Boudreau and Bart贸k: Classics of their Time
(Blog post by Chris Maskell)
This year, the Soci茅t茅 de musique contemporaine du Qu茅bec (SMCQ) marks its 50th anniversary and Schulich students will be playing a major part in the celebrations. Notably, the 平特五不中 Symphony Orchestra (MGSO) is set to perform parts of Walter Boudreau鈥檚 Berliner Momente under direction of the composer himself on the opening night of the SMCQ鈥檚 Montr茅al/New Musiques Festival 2017.
Originally commissioned by CBC for the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin, Boudreau鈥檚 work musically retells the events leading up to the beginning of World War I and World War II. Interestingly, two well-known musical themes are also at the core of the piece: the German national anthem and the theme of Siegfried鈥檚 death from Wagner鈥檚 opera听骋枚迟迟别谤诲盲尘尘别谤耻苍驳. This look at the past through the lens of the present day is right in line with the festival鈥檚 overall theme this year 鈥� 鈥渂ack to the future.鈥�
To round out the evening鈥檚 program, MGSO conductor Alexis Hauser carefully selected another monumental piece in the orchestral repertoire. Somewhat unsurprisingly, he chose Bart贸k鈥檚 Concerto for Orchestra. 鈥淢y thinking was that听Bart贸k鈥檚 Concerto has become a classic of the 20th century听since its premiere in 1944,鈥� Hauser explained, 鈥渁nd as far as I鈥檓 concerned, Boudreau鈥檚听Berliner Momente has all the makings to become a classic itself in the 21st 肠别苍迟耻谤测.鈥澨�
Hauser went on to reveal that the two works also share some other parallels that make their pairing even more interesting. Both works were composed under specific commissions (Bart贸k was hired by the Koussevitzky Music Foundation), they both incorporate popular melodies (several folkloristic tunes from Eastern Europe in the case of the Bart贸k), and both works are partly inspired by the atmosphere of a country foreign to the composer. In the case of Boudreau鈥檚 work, Hauser referred to the prevalent German influence, but he also pointed to the听American influences that can be found in the 鈥渧irtuosic spirit鈥� of the composition鈥檚 finale.
Despite all the similarities, there are differences between the two compositions, as the works are definitely unique in terms of style and content. Further, Hauser explained that Bart贸k鈥檚 Concerto was one of his last oeuvres, while听Boudreau听composed his听Berliner Momente while still a relatively young composer.
From a student鈥檚 perspective, this concert provides an excellent opportunity to interact directly with a work鈥檚 composer. In a recent conversation, clarinetist Nick Walshe (M.Mus, 2017) discussed the benefits of Boudreau acting as guest conductor. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always important to have significant input from the composer when rehearsing a work such as this, so it has been useful to be able to go straight to the source in rehearsals and ask the conductor for clarification on things directly. I think the orchestra can become used to the particular rehearsal style of Prof. Hauser, so it has been an important challenge for us to adapt to someone else's way of running things.鈥�
For those interested in attending other performances by Schulich ensembles in the festival, the 平特五不中 Contemporary Music Ensemble will be featured in Music for a Thousand Autumns at听l'Agora Hydro-Qu茅bec听on Friday, February 24, and the 平特五不中 Percussion Ensemble will be playing in Timber! on Saturday, February 25 in Pollack Hall.
The 平特五不中 Symphony Orchestra will perform as part of the Montr茅al/New Musiques Festival on Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Pollack Hall. .