Fantasia for Theremin, Oboe, String Quartet, and Piano | B. Martinů

Apollo Chamber Players presents the Texas premiere of Bohuslav Martinů's 'Fantasia for Theremin, Oboe, String Quartet and Piano. Performance with world renowned thereminist CAROLINA EYCK recorded live as part of ‘Theremin Fantasies’ season concert program, February 16, 2019 at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH).
Matthew J. Detrick, violin I • Anabel Ramirez Detrick, violin II Whitney Bullock, viola • Matthew Dudzik, cello • Carolina Eyck, theremin • Elizabeth Priestly Siffert, oboe • Alejandro Barrañon, piano
Program note:
Composer BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ left his Czechoslovakian homeland for Paris in 1923. When the German army approached Paris early in the Second World War he fled, first to southern France, and then to the United States in 1941 where he settled in New York with his french wife. His symphonic career began at this time, and his six symphonies were performed by all the major U.S. orchestras over the next decade.
Ever the avant-garde composer, he gladly accepted a commission from Lucie Bigelow Rose, the premiere thereminist of this era. What birthed was a chamber work of ingenious proportions - Fantasia for Theremin, Oboe, String Quartet and Piano. Mrs. Rosen premiered the piece as theremin soloist in New York City on November 3, 1945, with collaborators of the Koutzen Quartet and Robert Boom.
Martinů writing for the theremin is revelatory. Despite his experimental tendencies, this composer ‘wanderer’ in eternal exile was a seeker of balanced musical moments. Anyone even slightly familiar with Martinů’s musical language recognizes such things: harmonic tension is reduced to nothing, folk styles reign in the upper registers, sweet timbres are carefully cultivated. These moments occur in more expansive works such as Fantaisies symphoniques and in the middle movement of the 2nd violin concerto.
Yet this Fantasia stands alone as one which combines the style and musical personality of the composer with an instrument not usually associated with the concert stage. Apollo is honored to present the Texas premiere of this unique work with such an esteemed thereminist and guest artists friends.
-note by Matthew J. Detrick
More at: apollochamberplayers.org
Videography: Ben Doyle, Runaway Productions
Audio: Ryan Edwards and Shannon Smith, Coincident Sound

[@NOSEhow2LIV]

Bravo all the ensemble! I didn't kno this piece by one of my favorite composers but it's captivating in your performance, truly otherworldly! Martinu stays faithful to himself all the while exploring unusual sonorities. Fascinating also to see the theremin being played!

[@ApolloChamberPlayers]

Thank you so much for your kind words! It's an amazing work and so unique.

[@daviddickson2228]

Martinu's a boss. One of the few accessible, prolific, consistent modern composers. Villa-Lobos also comes to mind.

[@lolllololllo]

Rautavaara

[@sbareg]

You're bloody well right!

[@christophalthoff70]

Der Einsatz des Theremins ist sehr magisch
Und der Sound bringt sofort
Einen Hauch von Science Fiction hinein.
Toll wie die Musik immer wieder versucht in traditionelle Gefilde
Zu entweichen, um immer wieder
In herberen, modernen Klängen
Zu verweilen.
Mit happy end.

[@marcellodantedealmeidanune9445]

Fantástico. Linda obra do Mestre eslavo Martinu!!!

[@kristinavozni8100]

So lovely

[@johnmanno2052]

This. Is fabulous.

[@ApolloChamberPlayers]

Thank you!

[@izenkixiron5173]

Madame Lucie should have commissioned more theremin works from Martinu.

[@MrTadarida]

Bravo! Che bellezza!

[@ApolloChamberPlayers]

Thanks so much!

[@jsabuilds2404]

Very well done. The theremin is one of my favorite instruments.

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

It's expressive dynamic is the struggle to sound human while the sound is entirely electronic.