Arts & Life

Details

Written by: Connel Murray

Published: 18 November 2008

LAKEPORT – It's hard to believe that Lake County, with fewer than 70,000 residents, can boast of a symphony which markets many times this size would covet, but it's a fact.

This orchestra, under the inspired direction of John Parkinson, has reached the point that word is now getting out: If you want outstanding orchestral music in the north counties, head for Lakeport.

This was amply born out during the recent 30th anniversary of Clear Lake Performing Arts, the orchestra's one and only sponsor.

Parkinson had created a program which let some of his best players shine – and they did so, brilliantly.

The concert took place at Clear Lake High School's Marge Alakszay Center in Lakeport.

It opened with a special presentation by the Konocti Fiddle Club, directed by Andi Skelton who doubles as symphony concert mistress and first violin, and consisted of a medley of bluegrass and country favorites including " Boil that Cabbage Down," "Shady Grove," "Folsom Prison Blues" and a commemorative version of "The Anniversary Waltz."saluting CLPA's birthday.

The full orchestra then took the stage with Schubert's "Rosamunde Overture," written originally in1819 to a lukewarm reception and then lost until 1867, long after the composer's early death. On its resurrection it proved to be a hit, and the CLPA audience understood why after hearing the flawless rendition by the Lake County orchestra.

Parkinson then brought together two different overtures from operas adopted from the same original playwrite – Beaumarchais – but with the music written by two completely different composers.

The first, the ever-popular "Barber of Seville" was a signature piece by Rossini and his most favored opera. This led into Beaumarchais' second play, " The Marriage of Figaro" which was adapted to opera by Mozart decades earlier than Rossini's "Barber." Under Parkinson's skilled direction, and the skills of half a hundred musicians, the talents of both composers were amply displayed;

After the melodic offerings of Mozart and Rossini, Jacques Offenbach's thunderous opening to "Orpheus in the Underworld" jolted the audience wide awake with clashing cymbals, before lulling into dreamlike melodic sequences captured perfectly by the blended woodwinds and strings of the orchestra. It culminated in a light-hearted rendition of the well-known "can-can" later adopted by several generations of follies dancers.

Following intermission, with complimentary cookies and juice served by the ladies of the CLPA Auxiliary, the CLPA Youth Orchestra, directed by Wes Follett, presented their string version of the traditional Blue Ridge tune "Cripple Creek," after which the annual auction of the conductors baton took place, with last year's winner Richard Birk surrendering the piece to new winning bidder Erhard Arndt of Kelseyville.

Arndt's winning bid was for $650 which gave him the right to mount the podium and lead the orchestra in a reprise of Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" which he declined to do, opting instead to defer conducting duties to 13-year-old Corey Thomas, who is a CLPA scholarship recipient and also a member of Andi Skelton's Konocti Fiddle Club.

Mozart's "Serenade in D, No. 6" provided a perfect opportunity for individual members of the orchestra to demonstrate their talents, since it includes such interesting instrumentation as a quartet with strings and timpani. The quartet was made up of John Weeks, cello; Rick McCann, viola; with Andi Skelton and Jeff Ives on violin. Ives usually is seated in the cello section, but this time shifted – with great expertise – to violin. They were supported by Tim Ellis on timpani.

The final symphonic selection was Haydn's Symphony No. 104, the last of the 12 symphonies written by the composer during his final visit to London. It is generally conceded to be the crowning achievement of Haydn. Presented in four movements, it established a benchmark for symphonic composition that endures to this day.

The program ended with a well-deserved standing ovation from those in attendance.

Following the concert nearly a hundred CLPA and orchestra members retired to the theater building at the Lake County Fairgrounds for a no-host catered barbecue buffet and the chance to toast both Clear Lake Performing Arts and the Lake County Symphony on their three decades of providing fine music to Lake County.

Charter member Mildred Pickersgill provided a brief background for both groups. She was also a member of the orchestra for 20 years.

