The Manchester Symphony Society and

Manchester College welcome you to the 68th Season

of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra

Holiday MagicSunday, December 3, 2006

3:00 pmCordier Auditorium, North Manchester, Indiana

Program

Christmas Suite .......................................................................................François Joseph GossecI. Adagio – Siciliana (1734-1829)II. Le Chant III. Accurrite gentes

“Adoration of the Magi” from Trittico Botticelliano .................................. Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

Kol Nidreia .....................................................................................................................Max Bruch (1838-1920)

Brook Bennett, cello

intermission

“Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations .........................................................Edward Elgar

(1857-1934)Stuart Jones, narrator

Christmas Music for Orchestra .............................................................................. John Cacavas (b.1930)

Manchester College Chamber Singers

Sleigh Ride ............................................................................................................Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)

Holiday Sing-a-Long

Please join us in the Cordier lobby for a post-concert reception courtesy of Chartwell’s Food Service.

Th e lobby is decorated by the students of Ejenobo Oke, Instructor of Art at Manchester College.

1

Orchestra PersonnelViolin IDessie Arnold**Ross BercotLinda KummernussIlona OrbanErvin Orban

Violin IIJoyce Dubach*Martha BarkerJanice EplettCasey Lambert+

ViolaNaida McDermid*Julie SadlerMargaret SklenarCaleb McMillanNick Kwolek

CelloBrook Bennett*Tim SpahrTony SpahrSara Th omasJason Ney

BassDarrel Fiene*Sam GnageyBrad Kuhns

FluteSara Kauff man+Sarah Curry+Jena Eichenlaub+

PiccoloJena Eichenlaub+

OboeGeorge Donner*Nyssa Gore+Deana Strantz+

BassoonErich Zummack*Amy Cox

ClarinetLila D. Hammer*Mark W. Huntington

HornJohn Morse*Katie Daniels+Brittany Cook++Tammy Sprunger

TrumpetSteve Hammer*Jason Lucker

TromboneJon Hartman*Larry Dockter

Bass TromboneScott Hippensteel

TubaRobert Lynn

PercussionDave Robbins*Andrew KleinMichael Holler+

HarpMegan Stout

KeyboardAlan ChambersMichael Good

** Denotes concertmaster* Denotes principal

player+ Denotes Manchester

College Student++ Denotes student

librarian

Rehearsal refreshments for the Manchester

Symphony Orchestra musicians are generously donated by Nordmann’s

Nook, North Manchester.

W. David Koile 1939-42

Samuel L. Flueckiger 1942-53

Vernon Stinebaugh 1953-65

Jack Harriman 1965-67

David C. McCormick 1967-70

James A Carlson 1970-73

Jack C. Laumer 1973-77

James Baldwin 1977-79

Robert Jones 1979-2004

Past Conductors

2

Suzanne Gindin, Conductor

Dear Patron,

What better way to celebrate the season than through music? Th e sixty-eighth season is off to a great start, including our opening concert in October and our exhilarating “pops” debut with Amy Grant at the Honeywell Center in November.

We decided to focus this year on the talent of our own players entitling the season, “Meet the MSO”. Today, MSO principal cellist Brook Bennett, will bring to life the poignant melodies of Kol Nidrei. Th e March concert highlights our “regular” players, those who are here every Monday night for rehearsal. We have programmed three chamber works to be performed with dancers in a unique staging of music and movement at the Ford Th eatre in Wabash. In our fi nal concert of the season, our harpist Megan Stout will perform Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto, transcribed for harp. Guest soprano Alison Buchanan will enchant you with Barber’s Knoxville Summer of 1915.

A new feature this year is a “talk-back” aft er the concert for Manchester Symphony Society members to get a closer look at the music and the process behind bringing it to life. Th is will include the conductor, the soloists, and any other artists who feel inclined. We encourage you to join the Manchester Symphony Society and take advantage of this new benefi t. Enjoy a special Chartwell’s menu as you listen and experience closure to the aft ernoon.

