Stravinsky - Symphonies of Wind Instruments

Posted on October 20, 2021

Igor Stravinsky wrote his Symphonies of Wind Instruments in 1920 in memory of the great French composer Claude Debussy, who had died in 1918. It was originally scored for 24 players, which included unusual instruments such as the Alto Flute and the Alto Clarinet in F (basset horn). In 1947, Stravinsky revised the work for 23 players, utilizing instruments common... Read More ›

‘SHOGHER JAN’ AND ARMENIA

Posted on May 5, 2021

By composer and pianist Tatev Amiryan (Find her bio on the Youth Orchestra Commissioning Initiative website)

Just by chance, Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Wind Ensemble premiered my original composition Shogher Jan at a very historic time for Armenia, my home country. April 24, 2021, only a couple of weeks after the premiere, was a day anticipated for more than a century by Armenians... Read More ›

Li Huanzhi, one of China’s most revered composers

Posted on February 20, 2020

Li Huanzhi conducting a choir. The photo was taken during the founding period of the China National Traditional Orchestra in 1960. [Taken from chinaplus.cri. Photo Courtesy of Li Dakang]

We’re performing Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture on Monday, March 2, 2020, at Skyview High School and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The life of Li Huanzhi (1919-2000), one of... Read More ›

PROGRAM NOTES: Li Huanzhi’s ‘Spring Festival’ Overture

Posted on January 22, 2020

Photo from chinaplus.cri.cn

We’re performing Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture on Monday, March 2, 2020 at Skyview High School and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture, one of China’s true musical treasures, is the first movement of a suite honoring the Lunar New Year, which falls between January 21 and February 20. It depicts... Read More ›

PROGRAM NOTES: Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto

Posted on January 20, 2020

16-year-old Nate Strothkamp, winner of Portland Youth Philharmonic’s 2019 Concerto Competition, will perform Erich Wolfgang Korngold‘s Violin Concerto with the orchestra on Monday, March 2, 2020 at Skyview High School and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Learn more about the piece in these program notes written by Nate!

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was an Austrian composer known for many of... Read More ›

PROGRAM NOTES: Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 4

Posted on January 17, 2020

Brahms’ rich Symphony No. 4 lights up our winter concert on Monday, March 2, 2020 at Skyview High School and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

“Gigantic, altogether a law unto itself, quite new, steely individuality. Exudes unparalleled energy from first note to last,” conductor Hans Von Bülow noted after the first rehearsal with his orchestra of Brahms’ fourth... Read More ›