University of Glasgow ARC, 19 July 2023

Salonorchester Glasgow plays @ Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow

11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow G11 6EW

Wednesday, 19 July 2023, 17:15

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Set 1

Dimitri Shostakovich (1906–1975): Waltz II from Suite for Variety Orchestra (Moskow, 1950s; compiled by Levon Atovmyan from Shostakovich’s film music; Waltz II originates in music for The First Echelon, 1955)

Story: Became a hit following recording by André Rieu (1994) and inclusion in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Copyright note: Salonorchester, status of arrangements, cover songs; Soviet Union, international conventions (Berne, UCC)

George Gershwin (1916–1937), words by Ira Gershwin (1896-1983): Nice work if you can get it (NewYork, 1937; arr. Jimmy Lally)

Story: Written for A Damsel in Distress, performed by Fred Astaire with backing vocals by The Stafford Sisters

Copyright note: EU directive (2011/77/EU) changed status of co-written work (lyrics and music of a song) to a single work

Robert Stolz (1880–1975): Waltzing in the clouds (Vienna, 1934; arr. Art Strauss for Spring Parade, Universal movie, 1940)

Story: Stolz wrote 2000 songs

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez (1897–1948): La Cumparsita (Tango, Uruguay, 1916; arr. Vincenzo Billi, 1926)

Story: Became a hit in 1920s Paris; decades of lawsuits followed

http://www.totango.net/cumparsita.html

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Set 2

Charles Ives (1874 – 1954), The Unanswered Question (written 1906/08, first performed 1946)

Story: Strings (played off stage) represent “The Silences of the Druids – Who Know, See and Hear Nothing”; Trumpet intones “The Perennial Question of Existence”; Flute (“and other human beings”) hunt for “The Invisible Answer”.

Copyright note: Ives disliked the copyright system. Good music should be non-commercial and widely used. He distributed copies of his music for free. The Unanswered Question will enter the public domain in EU/UK on 1 January 2025 (70 years from end of year of author’s death).

Art Noel & Jimmy Mesene (1908-1969) (arr. Eddie Dee) We both told a lie

Story: Waltz, recorded by Vera Lynn (1939)

Scottish trad (three jigs: Athol Highlanders, Cock of the North, The Hundred Pipers; arr. Edward Huws Jones)

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[encore]

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): Barcarolle from Entr’acte (Act IV) of Les contes d’Hoffmann (first performance 1881, Salonorchester arr. W. Lutz, 1952)

Story and Copyright note: Offenbach’s librettist Jules Barbier adapted several stories by the German romantic poet E.T.A. Hoffmann for an opéra fantastique about Hoffmann himself. The Barcarolle introduces Act IV which is based on a Florentine story (moved to Venice). A barcarola is a song traditionally sung by Venetian gondolieres.

Salonorchester Glasgow –

Gabriel Doucet (violin)

Shona MacLeod (violin)

Gabriel Reinés March (violin)

Martin Kretschmer (viola)
Rose Gallaway (cello)

Joe Standley (bass)

Sophia Duncan (flute)

Stephen Webster (clarinet/sax)

Sharon Kretschmer (trumpet/vocals)

Ryan Corbett (accordion)

Will Blackstone (percussion)

This performance was part of an workshop Access to Digital Knowledge in the Global Library reported here by Glasgow University’s Social Sciences Hub.

“The workshop concluded with a performance in the ARC Atrium by Salon Orchester Glasgow, a 10-piece orchestra. Each piece performed had a unique copyright back-story. A particular highlight was The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives, where the orchestra dispersed to different floors of the ARC with the strings representing, The Silences of the Druids – Who Know, See and Hear Nothing; the trumpet posing The Perennial Question of Existence, and the flute searching for The Invisible Answer.“