Our educational programming this year will include school visits by the MSO musicians introducing students to the exciting world of Western music from Baroque to modern. It’s a great year to take a closer look at the people behind the music who brighten our lives and bring such wonderful sounds to this community on a regular basis. We welcome you to our campus, our auditorium, and our hearts as we enjoy sharing with you the gift of music. As always, we thank you for your continued support and hope that our music-making brings you a measure of joy this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Suzanne GindinConductor, Manchester Symphony Orchestra

3

Brook Bennett, Guest SoloistBrook Bennett, from Chandler, Arizona, began playing

the cello at age ten and later studied with Jan Simiz, associate principal cellist of the Phoenix Symphony. He received a bachelor of music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied cello with Alan Harris and Merry Peckham, and chamber music with Peter Salaff . As a student of Julia Lichten, Brook received a master of music degree from the Purchase College Conservatory of Music, State University of New York. During the summer of 2003 and 2004, Brook served as cello faculty member and ensemble coach for the CREDO Chamber Music Festival’s “Opus 1” program. As cellist for the Alaska Quartet, he has toured throughout Alaska, performing public concerts as

well as ministry outreach for incarcerated men and women. Brook studied Suzuki cello pedagogy with Catherine Walker at the Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute, and with Barbara Wampner at the Suzuki Institute of Chicago. He was appointed Suzuki cello teacher at the Community School of the Arts at Goshen College in 2004.

Suzanne Gindin, ConductorMaestra Suzanne Gindin is in her third year on the faculty at Manchester College

as Conductor of the MSO and the Symphonic Band. In addition, she heads the music education program, teaching conducting, methods courses, and horn. Aft er earning undergraduate degrees in music education and English literature from Northwestern University, she taught school music for fi ve years, then pursued a Master’s degree in Conducting at the University of Oregon in the studio of Robert Ponto. She returned to Northwestern to complete her doctorate under the guidance of Victor Yampolsky. Dr. Gindin participated in the Oregon Bach Festival for two summers where she worked with Helmut Rilling. She is a member of the American Conductor’s Guild, Music Educator’s National Conference, and the College Music Society. She enjoys traveling and reading fi ction by modern American women writers.

4

Brook Bennett, cello

Program Notes

by James R.C. Adams

Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)

Leroy Anderson was Born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1908, and died in Woodbury, Conn., in 1975. He is best known for his attractive melodies and jaunty rhythms in such pieces as Th e Syncopated Clock, and Sleigh Ride. He was also notable for his use of unconventional instruments, as in Th e Typewriter, and Th e Sandpaper Ballet (yes, a typewriter and sandpaper were both used as instruments).

Anderson studied composition at Harvard with Georges Enesco and Walter Piston. He was a linguist, specializing in German and Scandinavian languages, and served with U.S. Intelligence in Iceland and the U.S. during the Second World War. .

Christmas Music for Orchestra John Cacavas

(Orchestrated) (1930- )

John Cacavas is one of those composers whose music you have almost certainly heard many times without knowing it. He is an American composer, born in Aberdeen, South Dakota. At the age of thirteen, he started a dance band at his school. You probably don’t remember that. Later, he composed an oratorio, Th e Conversion of Paul, for NBC radio. You probably don’t remember that, either. But I suspect you do remember the television series, Kojak, starring Telly Savalas, and the fi lms Airport 1975, Airport’77, the TV programs Th e Executioner’s Song and Margaret Bourke White. Perhaps you remember the fi lm Horror Express, (starring Telly Savalas, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing). All right, you don’t remember that one either.

John Cacavas is a successful journeyman composer of incidental music. He is the kind of composer we need even if we don’t notice him. In fact, some people do notice him, and those who don’t would miss him if they had to watch those fi lms and TV programs without his music. To my knowledge, he has not written a large-scale work in which his concept of musical form would be put to the test. Background music rarely lends itself to such notions as “grand design,” serving, as it must, the demands of plot. His orchestration is clever, and the orchestral color inventive. He uses electronic devices imaginatively, but not overpoweringly. He has arranged a great deal of other people’s music, including a suite called Star Spangled Spectacular with music by George M. Cohan, and of course today’s Christmas Music for Orchestra. He has conducted orchestras world-wide, and has lectured on writing music for fi lms. He won a Grammy Award for the background score for Senator Everett Dirksen’s spoken word, Gallant Men.

