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Mt Albert War Memorial Hall

2:30pm Sunday 10 November 2024

Mysteries, Mistakes and Mischief

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Our final concert for 2024 features soloist Kate Rendall performing 'Oboe Concerto in B flat' by the mysterious Madam Laschanzky, whose dates, first name and life story remain lost to history. This attractive three-movement work was recently restored from late eighteenth century manuscript parts discovered in a German state library. 

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Establishing reliable information about historical music can sometimes be very difficult, testing even the best experts. However, confirming the correct composer often brings to light fine music written by composers who have long been overshadowed by their more celebrated contemporaries. The programme brings some pieces mistakenly attributed to the wrong composer. 

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Many supposedly 'serious' composers have shown their mischievous and witty side with music making fun of or parodying their craft, reusing music written by others, or concocting elaborate fabrications of imaginary musical history. Some musical fun and a children's symphony by Mozart and Reinecke represent two examples from the standard repertoire. 

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The 'Unbegun Symphony' (as opposed to unfinished symphony) by Peter Schickele (a.k.a. PDQ Bach) is composed entirely of quotations from the lofty to the mundane: from Handel and Beethoven to "You Are My Sunshine" and "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay". For those who like a challenge, there are 14 and 25 plagiarised themes in the third and fourth movements to be identified, and we guarantee you'll be humming something familiar. 

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The energetic 'Shooting Stars Galop' by Holst (but which Holst?) brings the programme to a bright conclusion.

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Admission is free.

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Soloist

Kate Rendall (oboe)

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Programme

Mozart:  A Musical Joke (2)

Laschanzky:  Oboe Concerto

Mozart/Abel:  Symphony No. 3 (1, 2)

Beethoven/Witt:  'Jena' Symphony (4)
Schickele:  Unbegun Symphony
Reinecke:  Kinder Symphonie (2)
Holst:  Shooting Stars Galop

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