Overture Magazine: 2017-2018 Season November-December 2017 | Page 21

trip to Naples, for Italy had always
proven to be a happy stimulus for his
composing. And the trip indeed worked
its magic, inspiring an elaborate tone
poem describing the adventures of
Shakespeare's greatest comic character,
Sir John Falstaff.
Elgar had loved Shakespeare since
he was a boy. He was adamant that his
portrait of Falstaff be based on the more
substantial character Shakespeare gives
us in his two Henry IV plays, rather
than the farcical buffoon featured in the
comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor.
In fact, Elgar’s Falstaff is quite a noble,
gentlemanly, even melancholy figure,
rather than Shakespeare’s coarser,
unrepentant rogue. Today it remains
a connoisseurs’ piece, and especially
in America, opportunities to hear this
delicious, imaginatively descriptive
music are quite rare.
Elgar divided the tone poem into
four main sections, with two additional
lyrical interludes containing the score’s
most enchanting music. Part I is a
conversation between Falstaff and
his sometime partner-in-crime Prince
Hal, son of Henry IV and heir to the
throne, in the Prince’s rooms. We meet
Falstaff immediately in a good-humored
theme for cellos and basses. A more
sweeping and noble theme, introduces
Prince Hal. The cellos also present an
ascending, cajoling melody— Falstaff’s
other main theme —as he angles for the
Prince’s affections.
The tempo suddenly accelerates
for Part II, which takes place in two
locations: the Boar’s Head Tavern
in the lower-class Eastcheap section
of London that serves as Falstaff’s
boozy headquarters, and outdoors in
the country at Gadshill. Initially, the
music describes the disorderly, playful
atmosphere at the tavern. Falstaff,
Prince Hal and their inebriated crew
decide to set off to Gadshill to rob some
passing travelers; a swaggering theme
in the violins marks their departure.
In a marvelous passage of scampering
scherzo music, Falstaff and his cronies
succeed in surprising and robbing the
poor wayfarers, but then a disguised
in the
Holidays
with Baltimore
Choral Arts
Christmas with Choral Arts
Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 7:30 pm | The Baltimore Basilica
Blake Clark leads the Chorus and Orchestra in this popular annual
holiday program.
Sing-Along Messiah
Friday, December 15, 2017 at 7:30 pm | Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College
Join in singing the great choruses of Handel’s Messiah. Bring your
own score or buy one at the concert.
Christmas for Kids
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 11 am | Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College
Holiday fun for the entire family, featuring Pepito the Clown and a
visit from Santa!
Call 410 - 523-7070 or visit BC A sings.org
Christmas for Kids is also
made possible by the
Rouse Company Foundation.
c
i
s
u
M
Making
Beautiful
at Howard County’s
Premier Retirement
Community
9000 Fathers Legacy
Ellicott City, MD 21042
877-203-7299
www.MillersGrant.org

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