CHIMACUM — The Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of the year will be at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Admission to the concert at the auditorium at Chimacum High School, 91 West Valley Road, is free with donations accepted at the door.
“This concert features beautiful music inspired by literature and a talented young clarinet soloist from Port Townsend, Kincaid Gould,” said Tigran Arakelyan, conductor and artistic director.
“Musicians from Port Townsend High School Orchestra also join the orchestra as guest performers.”
Gould won first prize in the 2019 Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, which included the option to be featured soloist for this concert.
He is a Port Townsend High School student and principal clarinetist of the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra (PTSO).
Born in Port Townsend, he began playing piano in third grade and clarinet in fifth grade. His clarinet teacher is Miles Vokurka.
Gould’s achievements include qualification for and superior rating in the Washington Music Educators Association State Solo Contest, as well as acceptance into All-State and All-Northwest Honor Bands for the past five years.
This year, he was accepted into the Washington Music Educators Association All-State Chamber Orchestra, with which he will be playing principal clarinet.
At Port Townsend High School, Gould is a member of the concert band, marching band, pep band and jazz band.
He also plays clarinet with ensembles in the community. He has been a member of the Port Townsend Summer Band for five years, as well as a member of Port Townsend High School’s cross-country team.
Gould has applied to several colleges; following graduation he plans to continue his music studies while also pursuing a degree in a yet-to-be-determined field.
On Sunday, he will perform Concertino for Clarinet in E Flat Major written by German composer Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826).
The concertino was written over the course of only three days in 1811. It remains a popular Romantic Period staple in the clarinet repertoire to this day, Arakeylan said.
“The program also features music inspired by literature, telling the stories through another language, the conductor said.
”Tragedy, love and faith are expressed as vividly in music as they are in literature. In my experience, there have been many times when music was more powerful than words. It is a magical experience to hear these musical works and imagine the literary stories.”
The literature-based pieces are:
• “Merry Wives of Windsor Overture,” written by Carl Otto Ehrenfried Nicolai (1810–1849), based on the comedy by William Shakespeare.
In this opera, an impoverished Falstaff attempts to woo the wives of two rich merchants of Windsor. His plan is quickly exposed, and he is manipulated by the women, their husbands and other characters.
• “Pelléas and Mélisande,” written by Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924), based on a 1893 French play set in medieval times.
It tells of a love triangle between the maiden Mélisande, Golaud who marries her, and his younger brother Pelléas, who falls in love with her.
The tragic death of Mélisande is reflected with the ending lamentation which brings in hints of Mélisande’s theme.
• “Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture,” written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893).
Tchaikovsky styled this piece after Shakespeare’s play of the same name.
It is a one-movement symphonic poem-like work that encapsulates the love story between Romeo and Juliet.
“The final section is the most famous as it has the wondrous and passionate romantic theme, which represents the idea that love conquers all,” Arakeylan said.
“We are excited to take you on another journey, exploring the intertwined vision and passion of music and literature. These pieces are a great example of the powerful statement that arts and artists can make when they come together,” he added.
For additional details and updates, see the orchestra’s website at www.PTSymphony.org.
