Welcome
Fri Dec 2nd
The Cal Poly Humboldt Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre presents “Sing, Sing, Sing,”
featuring Mad River Transit Singers, the Cal Poly Humboldt jazz choir. The performance is
Friday, December 2nd at 8:00 p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata,
Ca. Concert tickets are $10 General, $5 Children, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with
ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at centerarts.humboldt.edu.
Mad River Transit Singers will perform a variety of jazz styles—Highlights of the program
include exciting arrangements of well-known standards such as Louis Prima’s energetic “Sing,
Sing, Sing”—originally written for band and voice but later made famous by the Benny
Goodman Orchestra—and Ray Evans’ and Jay Livingston’s “Stuff Like That There,” originally
performed by Betty Hudson, but has seen covers from everyone from the King Sisters to Kelly
Clarkson, and Bette Midler.
The singers will perform a gorgeous arrangement of the ballad “Blackberry Winter” by Alec
Wilder and Loonis McGlohon. Originally performed with voice by Teddi King in 1976 and then
Keith Jarrett on piano in 1977, the ballad is a song of regret and grief—a “blackberry winter”
being a cold spell in an otherwise abundant time.
The program is rounded out by performances of “Sandu,” a 12-bar blues tune originally for
instruments uniquely arranged for voices by contemporary jazz vocalist and composer Rosana
Eckert, Michele Weir’s innovative a cappella arrangement of the lullaby “Rock-A-Bye Baby,” and
Matt Falker’s brand new arrangement of a swing tune called “Easy Love” by Larry Goldings and
Sara Gazarek.
Rachel Samet, director of the Mad River Transit Singers spoke of the performance “Mad River
Transit Singers is supported by a solid rhythm section (John Chernoff, piano; Christopher
Antolin-Wilczek, guitar; Steve Smith, bass; Travis Strong, drums) and will feature Andrew
Henderson on trumpet for select tunes. This is sure to be a fun concert you won’t want to
miss!”
Proof of COVID vaccination and booster are still required for all guests on campus. At press
time, the wearing of facemasks is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged.
Date: Friday, December 2nd, 2022
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Fulkerson Recital Hall, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata CA 95521
Price: $10 General, $5 Child, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID
Ticket Purchase: centerarts.humboldt.edu
Contact For tickets: 707-826-3928
Livestream Link: To watch the free livestream, go to the website "All Events" drop down menu,
select "Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre" and select your event or use this link
Contact: Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre, 707-826-3566,
mus@humboldt.edu
The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt presents Contemporary Music for
Percussion performed by the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble; The Exciting Rhythms of the
Brasilian tradition performed by the World Percussion Group; And the Festive Steel Drum Sounds of the
Caribbean performed by the Humboldt Calypso Band. The performances are directed by Eugene
Novotney & Howard Kaufman. Join us Saturday, December 3rd at 8:00 p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall.
Concert tickets are $10 General, $5 Children/Students. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in
advance at centerarts.humboldt.edu From the "All Events" drop down menu select "School of Dance,
Music, and Theatre"and select your event.
Director Eugene Novotney is enthusiastic about the evenings program, "Every piece and every musical
arrangement on this concert are phenomenal! I am so happy to share this music with the Humboldt
community, and truly, if you make the effort to come out to this concert, you will not be disappointed!"
The Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble begins the program premiering two exciting new works
never heard on the North Coast. The first is a piece composed by Dustin Schulze entitled, The
R.E.M.Cycle. This work features a large percussion orchestra consisting of four marimbas, four
vibraphones, chimes, glockenspeil, five bass drums, and grand piano. The piece has a strong rhythmic
drive throughout, and the colors and textures are vibrant and beautiful. Piano is featured prominently
throughout the piece, weaving in and out of the haunting melodic lines played by the marimbas and
vibraphones. The strong rhythmic punctuations of the bass drums add fascinating colors to the dense
layers of the overall soundscape and serve to drive the piece to a profound finale. The R.E.M.Cycle is
both unique and captivating, and the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble is very excited to share
their performance with the North Coast audience
The second featured work of the evening is the North Coast premiere of Ivan Trevino's percussion
masterpiece, Catching Shadows. Catching Shadows is an absolutely beautiful piece of music that
features two marimba soloists accompanied by four vibraphones and three percussionists. The piece is
built on complex interlocking marimba melodies supported by shifting vibraphone lines that create an
overall sound that is both harmonic and profound. Considered to be a modern percussion masterwork,
Catching Shadows has helped to make Ivan Trevino one of the most important young composers writing
for percussion today.
The Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble will also perform a work composed by its director, Eugene
Novotney, entitled SCRATCH for an ensemble of guiros (or scraped gourds) often found in the central
and south American folkloric music traditions. SCRATCH is a very creative and highly rhythmic work
which explores the sounds of the scraped gourd instruments in an inventive and playful way. SCRATCH
was inspired by the composer's lifelong battle with seasonal allergies, and the itching and scratching
that those allergies often generate. As a result, SCRATCH was written with a good sense of humor and a
strong sense of purpose and groove.
The first half of the show will end with a suite of traditional Brasilian music performed by the Cal Poly
Humboldt World Percussion Group under the direction of Howard Kaufman, all performed on traditional
Brasilian instruments. The group has been working extremely hard on their authentic presentation of
these folkloric Brasilian rhythms and grooves. Says Novotney, "I am so proud of the hard work of our
students and community members this semester. Everyone has given their maximum effort to bring
these pieces to their best, and the groups just sound awesome. I am humbled by the supreme
commitment of our members and the musical excellence that they have achieved!"
The second half of the program will feature the festive dance music of the Humboldt State Calypso
Band. For over a third of a century, the Calypso Band has been performing and entertaining local
audiences and has proven to be one of Humboldt County’s favorite and most enduring musical
ensembles. The Calypso Band will feature several high-energy compositions from the Caribbean in their
set, including the modern Panorama classic from the island of Trinidad – Pan in "A" Minor by Lord
Kitchener & Jit Samaroo and VISION 2020 by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. The Humboldt State Calypso Band
prides itself in maintaining an accurate and authentic connection to the roots of the steel band
movement and the innovative musicians of Trinidad & Tobago, the island nation on which this unique
percussion phenomenon was born, and this performance will represent some of the best music that
Trinidad & Tobago has produced. Eugene Novotney adds, “It will be sure to rock the house!”
Novotney urges you to not miss out on an incredible musical experience, "This concert is certain to be
an evening of significant and memorable performances with strong rhythmic focus. The energy of the
Humboldt audience is what makes our concerts special. We feed off the emotion of our crowd, and that
support gives us the focus and drive to play our very best. We cannot do it alone—we hope to see you
there!"
Proof of COVID vaccination and booster is still required for all guests on campus. At press time, the
wearing of facemasks is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged.
Date: Saturday, December 3rd, 2022
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Fulkerson Recital Hall, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata CA 95521
Price: $10 General, $5 Child/Students
Ticket Purchase: centerarts.humboldt.edu
Contact For tickets: 707-826-3928
Contact: Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre, 707-826-3566, mus@humboldt.edu
Sun Dec 4th
The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt presents The Cal Poly Humboldt
Wind Ensemble. Join us Sunday, December 4th at 2:00 p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall. Concert tickets
are $10 General, $5 Children, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be
purchased at the door or in advance at centerarts.humboldt.edu
The evening’s program begins with a performance of “Satiric Dances” by Dello Joio. “The piece was
commissioned by the Concord Band, Concord, Massachusetts, to commemorate the Bicentennial of
April 19, 1775, the day that launched the American War for Independence. Dello Joio, agreed to do the
commission, but stipulated it would be based on a piece he had used as background for a comedy by
Aristophanes, the most famous comic dramatist of ancient Greece. His plays commented on the political
and social issues and frequently employed satire.”—program notes from Windband.org
Next is “The Immovable Do” by Grainger. “Composed while he was living in New York between 1933 and
1939, Grainger was sitting at his foot-pumped reed organ one day and the reed that produced "c" or "do" became stuck. Rather than call the organ technician, he decided to improvise a tune around this "immovable do." His improvisation over a static pitch features an intricate rhythmic texture with syncopation, dense rhythmic lines and triple over duple time.”—Program Note from State University of New York, Fredonia, Wind Ensemble concert program, 15 November 2018
The program continues with “Elegy” by John Barnes Chance. “When a member of the West Genesee Senior High School Band died, Elegy was commissioned in his memory. It is a single-movement, solemn work based on a five-note motif stated initially in the low woodwinds. The music symbolizes the tragedy of a life cut short, seemingly unfinished, as a portion of the original motif is left hanging while each instrument dies away.
