About the composers, continued awarded first place in the National Roland Digital Accordion Festival
and subsequently represented Canada at the first International Roland
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) was the son of southern Italian
immigrants to Argentina. He spent his childhood in New York City,
where he was introduced to his signature instrument, the bandoneon
(button accordion). Piazzolla’s nuevo tango style is a fresh blend of
jazzy elements, dissonances, a circular bass line and contrapuntal
dialogue, often drifting into an improvisatory mode, thus allowing
each performer to assert their own voice within the ensemble.
The sentimental Ave Maria – Tanti Anni Prima (So many years
ago) is from Piazzolla’s original score for the 1985 film Enrico IV,
based on the play by Luigi Pirandello. Contrastingly, the vibrant
Primavera (Spring) impresses with its biting rhythms and intense
electricity. This closing piece is part of Piazzolla’s cycle The Four
Seasons of Buenos Aires – a fitting end to a winter concert in
anticipation of spring’s revival.
About the performers
Pavel Markelov, clarinet, holds a Doctor of Music
degree from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in
Moscow. He was awarded first prize in clarinet and
second prize in conducting at the Russian National
Competition. Pavel commands a remarkably
versatile repertoire spanning the classical,
contemporary, jazz and folk genres. He has
performed in the foremost venues of Western
Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Canada and Asia with orchestras and
chamber ensembles, including the legendary Borodin Quartet. His
unique arrangements have enriched the standard clarinet repertoire,
from classical masterpieces to more innovative transcriptions of
music by North and South American composers. His work can be
heard on the CD Soul of Brazil. Pavel is artistic director of an
upcoming multi-media production The Four Seasons, featuring
instrumental ensemble, artwork and choreography set to the music of
Astor Piazzolla. www.myspace.com/pavelmarkelov
John Lettieri, accordion, is a music educator and
department head of arts at St. Elizabeth Catholic
High School in Thornhill, Ontario. His interesting
concert career has included appearances at
Canadian Music Week, the Beaches International
Jazz Festival, Ashkenaz Festival, and the Niagara
International Chamber Festival. In 2007, John was
Digital Festival in Pessaro, Italy. He was invited to demonstrate for
Roland Canada at the annual International Festival held in on
Montmagny, Quebec. He has performed with such outstanding artists
as Robert Michaels, Nick Cuda and David Buchbinder, collaborated
on several CD recordings, and has performed for film and television.
anvas
John is church organist on Sunday mornings at St. Clare of Assisi
Catholic Church in Woodbridge.
Hamilton native Corey Gemmell, violin, has
performed in Canada, the US, Germany and
China. Solo appearances with orchestra have
included concerti by Brahms, Beethoven and
Sibelius. He is concertmaster of Symphony
Hamilton, the Scarborough Philharmonic, The
Sound of Music at the Princess of Wales Theatre,
and associate concertmaster of the Toronto
Philharmonia and Esprit Orchestra. He performs with the Toronto
Symphony, the Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet
orchestras, and is a member of the Mississauga Sinfonietta, toneART
a l !
Viva Carniv
Ensemble, Ergo Ensemble and the Elgin String Quartet. He has
collaborated on many CD recordings. As an adjudicator, Corey has
sat on juries at the University of Western Ontario and in festivals
across Canada. He is on faculty at the Royal Conservatory, National
Music Camp, Mississauga Youth Orchestra Summer Workshop, and
is a member of the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners. In collaboration with
Istituto Italiano di Cultura
Maria Dolnycky, piano, holds a Master of Music
degree from McGill University in Montreal and a
Performance Diploma from the State Music
Academy in Vienna, Austria. Her principal www.iictoronto.esteri.it
mentors have been Ljerka Wollmarker-Blume and
Walter Fleischmann. As winner of Montreal’s Pavel Markelov, clarinet
Debut Competition, her solo recitals have been
aired on CBC and Radio-Canada. CD recordings John Lettieri, accordion
include Poetic Moods – a collection of 20th Century composers from Corey Gemmell, violin
Ukraine, and Lullaby for a Snowy Night – a mosaic of holiday music. Maria Dolnycky, piano
An active promoter of contemporary music, Maria has premiered
works written for her by Valentin Silvestrov and Yuri Ishchenko. A Sunday, February 22, 2009 – 3 pm
fascination with visual arts led her to the creation of Music on Toronto Centre for the Arts
Canvas, a series of unique program concepts, occasionally blending Studio Theatre
live music with artwork and other media. A dedicated teacher, Maria
is a member of the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners.
www.mariadolnycky.com
 With thanks to our sponsors
Istituto Italiano di Cultura
(Italian Cultural Institute)
www.iictoronto.esteri.it
and
i m Printing & Graphics
Top quality printing at affordable prices.