5

Christmas Suite François-Joseph Gossec (1734-1829)

It’s amazing that we don’t hear more of the music of Gossec. He was very prolifi c, and made great contributions to French music. He appears to have had an infl uence on the young Mozart. Although born in Belgium, Gossec spent most of his life in France, and is considered a French composer. He had a fi ne voice, and was a featured singer from a young age, having begun formal musical study at the age of six. He wrote in many genres, and was particularly fond of the “sinfonia concertante,” a specifi cally French form. He was as important to French music as Haydn was to the Germanic countries. Although very French in many ways, he was strongly infl uenced by the Mannheim school

Among his works are twelve string quartets, seven sextets, and ten symphonies (some sources count fi ft y), and a number of operas.

“Adoration of the Magi” from Trittico Botticelliano Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

Th e Trittico was inspired by three paintings by the Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli. Th ey were “Spring,” “Th e Adoration of the Magi,” and “Th e Birth of Venus.” Th e central “panel” is appropriate for our season. Respighi (pronounced “ress PEEG ee”) studied with Max Bruch, and Rimsky-Korsakov, and his brilliant orchestration owes much to the latter.

Oft en referred to as an “Impressionist,” because of his tone-painting in such works as Th e Pines of Rome, and Th e Fountains of Rome, he was really quite eclectic. He wrote music with a Brazilian fl avor, as well as music that could be mistaken for that of an earlier century (Ancient Airs and Dances). In fact, in his later years he became almost obsessed with early ecclesiastical music, using themes from Gregorian chant, and writing in the old church modes. Certainly a hint of that can be found in the Adoration of the Magi.

Th e piece begins with a polyphonic rendering by woodwinds, quickly moving to a suggestion of medieval church music, as we hear variations on O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. References to the Th ree Kings can be heard in the use of the piano, the celeste, and the harp.

6

7

Kol Nidrei Max Bruch (1838-1920)

Bruch was a child prodigy, writing chamber music at the age of eleven, and a symphony at the age of fourteen. His work was melodious, and well-craft ed, but he was overshadowed by the “new music” of the Second Viennese School. Maligned by the critics for being old-fashioned , he was nevertheless popular among the people, because his music was accessible to them. Some critics believe that his strength lay in his choral writing.

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” Narrated to the music of “Nimrod,” from Th e Enigma VariationsStuart Jones, Narrator Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Of all the music written by Elgar, Th e Enigma Variations are certainly the most famous, particularly outside Britain. Elgar is a late Romantic composer, some would say in the Germanic manner. Actually, Elgar was virtually self-taught. He studied under no great masters, but absorbed all he heard. He was very familiar with Continental music, but was uncomfortable theorizing publicly. Except among his closest friends, he didn’t like to “talk shop.”

Elgar wrote in almost every genre except opera. But he did write striking oratorios, among the most successful: Th e Dream of Gerontius. Of course college graduates are familiar with his Pomp and Circumstance marches.

Elgar’s Enigma Variations (which he had named “Variations on an Original Th eme”) was an unusual work for him, being made up of a series of short pieces. Each one of the fourteen variations was written to express the character of a group of friends, his wife, and himself. He wasn’t interested in our knowing to whom they referred, preferring to off er them simply as “a piece of music.” Th e truth eventually emerged, and all the references are now known. Nimrod, the ninth variation, refers to Elgar’s friend from the publishing house of Novello, Arthur Jaeger. It’s character goes well with the narration of that famous letter written by Francis P. Church, fi rst published in Th e New York Sun in 1897, to a little girl named Virginia O’Hanlon, who had written the newspaper to fi nd out the truth about Santa Claus.

8

The Manchester Symphony SocietyMission:Th e Manchester Symphony Society, in cooperation with Manchester College, sponsors a community-oriented symphony orchestra to enhance and enrich the musical understanding and appreciation of the audience, members of the orchestra, and the community.

