A concert to take you on an imaginative journey through music
Don't miss "Dreams and Destinations" on Sunday March 1st, 2:30pm, at the Hammer Theatre Center. It's a concert of music to take you on an imaginative journey, visiting faraway places and times long ago. Each of the composers on the program draws on a deep connection to a distinct culture, whether one they were born into or one they discovered, weaving elements of it into their music.
We'll welcome distinguished percussionist Galen Lemmon as xylophone soloist in Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints by Alan Hovhaness. Mr. Lemmon has performed and taught for over 40 years in the Bay Area, appearing with every professional orchestra in the region. He was awarded a position in the San Jose Symphony at just 19 years old, becoming principal percussionist three years later. He also has an active recording career, appearing in soundtracks for Universal Studio rides and Disney movie soundtracks, as well as popular video games
Alan Hovhaness was an Armenian American composer, and something of an outsider throughout his career. He spent time in other cultures that interested him, including Armenia, India, and Japan. His Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints captures the delicate essence of Japanese art through a blend of traditional, modal melodies and Western instrumentation.
We're also featuring three women composers - Florence Price uses elements from her own African American culture to underpin her lush, romantic work. American Amy Beach was influenced by Dvořák's use of folk elements in his music, choosing tunes from the Ireland of her ancestors as material for her Gaelic Symphony. The Welsh composer Grace Williams uses nursery rhymes, nonsense songs, and lullabies from her childhood as the basis for her charming Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes.
We invite you to join us for this thrilling musical journey.