Owner Mafu Jiang is now welcoming clients
at his new location:
41 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
For information, call (416) 303-3214
e-mail: mafu_ jiang@yahoo.com
Next season, “Music on Canvas”
will be presenting two unique events:
A Fall Fusion of Colour and Sound
September 20, 2009 – “Pictures at an Exhibition”
Sergey Mushtakoff – balalaika (guest artist from Switzerland)
Pavel Markelov – clarinet, Maria Dolnycky – piano
September 27, 2009 – “Fiddler in the Loop”
Guest artist: Luca Ciarla, jazz violinist from Italy
www.lucaciarla.com
Live artwork by Kezia Terracciano
Both events at KUMF Art Gallery (Bloor West Village)
2118-A Bloor Street West
Visit www.mariadolnycky.com
PROGRAM
About the composers
Welcome by Mr. Costanzo Colantonio The Four Seasons immediately evokes thoughts of Venetian master
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), whose tone poems have since been
Meditation on Winter Antonio Vivaldi, Astor Piazzolla an inspiration to composers worldwide, including Astor Piazzolla.
clarinet, piano, accordion Arranged by P. Markelov & J. Lettieri Meditation on Winter is a fusion of the old and the new – the
tranquility of Vivaldi’s Largo movement flowing seamlessly into
tango-inspired fragments of Piazzolla’s Winter, resulting in a
Carnival of Venice Arranged by Paul Jeanjean
timeless musical experience.
clarinet and piano
The brief, charming Carnival of Venice theme lends itself superbly
Suite Italienne from Pulcinella Igor Stravinsky to variations. Among the most favoured arrangements is that of
violin and piano Arranged by Samuil Dushkin French composer Paul Jeanjean (1874-1928), primarily known
I - Introduzione — II - Serenata — III -Tarantella for his brilliant clarinet works.
IV - Gavotta con due variazioni — V -Scherzino — VI - Menuetto e Finale
Suite Italienne by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) is taken directly
from his ballet Pulcinella (Mister Punch), a character from
A Visit to the Italian Opera and other selections
Neapolitan puppetry with origins in 17th Century Commedia
accordion solo medley Arranged by John Lettieri dell’arte. There is speculation that this neoclassical work quotes
motifs by 18th Century Italian composer Giambattista Pergolesi.
Stravinsky chose Venice as his final home and is buried on the
INTERMISSION nearby island of San Michele. Over the years, his music has been
honoured at La Biennale di Venezia.
Adagio e Tarantella Ernesto Cavallini
Often dubbed the “Paganini of the clarinet,” Ernesto Cavallini
clarinet and piano (1807-1874) was a music educator and member of La Scala
Orchestra. In 1852 he was invited to St. Petersburg, Russia, to
Dansa Negra Mozart Camargo Guarnieri teach and to perform with the Italian Opera Orchestra, a post he
clarinet and piano Arranged by P. Markelov held for 15 years before returning to his native Milan.
Congada Francisco Mignone The son of Sicilian immigrants to Brazil, Mozart Camargo
Guarnieri (1907-1993) studied in Paris. The sensual Dansa
clarinet and piano Arranged by P. Markelov
Negra is an earthy piece infused with hypnotic rhythm and
intriguing harmonies.
A Journey around the World Arranged by John Lettieri
accordion solo medley Also of Italian heritage, Francisco Mignone (1897-1986) is one of
Brazil’s most celebrated composers. A graduate of the Milan
Ave Maria - Tanti Anni Prima Astor Piazzolla Conservatory, he eventually returned to his country of birth to
clarinet, piano, accordion Arranged by P. Markelov & J. Lettieri teach in both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. His music is noted for
its colourful Brazilian folklore and fluid, improvisatory style.
Primavera Astor Piazzolla
clarinet, piano, accordion Arranged by P. Markelov & J. Lettieri Continued on reverse side