About the Manchester Symphony SocietyTh e Manchester Symphony Society is a non-profi t organization supported by the community through memberships, grants, endowments and Manchester College. Manchester College supports this eff ort through the free use of its facilities and through the resources supplied by its exceptionally talented Music Department. Th e success of this partnership demonstrates the strong bond between college and community making our symphony possible.

Under the direction of an all volunteer 14-member board of directors, the MSS funds four major concerts per year plus two concerts during the summer. Th e MSS also off ers music workshops and scholarships for young musicians.

Educational ProgramsTh e MSS role provides workshops and educational programs for student musicians. Over the past several years Tales and Scales have performed in our local elementary schools and have delighted students as well as introducing them to the various types of musical instruments and sounds. In addition the MSS has off ered workshops from jazz guitar to percussion instruments.

Th e MSS also provides a scholarship program for young students (high school and college) for the purpose of continuing their education in the fi eld of music. Scholarships are awarded from the Keister Trust.

Student Competition Award Winners: Every year the MSS hosts a competition for young musicians. Th e winners are highlighted and perform with the MSO at the March concert.

Manchester Symphony Society Board of Directors

President – Brad Nadborne

Vice-President – Jim Streator

Secretary – Mark Huntington

Treasurer – Dan Naragon

Conductor – Suzanne Gindin

MC Music Dept. Chair – Debora DeWitt

Orchestra Representative – Lila D. Hammer

MCS Representative – vacant

Diane Baker

Kathie Grandstaff

Patty Grant

Art Hunn

Margaret Sklenar

Beth Sweitzer-Riley

Jeanine Wine

9

Manchester Symphony Society MembersWhere would the orchestra be without the generous support

of the membership? With deep gratitude, Th e Symphony Society recognizes and expresses appreciation to our members

and contributors who make each concert possible.LIFE MEMBERSLloyd M. Hoff (deceased) - 1963Vernon H. Stinebaugh - 1989Janice Walrod (deceased) - 1989Rosemary Manifold - 1993Robert Bohn - 1999James R.C. Adams - 2004Robert G. Jones - 2004

CORPORATE GOLD CIRCLE ($1,000+)Fox Products Corporation

CORPORATE DIRECTOR ($250 – $499) Frances Slocum BankLance’s New Market

CONDUCTOR’S PODIUM ($2,500+)David and Jane Grandstaff

SYMPHONY (Up to $2,499)Richard E. Ford

CONCERTO (Up to $999)Donald StraussTh e Fine Arts Club of North Manchester

OVERTURE (Up to $499)Mary L. ChrastilDan & Marsha CronerDavid & Ruth EilerDr. & Mrs. Warren GarnerArt & Ellen GilbertDr. Mark W. HuntingtonEd & Martha MillerDan & Weebe NaragonDr. James D. Riley & Dr. Beth E. Sweitzer-RileyIngrid & Kendall Rogers

Al & Ruth Ann SchlittViv SimmonsVirginia G. SpencerHoward & Mary Kathryn Uhrig

CHAMBER (Up to $249)Stephen A. BatzkaCharles & Dagny BoebelEd & Joann ButterbaughDebbie & James ChinworthRowan Keim DaggettSteve & Lisa FordKen & Kathie Grandstaff Richard & Jane HarshbargerA. Blair HelmanPam Higgins / Steve NaragonTim & Roberta Hoff manBruce & Bonnie IngrahamCharles & Susie KlinglerWilson & Mary LutzJoAnn MartinRosemary ManifoldHubert & Alice NewcomerDr. & Mrs. Emerson NiswanderOne World Handcraft sPhilip & Mary OrpurtRonald d. & Beverly PetryKathy & Roger PreslJo ReinoehlDavid & Shirley RogersJo Ann SchallConrad Snavely & Bertha CusterJames & Carol StreatorRobert TulleyBecky & David WaasHelga WalshGilbert & Dorothy Weldy