Sadly, Chance wrote Elegy only months before his own sudden and tragic death (by accidental
electrocution). The piece stands as an emotional monument to this composer’s unfinished
career.”—Program Note from Kennesaw State University Wind Symphony concert program, 26
September 2016
“Chester,” by William Schuman, caps off the first half of the performance. “The tune on which this
composition is based was born during the very time of the American Revolution, appearing in 1778 in a
book of tunes and anthems composed by William Billings called The Singing Master's
Assistant. Chester was so popular that it was sung throughout the colonies from Vermont to South
Carolina. It became the song of the American Revolution, sung around the campfires of the Continental
Army and played by fifers on the march. The music and words, both composed by Billings, expressed
perfectly the burning desire for freedom which sustained the colonists through the difficult years of the
Revolution.”—Program Note by William Schuman
Following intermission, the highlight of the program is a performance of “The Red Pony” by Aaron
Copland. “A titan of American art, Copeland experimented with many different styles, but became best
known for his idiomatic treatment of Americana. Composed to score the film adaptation of John
Steinbeck’s novella of the same name, “The Red Pony” is a series of vignettes concerning a young boy
named Jody and his life in a California ranch setting. In the first movement, “Dream March and Circus
Music”, Jody has a way of going off into daydreams. Two of them are pictured here: in the first, Jody
imagines himself with the cow-hand Billy Buck at the head of an army of knights in silvery armor; in the second, Jody is a whip-cracking ringmaster at the circus. The fourth movement, “Happy Ending”, contains a folk-like melody suggesting the open-air quality of country living and then builds to a climax,” windliterature.org
The film starred Myrna Loy and Robert Mitchum, and clips of the film will be screened during the
concert. The Dean of CAHSS, Jeff Crane, will speak about the genre of Hollywood westerns before the
piece is performed.
Proof of COVID vaccination and booster are still required for all guests on campus. At press
time, the wearing of facemasks is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged.
Date: Sunday, December 4th, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Fulkerson Recital Hall, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata CA 95521
Price: $10 General, $5 Child, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID
Ticket Purchase: centerarts.humboldt.edu
Contact For tickets: 707-826-3928
Livestream Link: To watch the free livestream, go to the website "All Events"drop down menu,
select"Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre" and select your event or use this link
https://youtu.be/ntXYHOyL04k
Contact: Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre, 707-826-3566,
mus@humboldt.edu
The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt presents a night of Jazz Combos.
Join the The 12:26 Combo, The HSU Jazzy Joosers, and Charlie's Angels Sunday, December 4th at 8:00
p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall. Concert tickets are $10 General, $5 Children, and FREE for Cal Poly
Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at
centerarts.humboldt.edu
The 12:26 Combo consists of Ricardo Paredes, tenor sax; Nick De Anda, guitar; Keith Staats, bass, and
Danny Oxyuk, drums. They are playing Sonny Rollins'; tune "Oleo", a hard bop composition written in
1954. Since then, it has become a jazz standard, one of several standards to be based on the same chord
progression as that employed by George Gershwin's, "I Got Rhythm" The combo will also perform the
standards "Invitation"; and "Someday My Prince Will Come", and David Benoit's, "Beat Street."
The HSU Jazzy Joosers is Evan Jackson, trumpet; Jeff Ruiz, piano; Diego Bracamontes, bass; and Ryder
Auckland, drums. They are performing &"Tank", from the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, the theme from
Hawaii Five-O, and "BCB", an original by the band's pianist, Jeff Ruiz.
Charlie's Angels includes Mathias Severn, tenor sax; Charlie Teague, guitar; Laith Hart, bass; and Jordan
Bolla, drums. They're playing Clifford Brown's "Sandu", and the standards "Summertime" and "Misty."
Proof of COVID vaccination and booster are still required for all guests on campus. At press
time, the wearing of facemasks is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged.
Date: Sunday, December 4th, 2022
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Fulkerson Recital Hall, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata CA 95521
Price: $10 General, $5 Child, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID
Ticket Purchase: centerarts.humboldt.edu
Contact For tickets: 707-826-3928
Livestream Link: To watch the free livestream, go to the website"All Events" drop down menu,
select "Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre" and select your event or use this link
https://youtu.be/wRV6Jd0V6BE
Contact: Cal Poly Humboldt School of Dance, Music, and Theatre, 707-826-3566,
mus@humboldt.edu
