Join us to learn about significant aspects of music theory and music history. Our theme is how music overcomes adversity.
Support this Program
Seattle Peace Chorus
Zooming with the Masters
(suggested donation $10):
Recordings of previous sessions
- 7 pm Sunday 10 January 2021: Dee Knapp: Bridging the Chasm in Politics with Your Family and Friends
- 7 pm Wednesday 16 December 2020: Beethoven’s 250th birthday: an evening with Dr. Charles Hiestand and Frederick West
- 7 pm Sunday 6 December 2020: Stephen Ernst: Reversing Global Warming—an Introduction to the Drawdown Project
- 7 pm Sunday 15 November 2020: Gretchen Yanover: Creating Beauty in a Changing World
- 7 pm Sunday 8 November 2020: Robert Crosby: Kurt Lewin and social psychology, and about bringing people together
- Sunday 18 October 2020: Donald King on the Nehemiah project. Seattle Peace Chorus presents an evening with the distinguished African-American architect Donald King, who will talk about the Nehemiah project, which is helping traditional Black churches to reap the benefits of increased land values in their neighborhoods rather than to be lost in the development scramble for gentrification.
- 12 July 2020: Urban Gospel: 400 Years of Musical Survival for African-Americans, with Yvonne Brandon
- 5 July 2020: Robert Crosby, a sage teacher, interviewed by Fred West
- 28 June 2020: Native American Women: Overcoming adversity through music, with Sondra Segundo
- Friday 19 June 2020: Eddie Rye Jr on Juneteenth: Understanding & Action in these Rapidly Changing Times: Opening Hearts & Minds
- 31 May 2020: Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, with Dr. Charles Hiestand
- 22 May 2020: Gretchen Yanover on electric cello
- 17 May 2020: Women in Jazz, with Elizabeth Douthitt Sharp
- 26 April 2020: Beethoven’s “Romance in F Major,” with Matthew Weiss & Thomas Bell
- 17 April 2020: Beethoven’s piano sonatas, with Thomas Bell
Sunday, 10 January 2021: Dee Knapp - Bridging the Political Chasm with Our Family and Friends
Dee Knapp talked about bridging the chasm in politics with our family and friends.
Open Dee’s presentation slides: “Bridging the Political Chasm with Our Family and Friends”
Wednesday, 16 December 2020: Beethoven’s 250th birthday
Seattle Peace Chorus presented an evening with Dr. Charles Hiestand and our director Frederick West. Charles talked about the masterworks of Beethoven and played the “Tempest” piano sonata. Frederick West spoke about the Turkish March in the Ninth Symphony.
6 December 2020: Stephen Ernst: Reversing Global Warming—an Introduction to the Drawdown Project
Concerned about global warming? When you hear once again the admonition to change your lightbulbs and turn your thermostat down, do you know in your gut that those are not a meaningful response to our climate crisis? In this session, we explored meaningful, practical ways to reverse global warming (yes, you read correctly, not just slowing global warming down, but reversing it) and see if there’s a way that fits with your time and talents.
15 November 2020: Gretchen Yanover: Creating Beauty in a Changing World
We are pleased to present the original music of cellist Gretchen Yanover. Gretchen is a musician’s musician, a standing member of the Northwest Sinfonietta, one of our region’s premier chamber orchestras. She has mastered classical repertoire and has been cultivating her compositional talents with great originality. She has made music her life’s work and in normal times could often be heard at the airport playing her pieces as people waited to go through security lines. She could be heard at the Pink Door and so many other venues. She has been featured with a wide variety of Northwest ensembles.
Listen, watch, buy a CD, or drop something into Gretchen’s tip jar, gretchenyanover.com.
8 November 2020: Robert Crosby
Robert Crosby talked about Kurt Lewin and social psychology, and about bringing people together
18 October 2020: Donald King on the Nehemiah project
Seattle Peace Chorus presents an evening with the distinguished African-American architect Donald King, who will talk about the Nehemiah project, which is helping traditional Black churches to reap the benefits of increased land values in their neighborhoods rather than to be lost in the development scramble for gentrification. Learn how you can help support this dynamic project for the benefit of Black fiscal equity in Seattle.
Support the work of Donald King and the Nehemiah project (suggested donation $10):
You may also send checks earmarked for the “Nehemiah Project,” c/o Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, 126 15th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122.12 July 2020: Urban Gospel: 400 Years of Musical Survival for African-Americans, with Yvonne Brandon
7 pm, 12 July 2020, Yvonne Brandon gave us an overview of gospel music, how African-Americans singers have overcome adversity.
Support the music program at St. Therese Church (suggested donation $10):
5 July 2020: Robert Crosby, a sage teacher, interviewed by Fred West
Fred West will interview Robert Crosby, who has a lifetime of experience in social change and singing.
Bob Crosby just celebrated his 92nd birthday. He is a first tenor who is very familiar with barbershop, spirituals, folk traditions, and Italian opera. Bob used to live near the Pike’s Place Market and would regularly sing with the African-American ensemble A Moment in Time.
Robert studied for many years with the founder of Social Psychology Kurt Lewin, who he cites as a major influence in his life. As a young man Bob had the honor of being in classes with Howard Thurman, who later taught Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Howard Thurman is often quoted, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
You may be interested in Chris Crosby’s collection of videos that include Robert Crosby on vimeo: vimeo.com/showcase/4635902.
You can find books by Robert P. Crosby on Amazon. We recommend Memoirs of a Change Agent: T-groups, Organization Development, and Social Justice.
28 June 2020: Native American Women: Overcoming adversity through music, with Sondra Segundo
7 pm, 28 June 2020, Haida artist and singer Sondra Segundo will give us an overview of how Native American women are overcoming adversity through music.