10

SOLO (Up to $99)AnonymousCass & Bob AmissKay L. BatdorfWayne & Linda BarkeyRobert BeeryMary Louise Briner-ReistJohn & Mary Ellen ClarkSam † & Carol DavisShethar DavisAllen C. & Joan G. DeeterPauline DelkLois DickinsonCharles L. DwyerBill & Eloise EberlyDean & Carolyn EppleyBob & Alice FrantzKenneth FrantzJames R. & Kay E. GaierBeate GilliarRobert GreinerGraham & Lana GroombridgeArthur & Maxine HaistViolet R. HartsoughPhyllis HooverArt & Phyllis HunnLuke & Darlene HuntKathryn HuntingtonHazel Keller †Grace KesterLucile & Evan KinsleyFrances L. Kipp

Eldon & Avonne Lee KnechtJohn & Marjorie KnechtLaurale & John KrepsCarolyn Leff elVirginia McSpaddenKarl & Bonnie Dee MerrittDoris H. MillerLouise R. MillerOlden D. MitchellJoAnne L. MockNorth Manchester Business & Professional Women’s Club Maria & Jeff OsborneCharles † & Loretta OwensDorothy A. ParsonsLeslie PettitCarl PenceMargie & Kaydo PetryPSI IOTA XI, GAMMA PHI CHAPTERTh e Planer-Traxler Family Wilodean RakestrawFred & Lois RoopJean ScalesCelia ShanksterLorraine SliferHelene Blough SniderDarrell SnyderRuth E. TullyElla Mae WeaverJune H. Wolfe

† deceased

The Concertmaster’s ChairTh e Symphony Society also gratefully acknowledges the generosity of David and Jane Grandstaff who have provided fi nancial support for the Orchestra’s

Concertmaster this season. Th e Concertmaster is the lead violinist, leads the orchestra in its tuning prior to the concert, and customarily plays all of the violin solos within pieces. Additionally, the Concertmaster marks all of the violinists’ parts with the appropriate bowings in order that the players

are moving their bows in unison. Th e Manchester Symphony Society thanks David and Jane for underwriting this very important position.

11

Gift s to the Manchester Symphony Society’s Endowment perform forever. Endowment contributions are invested to provide a steady stream of income for operating expenses to meet the needs of the Symphony far into the future.

We are pleased to be supported by an endowment created by our loyal patrons and administered by the Community Foundation of Wabash County. Th e Foundation manages over 140 endowments totaling over $15 million. Endowment gift s can be made in honor or in memory of a loved one. Th ey can be large or small, current or deferred, and should be made directly to the Community Foundation of Wabash County.

For more information about giving to the Society, or creating an endowment fund, or providing for the symphony into the future, please phone Brad Nadborne at 982-5040.

Given By: In Memory of:Bob & Martha Bohn Th e Mulligan FamilyBob & Martha Bohn Th e Bohn FamilyMary Louise Briner-Reist Linn L. Reist, Jr.Mary L. Chrastil Jerald SchallMr & Mrs. Wendell Dilling Jerald SchallLois Geible Merrell D. GeiblePeggy Gilbert Marjorie CookPatty & David Grant Billie Jane StraussDr. Mark W. Huntington Dr. John T. HuntingtonBob & Stephanie Jones Jerry SchallBob & Stephanie Jones Jeremy DawkinsRosemary Manifold Orrin ManifoldKarl & Bonnie Dee Merritt Liegh B. & Florence T. FreedEd & Martha Miller Jerald Schall Wilodean Rakestraw Frederick RakestrawDrs. James Riley & Beth E. Sweitzer-Riley Jerald SchallViv Simmons Jerald SchallLorraine Slifer Jerald SchallEugene & Catherine Snyder Micheal SnyderStrauss Family Partnership Billie Jane StraussDave & Jo Switzer Jerald SchallPaul & Charlotte Trenary Jerald Schall

Given By: In Honor of:

Raymon Eller Th e Manchester Symphony OrchestraWanda Miller Pat and Blair HelmanPhyllis M. States Th e Manchester Symphony Orchestra

Gifts that perform forever….

Endowment Gifts

12

For the enjoyment

of everyone…

Please hold applause until the entire composition is completed.

Please turn off cell phones and pagers. Photography is not permitted.

Law prohibits recording the performance.

Music lovers of all ages are welcome at concerts. Children may be most comfortable in a seating location

that provides easy and unobtrusive exit and re-entry.

If you must leave early, please exit through rear doors of the auditorium during a program break.