'Star Wars, Dark Matter and Dvorak'
Conductor John Zoltek and the Glacier Symphony will perform ‘Star Wars, Dark Matter and Dvorak’ at a pair of Flathead Valley locations Feb. 11 and 12.
Concerts are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Whitefish High School, and Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. at Flathead High School in Kalispell.
The show combines music from American film composer John Williams, Czech composer Antonin Dvorak and an original piece composed by guest soloist Benedict Kirby, “Dark Matter — Petite Concertante for Tuba and Orchestra.”
DVORAK’S “THE Noon Day Witch,” a symphonic tone poem composed in 1896, is considered one of the composer’s best. He concentrated on a series of tone poems upon his return to his native Bohemia after living in America following the composition of his final symphonies. The 15 minute, one movement work illustrates a dark, domestic folk tale involving a mother and father, an unruly child and the titular Noon Day Witch, who makes an appearance halfway through the piece with devastating results. The emotional events that are captured by Dvorak are an early example of how symphonic music can enhance a dramatic tale and storyline. This technique of symphonic narrative drama, born from the concert halls and opera stages of the 19th century, had a major impact on the art of modern film composing.
Two works by John Williams, “The Force Awakens Suite” and “ET Adventures on Earth,” are taken from recent popular films and are examples of how contemporary composers still draw on musical devices and the aesthetic language developed by various 19th century composers.
The program’s finale is the world premiere of “Dark Matter,” a tuba concerto by Missoula-based tuba virtuoso and composer, Benedict Kirby.
“I selected this concerto for performance with the Glacier Symphony because it is very well composed, unusual in structure and aesthetically pleasing,” Zoltek said. “It is also an exciting work full of interesting orchestral color, fun melodies and sparkling unexpected rhythms.
“There is certainly a little bit of tongue-in-cheek ‘space’ music style in the musical language. Ben Kirby himself will serve as soloist navigating the cosmos of orchestra texture with technical bravura and low brass lyricism.”
KIRBY CURRENTLY teaches tuba and euphonium at the University of Montana’s School of Music, as well as instrumental music at Missoula Loyola-Sacred Heart High School. He has experience in all facets of music-making, including performance (tuba), composition, conducting, education and music technology. His performance highlights include work with the Wisconsin Chamber Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Colorado Symphony and a variety of other regional orchestras. He currently performs regularly with the symphonies of Missoula and Billings.
Kirby’s composition, “Dark Matter — Petite Concertante for Tuba and Orchestra,” was selected from among 49 submissions to win the solo category at the composition competition of the 2015 U.S. Army Band’s “Pershings Own” tuba/euphonium workshop.
TICKETS START at $15 for adults, with kids 12 and under admitted free. To purchase tickets, visit www.gscmusic.org or visit the Glacier Symphony and Chorale box office at 69 N. Main St. in Kalispell. For more information, call 406-407-7000.