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Simon Says
The almost-monthly newsletter of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
Bach Birthday Edition
March 2010
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Get ready for some
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Mandolin Magic
“Avital’s playing, which can be defined as ‘everything you never dreamt a mandolin could do,’ was truly breathtaking in virtuosity and dedication.”
Israeli mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital joins your favorite chamber orchestra in music of Bach and Beethoven, plus a wonderful Corelli concerto grosso and Oswaldo Golijov’s “Last Round”, a simmering tango-infused work for double string quartet and double bass.
Coming soon to a concert hall near you!
5:30 Thursday, Mar 18 Rush Hour Concert @ Contemporary Jewish Museum, SF
8:00 Friday, Mar 19 @ Herbst Theatre, SF
8:00 Saturday, Mar 20 @ St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Palo Alto
3:00 Sunday, Mar 21 @ First Congregational Church, Berkeley
member’s reception following this Berkeley concert: please join us
8pm Monday, Mar 22 @ Empress Theatre, Vallejo
Click here for more information
Read the SF Classical Voice’s great preview article about this program
Watch Avi perform his Bach concerto here. You’ll be impressed!
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Three two one
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are the magic numbers that cause musical rejoicing every March. Born on 3.21 in the year 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach is the most famous of five generations of Bachs that ruled musical life in north Germany for over 100 years. But JS was better known in his own lifetime as a teacher and organist. His compositions were considered old-fashioned, and overly difficult; at least two of his musician-sons were much more famous at the time.
Come hear our magical mandolinist, Avi Avital, perform a great Bach violin concerto (on the mandolin, of course) on our next Home Series concerts.
Click here for some really jazzy Bach, courtesy of YouTube. I’m sure the old guy would have loved it.
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Who said it?
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The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.
(answer below)
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Concerto Countdown
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Ask the Maestro
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Dear Maestro,
Why do waiters and musicians both wear tuxedos at work? I can’t think of anybody else who does, except perhaps the odd butler.
signed, Curious in Cupertino
Dear Curious, 
Back in the day, musicians were household servants. The great Joseph Haydn was Composer in Residence for the well-placed Esterhazy family in western Hungary, and remarked in a letter that musicians were of a social status slightly above the cooks but below the valets. They all ate together in the “downstairs” kitchens. The tuxedos and tailcoats must be a vestige of their uniforms as staff people.
Got a burning question about classical music? Got a tune stuck in your head and don’t know what it is? Ask the Maestro right here.
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Coming up
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Classical Crossover with Gabriela Lena Frank
From Esterhazy to Ecuador
Trio Chaskinaquy
& the SFCO All-Stars
Please join us for a special concert event, as musicians from the SFCO and the folkloric musicians of Trio Chaskinakuy explore the fascinating intersections of classical and folk music. SFCO Composer in Residence Gabriela Lena Frank will talk about her string quartet, Inkarri, and the multi-cultural forces that underlie her powerful and evocative music.
8pm Thursday, Apr 8 La Peña, Berkeley
2pm Sunday, Apr 11 Empress Theatre, Vallejo
7:30pm Thursday, Apr 15 Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco
Click here for more information.
plus a Bach Birthday Bash on our Classical at the Freight series featuring violinist Kay Stern, violist Ben Simon, and cellist Michelle Djokic performing the incomparable Goldberg Variations for string trio!
Monday March 19, 8pm. Click here for more information.
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Viola joke of the month
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Why did the chicken cross the road?
To get away from the viola recital. |
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Adopt-a-Musician
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Recession-busting prices on cellists this month: $479.99
Prices have NEVER been so low. Get in on the ground floor of a new fundraising program for your favorite chamber orchestra, wherein you can “adopt” a member of the orchestra for an entire year for a very reasonable sum (and don’t have to provide housing, clothing, or meals… or college…such a deal! ).
Adopt SFCO cellist Robert Howard (pictured here) for only $479.99. That’s only $2.86 per month for the next fourteen years. Or an instrumentalist from any other section in the orchestra (available in flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, piano, harpsichord, violin, viola, or double bass) for only $20.01 more.
Interested? Colleen would be delighted to talk to you (415-692-5297), or email her here.
Your support helps keep our priceless music absolutely free, our concerts more frequent, and our connections with our community stronger. Thank you.
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Video of the month
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But would the old guy have liked this?
Probably not.
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Bach or bumper-to-bumper? You decide.
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 RUSH HOUR CONCERT
@ the beautiful Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco
5:30 on Thursday, March 18
Beat the traffic and enjoy our free, one-hour preview concert in the stunning CJM in downtown SF. The museum is offering an array of specials in their wonderful cafe, including 16-string pasta and Mandolin Tuna Salad… and museum admission is just $5 after 5pm. Such a deal!
For more information, click here.
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Who said it
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The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.
Johann Sebastian Bach
German organist and teacher* (1685 – 1750)
*He composed a little, too.
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Simon Says
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Why did Mozart hate chickens so much?
They ran around all day clucking “Bach, Bach, Bach!”
Actually, Mozart was a big fan of JS Bach and a close friend with his famous son, Carl Philipp Emanuel. Come hear what all the clucking is about at our upcoming Mandolin Magic concert, and don’t forget to tell your friends and neighbors about the fresh, fun, first-class and free classical programs of your favorite chamber orchestra.
As ever, thanks for your continued support. Our orchestra continues to strengthen and grow, despite a rough economy. If you’re interested in volunteering or getting more involved with the Bay Area’s favorite chamber orchestra, drop us an email. Memberships make great gifts for friends and family… and help support our mission of making classical music accessible to all.
Musically yours,
Ben Simon
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