Program Notes

Suite: Oakland, a multi-arts presentation combining original music with projected visual images, was created to commemorate the diversity of Oakland's rich, cultural legacy. The five movement work traces Oakland's cultural history, beginning with the Huchiun tribe of the Ohlone people who first settled in what is now the area of Oakland and Berkeley. The Prologue begins with natural sounds of the Bay and a recreation of an Ohlone chant as a prelude to an original theme intoned on flutes. The influences of European musical cultures serve to segue into the next movement, Migraci—n, which begins with an Andalusian chord progression (A minor, G, F, E) followed by a melody inspired by Mexicano mariachi and marimba music. The movement ends with “Rhymes,” a dance piece derived from the Cuban rumba.

The Pacific Rim—A Circle of Fire commemorates the pronounced influence of Asian cultures in Oakland which began in the mid-nineteenth century with Chinese settlers. Today, Oakland is home to thousands of Southeast Asians, serving as the homebase for two internationally renowned performance ensembles, the Balinese Gamelan Sekar Jaya and Pilipino Kulintang Arts. “Water Torture,” based on “Srepegan,” an Indonesian gamelan composition, plays with the concepts of polyrhythm and polyphony within a 36-beat cyclical structure. This computer-programmed piece begins with “water drops” which become “melodies.” Each successive entrance of the melody is assigned a different timbre and rhythmic ratio, culminating in eight simultaneous polyrhythmic melodis. (Special thanks to Eric Hirsch who created the program, making sure that everything started on “gong.”)

Liu, Qi-Chao introduces “The General's Order” before improvising a solo on the double-reed suona representing the upheaval of Japanese American communities following the signing of Executive Order 9066 in 1942. The movement ends with a sheng (Chinese mouth organ) and harmonica duet.

Mandela Parkway exists as a reminder of the Loma Prieta Earthquake and was written in homage to the great African leader. In this suite, it symbolizes the influence of African Americans in Oakland which was well established by the 20th century primarily due to the transcontinental railroad. In the 1930s through 50s, the all-black Keeton Chorus enjoyed an international reputation with a program featuring spirituals and classical repertoire. In the 1960s and 70s, Oakland became a national center for popular music with the success of Sly and the Family Stone, the Pointer Sisters, and Tower of Power. Oakland became the center of contemporary gospel in 1970 when the Hawkins Singers scored a #1 pop hit with “Oh, Happy Day.” Today, “Oaktown” is again a leading force in music on a global scale with the mega success of Hammer, and with such starts as EnVogue, Tony!Toni!Tone!, and Digital Underground. The gosepel arrangements of the spiritual, “I Heard From Haven Today,” introduces Festival at the Lake which closes with they city's official slogan, “the world is at home in Oaktown)!”