Page 20 - Phil 25-26 opening night DIGITAL program book

Program Notes

if they were in the same room. One of the devices used to address
this is the usage of ostinato, which is a rhythmic motif that repeats
itself to generate forward motion and, in this case, groove. The
ostinato patterns here are laid down by the bass section, allowing
the English horn and strings to float over it, gradually building up
to that moment at 7pm, when cheers, claps, clangings of pots and
pans, and shouts ring through the air of cities around the world!
The trumpets drive an infectious rhythm, layered with a traditional
“son clave” rhythm [A fundamental rhythmic pattern in Afro-Cuban
music. — sk], while solo trombone boldly rings out an anthem within
a traditional African call and response style. The entire orchestra
‘shouts’ back in response and the entire ensemble rallies into an
anthem that embodies the struggles and triumph of humanity. The
work ends in a proud anthem moment where we all come together
with grateful hearts to acknowledge that we have survived yet
another day.
Grammy-nominated flutist Valerie Coleman has composed for and
played with almost every major American orchestra and conservatory.
She has held flute and chamber music masterclasses at institutions in
49 states and over five continents, including New England Conservatory
and Yale University. In February 2024, Coleman was appointed to the
Composition Department faculty at The Juilliard School. She is the
Director of the Woodwind Quintet Workshop at Boston University
Tanglewood Institute and holds faculty positions with the Manhattan
School of Music, Mannes School of Music in both Flute and Composition,
and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. She studied composition
with Martin Amlin (BU) and flute with Julius Baker (NY Phil), Judith
Mendenhall (Mannes), and Doriot Dwyer (BSO, the second woman to
win a chair in a major American orchestra).

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶
Bal Masqué, op. 22 Amy Marcy Cheney Beach
(1867-1944)
From 1885-1910, the leading female composer in Boston was known as
Mrs. H. H. A. Beach. A brilliant mind and generous performer, Amy Marcy
Cheney was born in Henniker, New Hampshire, a charming village just
west of Concord, so her papers and archive are held by UNH (in 23 boxes
totaling 8 cubic feet). She began to study piano in Boston at age eight,
made her professional debut at age sixteen (Chopin’s Rondo in E-flat

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