APO Summer Concert 2024

Please join us for our 2024 Spring Concert!! 

List of Orchestra Members here

We will be featuring: 

Mission: Impossible Theme by Lalo Schifrin (arr. Calvin Custer) 

Theme from Jurassic Park by John Williams 

"Jaws" Suite by John Williams

Palladio, Mvt. 1: Allegretto by Karl Jenkins 

Cartoon by Paul Hart

Program Notes

Mission: Impossible Theme     

Lalo Schifrin, arr. Calvin Custer (1932-)

Wait for the first note. Can you guess the tune? This memorable melody is well-known among movie goers. The piece is in a time signature of 5/4, in other words, 5 beats per measure. You can’t really dance to it, but the melody won’t let you go. Composer Lalo Schifrin received a Grammy for his Mission Impossible score. In 2016, it was announced that his Mission: Impossible theme was to be inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame. For those of you old enough to remember, he also wrote the music for Mannix, Cool Hand Luke, Amityville Horror, and Clint Eastwood collaborations with Dirty Harry.

Theme from Jurassic Park       

John Williams (1932-)

A solo horn opens this piece giving it a feeling of exposed majesty for a film showing living dinosaurs. The sweeping melodic motives are reminiscent of Aaron Copland and his quintessential, open landscapes of tonal harmony. It is said that Williams felt he needed to write "pieces that would convey a sense of 'awe' and fascination," given that the film dealt with the "overwhelming happiness and excitement" on seeing live dinosaurs. A notable score tempo markings shows “Reverently” with themes also sounding heroic.

“Jaws” Suite          

John Williams (1932-)

This suite features some of the notable tunes from the 1975 movie, Jaws. John Williams turns to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring for inspiration with a simple, two-note melody effectively scaring people out of the ocean for years. This score earned Williams an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and a Grammy Award. Pick your feet up off the floor for this one.

Palladio         

Karl Jenkins (1944-)

We are performing only the first movement, Allegretto. This short movement for strings only sounds like it should be from the Baroque Period. However, this contemporary work is straight out of your favorite tv commercial for diamonds, a fine wine, expensive car, or an expensive watch. It begins with a simple pulse in the bass line. This establishes the unwavering tempo. The melody is simple yet driven and motivated. Listen to the instrumental voices. There are three basic layers, melody and harmony with the driving rhythm. Compelling solos are also heard by the concertmaster and principal second violin with the remaining strings offering a harmonic foundation.

Cartoon         

Paul Hart (1956-)

Cartoon, written in 1991, is a brilliant work that demands full attention from all the sections in the orchestra. Paul Hart takes a nod to the energetic and captivating, programmatic music found in the classic cartoons from Warner Brothers “Looney Tunes,” and the “Silly Symphonies.” He makes use of jazz idioms, instrumental “cartoon” cliches like the sliding notes on the trombone and the muted flutter tongue in the brass. He does not shy away from the percussion either, in the percussion section alone, 24 different instruments are used! Our marvelous percussionists have learned modern ways to articulate the composers’ intentions.  All the ingredients of the "classic" cartoon are musically present: The grand opening, the exciting cat and mouse hunt, the strutting braggart, the soulful romance and of course the finale. All of this takes place in the mind of the listener.

Paul Hart wrote, “It's all here! The big opening credits, the cat and mouse tease and chase, the strutting stagger, and of course the BIG FINALE! Best of all, it can all happen in the imagination of the audience, not on the film screen.”

Jacob Saenz personally dedicates this performance to David Irving - loyal friend, mentor, and Sinfonian.