Page 19 - Phil 25-26 opening night DIGITAL program book

Program Notes

This program is designed to move you. — You’ll be moved to shout along
(literally!) with the orchestra during Valerie Coleman’s music; — Moved to
dance in your seat during Amy Beach’s sublime waltz; — Moved to tears of
wonder with Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait; and — Moved to jump-up-and-
cheer at the conclusion of Tchaikovsky’s thunderous symphonic finale! The
power of the orchestra and the talents of our superb musicians will be on full
display with this concert. So — Don’t just sit there. Get moving! — and Enjoy.

— Steven Karidoyanes

Program Notes by Laura Stanfield Prichard
(unless otherwise indicated)

Seven O’Clock Shout (2020) Valerie Coleman
(b. 1970)
This uplifting six-minute score by Valerie Coleman was the Philadelphia
Orchestra’s unofficial anthem of the early 2020s. Described as
“shimmering,” “magical,” and “superb” by the New York and Washington
press, it was premiered on June 6, 2020 under the direction of Yannick
Nézet-Séguin virtually (on YouTube), setting a new standard for
professional orchestral recording at the beginning of the COVID-19
pandemic. The main themes purposely evoke Copland’s music of the
1940s, layering dance rhythms, celebratory voices, and jaunty open
string tunings to leave us with expectations of future joy and optimism.
In the composer’s own words:

Seven O’Clock Shout is an anthem inspired by the tireless frontline
workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the heartwarming
ritual of evening serenades that brings people together amidst
isolation to celebrate life and the sacrifices of heroes. The work
begins with a distant and solitary solo between two trumpets
in fanfare fashion to commemorate the isolation forced upon
humankind, and the need to reach out to one another. The fanfare
blossoms into a lushly dense landscape of nature, symbolizing both
the caregiving acts of nurses and doctors as they try to save lives,
while nature is transforming and healing herself during a time of
self-isolation.
It was suggested that a short work for a debut by multi-track
recording could account for the ensemble performing together as

Season 2025/26
S eason 20 25/26 ~ 17
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