The symphony's next appearance will be the annual Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m., also at Clear Lake High School.

{mos_sb_discuss:5}

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 17 November 2008

LAKEPORT – Are you ready to get in the Christmas spirit? Have you been humming Christmas carols for months?

It's time to gather with the community and share in the joy of the season.

Come enjoy some of the talented musicians and groups in our community at Lakeport's 23rd Annual Christmas Festival of Music.

The festival will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and is hosted at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 600 16th St. in Lakeport.

An interfaith and community gathering, the festival will feature returning favorites, the Sweet Adelines, Lakeport Ward Choir, and the Clear Lake High School Sax Quintet will bring a jazzy feeling to the holiday season.

Attendees will be serenaded by vocalists Katy Tipton, Sally Spoon, and cellist Clovice A. Lewis Jr. will accompany singer Keely Southwick. Piano soloists include Matt Weiss and Shao-Jia Chang.

A particular treat will be Wesley Follett, who is conducting the Clear Lake Performing Arts Youth Orchestra, as well as the Middletown Adventist School Choir. An talented ensemble from the Mendocino College Lakeport Campus is another first-time performer this year to the festival.

Admission is free and refreshments are provided.

All are invited to support the local talent in our area and enjoy an evening of holiday cheer.

Although the program is full this year, all interested performers are invited to come and sign up for next year.

{mos_sb_discuss:5}

Details

Written by: Wellman Moody

Published: 16 November 2008

 

 

LAKE COUNTY – Bottle Rock Blues and Rhythm Band formed in Lake County in August and describes its music as “Smokin’ R & B!” It is not often that one finds a band that has roots as deep and a family tree as broad as this one.

The band coalesced around 1960s legend Mike Wilhelm, vocal and guitar; and Neon Napalm, vocal and percussion.

Wilhelm is known as a founding member of the Charlatans, San Francisco’s first psychedelic group, as well as for his work with cult heroes Flamin’ Groovies.

Napalm, a card-carrying member of the Cherokee Nation, is the popular lead singer formerly with Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers, a Native American band well known throughout the Southwest.

“I had a concept for a rhythm and blues band featuring harmony vocals and a rock style rhythm section,” said Wilhelm. “I designed a logo with the letters 'Bottle Rock,' made from obsidian, common in Lake County and known locally as ‘bottle rock.’ I also had certain personnel in mind.”

First on his list was Napalm, whom he had met in the Lake County Blues Allstars.

“Neon is not only one of the best female vocalists I’ve ever heard – and I have heard many over the years – but we had already been singing harmony together in the Blues Allstars,” Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm and Napalm started playing with guitarist and vocalist Stephen Holland. He hails originally from Clarksdale, Miss, central to the Mississippi Delta, the ancestral home of Chicago blues.

Born in 1950, he has been playing for 44 years and has an original style all his own. He has played with the Bay Area band Cottonmouth and with members of Soundhole, Huey Lewis and the News and Tower of Power.

Holland introduced them to bassist Bill McMenomy, who had recently moved to Lake County after spending a number of years playing in the Portland, Ore., area.

McMenomy is originally from San Francisco. Back in the day, he played with the San Francisco rock trio Aum. He sings backup has a very powerful rock bass style, which is just what Wilhelm had in mind for the band.

Drummer Mark Phillips is probably best known as a member of the Grateful Dead cover band Street Dogs. He is an extremely well-seasoned player having played with P. T. and the Pleasers during the early 1980s in the Bay Area opening for acts such as Greg Kihn and Huey Lewis and the News.

In demand as a recording session musician, Phillips has divided his time between the Bay Area and his native England.

The resulting band has the much-sought-after quality of being more than the sum of its parts.

In addition to the R&B repetoire, they are also mixing in some classic rock from the 1960s and 1970s including songs associated with the Charlatans and Flamin’ Groovies.

For performance dates, visit www.flyingsnail.com/Scrapbook/Mike_Wilhelm.html. For bookings email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

{mos_sb_discuss:5}