Folk music comes to life at CSUS

"People usually complain that music is so ambiguous, that it leaves them in such doubt as to what they are supposed to think, whereas words can be understood by everyone. But to me it seems exactly the opposite," said the late 19th century composer Felix Mendelssohn. His work is featured in an upcoming concert at California State University, Sacramento at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9 in the Music Recital Hall in Capistrano Hall.

The CSUS Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of music professor Leo Eylar, will present a program of three classical music pieces that are renowned for capturing specific cultural traits and painting pictures of some of Europe's most beautiful and mysterious regions.

Two works evoking the rustic charm of 19th century Central Europe will open the program. Anton Dvorak's Legend incorporates the beautiful folk songs of the Bohemian forests, while Zoltan Kodaly's Galanta Dances features the folk dances of Kodaly's native Hungary.

Following intermission, the program will continue with Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3. Mendelssohn conceived the mysterious introduction to the first movement in 1829 during a visit to the Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

Of that visit, Mendelssohn wrote, "In the deep twilight we went today to the palace where Queen Mary lived and loved. Everything is ruined, decayed, and the clear heavens pour in. I think I have found there the beginning of my 'Scottish' Symphony."

Mendelssohn waited a dozen years to complete this symphony. Though it has been numbered the third, it was actually the last of his five symphonies to be completed.

Tickets to the concert are $5 for students and $8 general. Tickets are available at the CSUS Ticket Office at (916) 278-4323.

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For further information send E-Mail to infodesk@csus.edu or contact
Public Affairs (916) 278-6156.

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