UpNorth Concert Hall: Classical and Orchestral

On May 2, 2009 musicians from across the region got together at SUNY Potsdam to celebrate Dr. Arthur Frackenpohl's 85th birthday through his music. It features performances by Crane School of Music faculty and students as well as the choir from the First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam with compositions covering 61 years of Art Frackenpohl's career, from a 1948 work for clarinet and piano to a 2009 piece written for brass quintet.

The Elegua Duo, Pianist Claire Black (from Long Lake) and Cellist Ginevra Ventre were nice enough to let us record their concert at St. Bernard's Church in Saranac Lake on July 30, 2009. Here's an excerpt.

North Country classical guitarist Lynn McGrath shares music written by Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco to accompany sections of Platero y yo, a popular work by Spanish poet Juan Ramon Jimenez. McGrath also provides her own translations of the poetry.

North Country classical guitarist Lynn McGrath shares music written by Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco to accompany sections of Platero y yo, a popular work by Spanish poet Juan Ramon Jimenez. McGrath also provides her own translations of the poetry.

Asteria performs Mon povre cuer, anon. Recorded November 16, 2008 at the Church in the Hollow in Saranac, NY, as part of the Hill and Hollow Music series.

Asteria performs Layssies moy coy, je vous en prye by Johannes le Grant (fl. 1420-1440). Recorded November 16, 2008 at the Church in the Hollow in Saranac, NY, as part of the Hill and Hollow Music series.

The Church of the Assumption in Redford, NY, hosts the Hill and Hollow Music series. One of this season's finest performances was by The Biava Quartet. In this live concert excerpt recorded April 27, 2008, we hear them perform the Viola Quintet in G, K. 516, "A Garden of Music," with soloist Soovin Kim, viola.

Performed by the Frontier Saxophone Quartet in Plattsburgh, NY for UpNorth Music.

Performed by the Frontier Saxophone Quartet in Plattsburgh, NY for UpNorth Music.

A 15-year-old classical guitarist from Madrid, in St. Lawrence county, will be traveling to California this weekend for the Parkening Young Guitarist Competition at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Julia Sinclair will be competing against other exceptional under-18 guitarists from around the world in a contest that's well-known on the classical circuit.

Two Villa-Lobos compositions performed by Julia Sinclair:
Choro No.1 and Prelude No.2

The Church in the Hollow in Saranac NY hosts the Hill and Hollow Music series. One of this season's finest performances was by The Biava Quartet. In this live concert excerpt recorded March 26, 2006, we hear them perform the String Quartet, Op. 74 #3, "The Rider," by Franz Joseph Haydn.

2004 Candlelight Concert featuring the Crane Chorus, conducted by Daniel Gordon, and the Crane Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Lanz. This concert of holiday music was recorded during rehearsal and live performances Sunday, December 5, 2004 in Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam.

Playlist:
1. Introduction
2. Audience, Orchestra and Chorus - O Come All Ye Faithful, Carol, arr. Sir David Willcocks
3. Orchestra and Chorus - Masters in This Hall, French Carol, arr. Mack Wilberg
4. Chorus - Maoz Tsur, Hebrew Traditional, Robert Applebaum
5. Orchestra- Dream Pantomime from Hansel and Gretel, Engelbert Humperdink
6. Orchestra and Chorus - The First Nowell, Trad. arr. Mack Wilberg
7. Chorus - Herself a Rose, Who Bore a Rose, Robert H. Young
8. Chorus - Do You Hear What I Hear, Noel Regny and Gloria Shayne, arr. Harry Simeone
9. Chorus - Here mid the Ass and Oxen Mild, Alice Parker and Robert Shaw
10. Orchestra and Chorus - Nunc Dimittis, Rene Clausen
11. Orchestra and Chorus - Sussex Carol, Trad. arr. Sir David Willcocks
12. Orchestra and Chorus - Exultate Justi, Randol A. Bass
13. Chorus - This Little Light of Mine, Spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan
14. Audience, Orchestra and Chorus - Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Felix Mendelssohn, arr. Sir David Willcock

The second Julia Crane International Piano Competition and Festival was held on November 5-7, 2004 in Potsdam, NY. Listen to selections by two young virtuosi who performed:
Burlesque by Myroslav Skoryk performed by competition winner Yundu Wang, age 15, from Paxton, MA and
Reflets dans l'eau by Debussy performed by competition runner-up Ronny Michael, age 15, from Montreal

Crane School of Music guitar professor Doug Rubio joined Todd Moe in the NCPR studios January 19, 2004 to share some music from Cuba and Brazil, played on his new instrument: Two Short Studies, Leo Brower; Estudio Sencillo #6, Leo Brower; and Prelude No. 1, Villa Lobos

The work of Tug Hill composer Augusta Cecconi-Bates explores the textures and seasons of the North Country in general and the Tug Hill Plateau in particular.

Aurora Borealis, from Essences of the North Country. Poem © Mark L. Pierce; read by Edwin J. Schroll. Music © A. Cecconi-Bates, performed by members of the Utica Symphony under the direction of Charles Schneider. Used by permission.

Tug Hill Snows from Tug Hill Suite. Poem by A. Cecconi-Bates. Music © A. Cecconi-Bates, performed by members of the Utica Symphony under the direction of Charles Schneider. Used by permission.

The Crane Guitar Ensemble from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam visited the NCPR studio March 27, 2002. They gave this preview of their evening concert in Potsdam:
Waltz No. 1 in E minor, Gilbert Biberian
Waltz No. 2 in A minor, Gilbert Biberian

The Crane Guitar Ensemble: Brian Billings, Liverpool NY; Eli Drake, Malone NY; Eric DeVito, Northport NY; Mark DeMott, Rochester NY.

Featuring the Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Gordon & Christopher Lanz. This concert of holiday music was recorded during rehearsal and live performances Sunday, December 2, 2001 in Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam.

Playlist:
Carol of the Bells, arr. Peter Wilhousky
O Come all ye Faithful
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, arr. John Gardner
Christmas Day: A Choral Fantasy on Old Carols, Gustav Holt. Soloists Sarah West, Kevin Murphy, Emily Manor
Deck the Hall, John Rutter
Christmas at the Cloisters from The Cloisters, John Corigliano. James Harrigan, Baritone, John Norine, Jr., Conductor
Hanukkah Festival Overture, Lucas Richman. Christopher Lanz, Conductor
Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow, Andre Thomas
The First Nowell
Three Carols: Fum, Fum, Fum!, Away in a Manger, I Saw Three Ships, arr. Mack Wilberg
Hark the Herald Angels SingBlow, Blow Thou Winter Wind, John Rutter