Okada, Price, Bologne, and Ponce - classical music by composers of color from the 1700's all the way through to the mid 2010's. Ensemble Faucheux is dedicated to inclusivity and access to classical music, and this includes featuring marginalized voices of both the performers and the composers. For more info on how you can support Ensemble Faucheux visit our bandcamp site here. Enjoy your evening!
Ayumi Okada - String Quartet #1
Ayumi Okada is a Japanese-born musical theatre/classical music composer. She is the recipient of the BMI Jerry Harrington Awards For Outstanding Creative Achievement in Musical Theatre, Mannes Buhuslav Martinů Composition Award, and a Jean Schneider Goberman Award. With K-State alumnus Charissa Bertels and Christian Duhamel, she is developing The Uncivil Ones, a musical featuring historical characters and a cast of female, trans and non-binary performers.
String Quartet #1 is a lovely and sweet example of musical theater style writing in a classical music setting.
Ayumi Okada is a Japanese-born musical theatre/classical music composer. She is the recipient of the BMI Jerry Harrington Awards For Outstanding Creative Achievement in Musical Theatre, Mannes Buhuslav Martinů Composition Award, and a Jean Schneider Goberman Award. With K-State alumnus Charissa Bertels and Christian Duhamel, she is developing The Uncivil Ones, a musical featuring historical characters and a cast of female, trans and non-binary performers.
String Quartet #1 is a lovely and sweet example of musical theater style writing in a classical music setting.
Florence Price - String Quartet in G
Florence Price (1887-1953) was an American classical composer, pianist, organist, and educator. She was the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major American symphony orchestra. Ms. Price composed numerous symphonies, concertos, choral works, art songs, and chamber/solo works.
String Quartet in G shows her skill at melding improvisatory stylistic elements within the classical framework, and is somewhat reminiscent of Bohemian/Hungarian influence.
Florence Price (1887-1953) was an American classical composer, pianist, organist, and educator. She was the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major American symphony orchestra. Ms. Price composed numerous symphonies, concertos, choral works, art songs, and chamber/solo works.
String Quartet in G shows her skill at melding improvisatory stylistic elements within the classical framework, and is somewhat reminiscent of Bohemian/Hungarian influence.
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de St. Georges - String Quartet #6
Joseph Bologne (1745-1799) was a French classical composer, virtuoso violinist, a conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris, and a renowned champion fencer. His life story is legendary and so is his music.
String Quartet #6 is part of a collection of string quartets that exemplify Classical composition style. It is lively and provides equal auditory interest from each of the instruments rather than focusing only on the violin or the cello.
Joseph Bologne (1745-1799) was a French classical composer, virtuoso violinist, a conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris, and a renowned champion fencer. His life story is legendary and so is his music.
String Quartet #6 is part of a collection of string quartets that exemplify Classical composition style. It is lively and provides equal auditory interest from each of the instruments rather than focusing only on the violin or the cello.
Manuel Ponce - Estrellita
Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar (1882-1948) was a Mexican classical composer, and music educator. His work as a scholar of Mexican music connected the concert scene with a mostly forgotten tradition of popular song and Mexican folklore. Many of his compositions are strongly influenced by the harmonies and form of traditional songs.
Estrellita is possibly Manuel Ponce's most famous work, having been arranged for a multitude of different large and small ensembles. It is performed frequently throughout the world. The lyrics are:
Estrellita del lejano cielo
Que miras mi dolor
Que sabes mi sufrir
Baja y dime
Si me quiere un poco
Porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir
¡Tu eres estrella mi faro de amor!
Tu sabes que pronto he de morir
Baja y dime
Si me quiere un poco
Porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir
---
Little star from the distant sky
That watches my pain
That knows my suffering
Come down and tell me if you like me a little
Because I can't live without your love
You are, Little star, my beacon of love
You know that I will soon die
Come down and tell me if you like me a little
Because I can't live without your love
Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar (1882-1948) was a Mexican classical composer, and music educator. His work as a scholar of Mexican music connected the concert scene with a mostly forgotten tradition of popular song and Mexican folklore. Many of his compositions are strongly influenced by the harmonies and form of traditional songs.
Estrellita is possibly Manuel Ponce's most famous work, having been arranged for a multitude of different large and small ensembles. It is performed frequently throughout the world. The lyrics are:
Estrellita del lejano cielo
Que miras mi dolor
Que sabes mi sufrir
Baja y dime
Si me quiere un poco
Porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir
¡Tu eres estrella mi faro de amor!
Tu sabes que pronto he de morir
Baja y dime
Si me quiere un poco
Porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir
---
Little star from the distant sky
That watches my pain
That knows my suffering
Come down and tell me if you like me a little
Because I can't live without your love
You are, Little star, my beacon of love
You know that I will soon die
Come down and tell me if you like me a little
Because I can't live without your love