Legends young and old for Bremerton WestSound Symphony's season finale

Rimsky-Korsakov’s "Scheherazade" is a magic carpet ride around the exotic wonders of the Middle East. This is one of the great symphonic thrill rides and depicts all the colors of the orchestra and the instruments in all their finery. This is a piece that most of us have loved from the first time we heard it as children.

"Scheherazade" is a lush retelling of the Tales of 1001 Nights. The scenes include historical tales, love stories, tragedies, comedies, and poems with djinns, genies, ghouls, sorcerers, magicians, Sinbad and his sailors, princes, princesses, and swashbuckling heroes. The music is descriptive, entertaining, and exciting. We are immediately introduced to the surly Sultan by our low growling brasses and then meet the beautiful Scheherazade — with our concertmaster’s soaring violin. We will hear the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor, the exploits of a prince, the love of a young princess, and visit a Festival in old Baghdad. Three of the movements begin with strumming chords on the harp. Clearly, this is the instrument of the bards of old, accompanying a long evening of folk tales from the ancient oral tradition.

Here is the text which has appeared with many editions.

“The Sultan, convinced of the perfidy and infidelity of all women, vowed to put to death each of his wives after the first night of nuptial bliss. But the Sultana Scheherazade saved her life by arousing his interest in the wonderful tales she told for a thousand and one consecutive nights. She spun miraculous stories, and driven by curiosity, the Sultan postponed her execution from day to day and finally abandoned his wicked and bloody plan entirely.”

Of interest to us here in Bremerton, is the fact that composer Rimsky-Korsakov was a career Naval Officer. As a young man, he sailed the world and even wrote about visiting the United States during the Civil War. Later he became the Inspector of Navy Bands and an absolute master of the orchestra.

We open this concert with our 2022 Young Artist Competition Winners. Alec Rodriguez, 13, our junior winner, will perform the first movement pyrotechnics of Rachmaninoff’s elegant and passionate "Second Piano Concerto."

Sergei Rachmaninov had been severely depressed. For nearly two years he could not work. He could not perform. He sat reclining in his doctor's office. He was under hypnosis. His doctor intoned over and over again: "You will write a concerto ... You will write a concerto … it will be excellent." Unlike many patients, Rachmaninov actually listened to his doctor and shortly thereafter, produced his first great hit, this "C Minor Piano Concerto."

Senior winner in piano, Damaris Harvey, 16, will tackle the beastly difficult “La campanella,” originally a showpiece by violin wizard Niccolò Paganini, here transcribed by perhaps the greatest pianist of the 19th Century, Franz Liszt.

Next, a piece which is virtually unknown in its orchestral garb. Giuseppe Guttoveggio, better known by his nom de plume, Paul Creston, wrote this Sonata for Saxophone and Piano in 1939, but it was only orchestrated 14 years ago and this edition has been performed just four times in the U.S. Our soloist will be Langholm Armstrong, 17, senior runner-up.

Our first half will close with the finale from the beloved "G Minor Violin Concerto" of Max Bruch, performed by Elizabeth Stein, 16, our senior winner on violin.

'Scheherazade' and more in May

Who: Bremerton WestSound Symphony, Alan Futterman, music director; Alec Rodriguez and Damaris Harvey, piano; Elizabeth Stein, violin; Langholm Armstrong, saxophone

Where: Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th Street, Bremerton

When: 3 p.m., Sunday, May 15

Tickets: Free Concert. No tickets required. Reservations recommended.

Information: 360-377-1722, www.bremertonwestsoundsymphony.org

Bremerton WestSound Symphony honors young artists

On March 19 the Bremerton WestSound Symphony held its annual Young Artist Competition. Contestants included instrumentalists up to age 18 and vocalists up to age 22. The level of musicianship was extraordinary and every performance was a pleasure to hear. Congratulations to everyone who participated and everyone from the board and staff of the BSA who helped with this year's competition!

Winning performers and runners-up can be heard soloing with the Bremerton WestSound Symphony on May 15 at Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center and in recital on June 5 at North Point Church in Poulsbo.

Winners and top performers at the 2022 Young Artist Competition

Senior Winners

Damaris Harvey, age 16

Elizabeth Stein, age 16

Senior Runners-Up

Langholm Armstrong, age 17

Anya Letson, age 17

Rachel Tan, age 17

Junior Winner

Alec Rodriguez, age 13

Junior Runners-Up

Cyrus Yan, age 13

Mary Stein, age 12

Conductor's Incentive Prize

Yifan Monroe, age 10

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Notes from the Podium: Legends young and old for Symphony's finale