Children’s Concert: ‘Peter and the Wolf’ & ‘Star Wars’ Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/childrens-concert-24/ A Personal Prelude At the age of ten, my 5th-grade public school music teacher played Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf for our class and held up flash cards with the instrument associated with each character as it was played. I was enchanted and distinctly

Origin Story Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/origin-story/ Here we are at the beginning. Of Philharmonia Northwest’s 2024-25 Season, yes, but also at the start of Dr. Michael Wheatley’s tenure as Music Director. The title of today’s concert, “Origin Story,” alludes to these beginnings and to the origins of Maestro Wheatley’s

Philharmonia Northwest Announces Michael Wheatley as Next Music Director

Following a year-long Music Director Search, Philharmonia Northwest is pleased to announce Michael Wheatley as its next Music Director, to begin in the 2024-25 Season. Wheatley was unveiled to an audience of supporters at their annual gala Sunday night. “I am overjoyed to be Philharmonia Northwest's

Legacy Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/concert-5-legacy/ Legacy often refers to that which is passed from one generation to another. In music, we may think of legacy in relationship to a style of composition that is given from teacher to teacher, or as a generational gift from past composers within

Symphonic Dances Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/concert-4-symphonic-dances/ Two words that resonate in the music of today's concert are beauty and craft. The former is meant beyond the traditional concept of something pleasing to the eye and is used in this instance to incorporate the idea of stirring the intellect and

Kindred Spirits Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/concert-2-kindred-spirits/ The great jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler released a record in 1969 entitled Music is the Healing Force of the Universe. Ayler’s music, inspired by the improvisatory traditions of jazz, blues, spirituals, and African chanting, brought forth a kind of sonic prayer that, when

Handelian Holidays Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/concert-3-handelian-holidays/ Seasons are marked in many ways: pumpkin spice lattes, a dusting of snow, a crocus rising from the garden. We understand the passage of time as much with our senses as with our calendars. This fact may be presented in its purest form

“Remember the Ladies” Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/concert-1-remember-the-ladies/ “I long to hear that you have declared an independancy—and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable

Perspectives: Fauré & Hagen Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/concert-6-perspectives-faure-hagen/ The word perspective has several meanings. In one sense, it can refer to the art of drawing an object on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of height, weight, width, depth, and relation to other objects. Perspective can also

Mountains, Birds, and Dinosaurs – A Children’s Concert Program Notes

Concert info: https://philharmonianw.org/concert-5-mountains-birds-and-dinosaurs-a-childrens-concert/ A Musical Scavenger Hunt Welcome to the 5th concert in Philharmonia Northwest’s 22/23 season. We’re so glad you’re here. Our program notes usually talk about the history of the music we present, but for this concert we wanted to offer kids and parents a