Charles Ives

Charles Ives (1874-1954) was a pioneer of combining American tunes, feelings and sounds with European musical forms. His music was a radical departure from what had been done before. Both Henry Cowell (C concert...violin sonata) and Lou Harrison (H concert...string quartet) learned from him and were promoters of his music.

There is a well written biographical sketch online at http://www.charlesives.org/02bio.htm

And the words he wrote for one of his songs gives a clue to how he thought of music.

I think there must be a place in the soul

all made of tunes, of tunes long ago;

I hear the organ on Main Street corner,

Aunt Sarah humming Gospels; Summer evenings,

The village cornet band, playing in the square.

The town's Red, White and Blue,

all Red, white and Blue; Now! Hear the words

But they sing in my soul of the things our Fathers loved.

Thanks to Will Johnson for the quote and the link!

"I" or is it "IF"?

"I" is approaching rapidly!

But in truth it is the "IF" concert because the Faure songs which suffered a last minute cancellation from the "F" concert will be on this one! Soprano Carol Menke and pianist Marilyn Thompson will do not only Faure, but also songs by Charles Ives on September 26. Judiyaba and Marilyn will play some Ippolitov-Ivanov. (you'll love it) and then Mariko Smiley, Judiyaba and Marilyn will play the Ives Piano Trio, a wonderfully inventive, fun, and unusual piece.

The concert is at 7pm in Sophia Hall at Summerfield Waldorf School; 655 Willowside Rd. Santa Rosa.

There might also be a bit of audience participation in this concert.

Don't worry (how many of you remember Mitch Miller?)