English horn musician Monica Fosnaugh, who played with the Syracuse Symphony before joining the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and John Raschella, The Syracuse Orchestra principal trumpet, have been waiting since before the pandemic to collaborate on “The Quiet City.” The time has arrived, and they will perform Copland’s 1939 piece Sunday, April 28, with Music Director Lawrence Loh conducting.
Raschella recalls performing “The Quiet City” with former colleague Calvin Custer, who died in 1998, playing the string parts on a synthesizer along with Dan Carno on English horn.
“We did it numerous times,” Raschella said, “and it will always be special to me because each time I worked with Calvin was an amazing experience. Now, I couldn’t be happier to finally be performing it with Monica in such a beautiful venue as Saint Paul’s.”
Raschella adds, “The Copland is an interesting mix with a small string section, English horn, and a trumpet. It’s very delicate in places and quite powerful in others. Balance is a challenge with a piece like this. It really tests every aspect of my playing.”
Fosnaugh has performed the piece often, most recently with the Detroit Symphony. She said the English horn sound serves as a reflection of, and counterpart to, the trumpet and is the perfect vehicle for the emotional weight the music conveys.
“I’ve never played this piece with John, and that’s one reason why this collaboration is so important to me,” Fosnaugh said. “I feel absolute joy about returning to Syracuse to perform again with many members of my old SSO family. These musicians have worked incredibly hard to rebuild the organization, and I am honored to have been asked to return and share in that continued growth.”
Describing the music, Fosnaugh explains the general writing of the piece is typical Copland writing, with a lot of open intervals and expansive musical phrasing. She says she pictures an urban setting in the hush of night time when she plays it.
“The call and response between the trumpet and English horn near the beginning has always reminded me of the call and response one might hear at a religious gathering. The two instruments progress through different melodies, which at times can feel shy, or yearning, or nostalgic,” Fosnaugh said. “At one point, the two instruments are exchanging musical themes, but are never able to play them at the same time. The piece ends similarly to how it begins, so the ending is not demonstrative, but more open ended, questioning, and thought provoking.”
Copland’s “The Quiet City” will be the center selection in the program, which is to be performed without intermission. The opener will be “Chamber Symphony” an adaptation for full string orchestra of Dmitri Shostakovich’s “String Quartet No. 8 in C minor.” The piece is associated with his 1960 visit to Dresden, where he saw the destruction left by bombing from World War II. The composer dedicated the quartet, written hastily in only three days, to “The memory of the victims of fascism and war.”
To close the concert, the orchestra will play JS Bach’s “Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D Major,” which is a series of dances that will highlight the wind instruments and add an upbeat flavor and spirit to conclude the concert.
“This casual classics program Includes three fantastic and contrasting works that feature our musicians in a way that is particularly intimate,” Loh said. “I’m lucky to get to work with Monica often when I conduct the Detroit Symphony. It will be great to reunite Monica with her colleagues and our audience in Syracuse for this special concert.”
DETAILS
Who: The Syracuse Orchestra, with Lawrence Loh conducting
What: Casual, Bach, Copeland and Shostakovich
Where: St. Paul’s of Syracuse, 220 E. Fayette St.
When: Sunday, April 28, at 3 pm
Run Time: 90 minutes, no intermission
Tickets: $43 prime seating; $33 general admission; senior citizens discounted by $5. Students with ID $5; kids under 18 free
Purchase: 315-299-5598 or syracuseorchestra.org
Parking: Free on street
Coming Up At Destiny:
May 3 and May 4 at 7 pm Pride and Joy Concert. An evening of celebrating unity presented by The Syracuse Orchestra and CNY Pride. Music composed by LGBTQ+ identifying composers and allies. Live music, drag performers, snacks and an open bar. The performance will open with Bernstein’s overture to “Candide” and end with Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” A portion of ticket sales profits will benefit CNY Pride. Check The Syracuse Orchestra website for information and for more concerts at Destiny.
Tags: colleagues reunite Syracuse Orchestras Casual concert
