popular music.
Born in Whittier in Los Angeles County, she graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in composition in 1998, and that same year became keyboardist for the Keenan Ivory Wayans Show. The talk show was short-lived, but it led to further opportunities for Martinez, including a collaboration with girl group Destiny’s Child (best known today for launching the solo career of Beyoncé). Martinez toured with them and wrote music for some of their high-profile live performances, including at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
After winning the 2003 National Turner Classic Movies Young Film Composers’ Competition, Martinez wrote a score for the 1925 silent film The Rag Man. Take in the opening three minutes of the movie and the uniquely styled, beautiful score here.