Support Sondra Segundo (suggested donation $10):
Other resources on the internet for you to enjoy Sondra Segundo:
- Síigaay Gid Uu Díi Íijang, Sondra Segundo & Northwest Girlchoir, Benaroya Hall
- Díi Gudangáay Uu Síigaay, Sondra Segundo & Eric Cunningham, Benaroya Hall
- We’re Living in the Time of the Prophetess, Khu.eex’ with Sondra Segundo
- On BandCamp: Sáandlaanaay - The First Light, Sondra’s Haida gospel album
- Sondra’s website: www.sondrasegundo.com
- On Facebook, Haida Roots Language & Youth Arts Program, the foundation that Sondra started for learning the Haida language and culture
- The Haida Roots Language Program on YouTube
19 June 2020: Eddie Rye Jr on Juneteenth: Understanding & Action in these Rapidly Changing Times: Opening Hearts & Minds
7 pm, Friday 19 June 2020, on Juneteenth, Fred West and Kent Stevenson will talk with Eddie Rye Jr, highly respected African-American activist, community organizer, broadcaster and recipient of the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service. We’ll listen, talk and exchange ideas about our evolving social and political landscape.
For information about the work of Eddie Rye Jr, see Eddie Rye, Jr.: Unapologetic For His Efforts To Bring About Social Change.
31 May 2020: Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, with Dr. Charles Hiestand
7 pm, 31 May 2020, Dr. Charlie Hiestand took us on a harmonic tour of Beethoven’s extraordinary “Seventh Symphony.”
Support Charles Hiestand (suggested donation $10):
22 May 2020: Gretchen Yanover
Gretchen Yanover on electric cello, performs her “loop constructed” second movement from Beethoven’s 7th symphony, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” Bach’s prelude to “Cello Suite No. 1,” and her own compositions “Resoluto,” “Willow Waltzes On,” “Suddenly I Felt Joy,” and “Heart and Sky.”
Support Gretchen Yanover (suggested donation $10):
Listen, watch, buy a CD, or drop something into Gretchen’s tip jar, gretchenyanover.com.
17 May 2020: Elizabeth Douthitt Sharp
Liz presents an overview – Women in Jazz: Overcoming Adversity.
Title | Description | Actions |
---|---|---|
WomenInJazz-YouTubePlaylist.pdf | Women in Jazz: YouTube playlist | View Download |
WomenInJazz-resources.pdf | Women in Jazz: Resources | View Download |
(The hyperlinks in these PDFs work if you download them; they don’t work if you only view them.)
26 April 2020: Matthew Weiss & Thomas Bell
Matthew Weiss on violin, with Thomas Bell on piano, performing Beethoven’s “Romance in F Major” for violin and orchestra (Thomas Bell on the Steinway orchestra).
Support Matt and Thomas (suggested donation $10):
Follow Matt Weiss at Pranakasha Productions, www.Pranakasha.com.
17 April 2020: Thomas Bell
Thomas Bell describes the structures of Beethoven’s piano sonatas and plays selections to illustrate these.
Support Thomas Bell (suggested donation $10):
Beethoven Piano Sonatas
by Thomas Bell
Sonata Form
The terminology was apparently adopted after Beethoven’s time.
- Exposition (First Part)
- First Theme (tonic)
- Second Theme (dominant OR relative minor/major)
- Development (Durchführung - “Working Out”). Improvisatory in nature, working through several keys
- Recapitulation (Da Capo) often with Coda which embellished primary theme Both themes in tonic, some additional development or variation
Other Forms Used in a Sonata
- ABA Song Form (often in second movement with a slow tempo)
- Minuet/Scherzo (often in third movement if Sonata has four movements)
- Minuet/Scherzo - ABA(A)
- Trio - CDC
- Minuet/Scherzo - ABA
- Theme & Variations
- Rondo (often for last movement) - characterized by a primary theme which returns between secondary themes - ABACADA etc.
- Sonata Rondo - hybrid
Historical Information
- Early Period: Follows models of Haydn & Mozart
- Op. 13 (“Pathetique”) a breakthrough, establishes autonomy as a composer
- Mature: Sonata and all other forms frame a more personal expression. Includes:
- “Moonlight,” op. 27 no. 2
- “Tempest,” op. 31 no. 2
- “Waldstein,” op. 53 (expands form, brilliant and uplifting)
- “Appassionata,” op. 57 (deeply personal, intense, considered tragic by writers)
- Also “Fidelio,” Piano Concerti nos. 3, 4 and 5.
- Late: Increasingly inward-looking, exquisite, learned, very profound. At this time he is totally deaf. Require great artistic maturity and insight. Unparalleled achievements. Some works have only two movements.
Op. 7 in E-flat
- Movement I (Allegro molto e con brio). Follows standard key relationship of:
- First Theme in Tonic (E-flat)
- Second Theme in Dominant (B-flat)
- Development
- Recap with Second Theme in Tonic
- Coda
- Movement II in C (Largo, con gran espressione)
- First Theme in C, standard 8 mm.
- Second Theme in G, 6 mm.
- First Theme returns altered in third bar
- Third Theme in A-flat
- Reprise
- Coda - Third Theme returns on C
- Movement III in E-flat (Allegro). Menuetto
- Standard tonic-dominant relationships, with some development
- Trio in parallel minor
- Movement IV in E-flat (Poco Allegretto e grazioso). Rondo
- ABACABA with Developmental Coda
- C Theme in C minor
Op. 10 no. 3 in D
- Movement I (Presto)
- First Theme in Tonic
- Second Theme in Relative Minor (B)
- Third Theme in Dominant (A), followed by variant of first theme
- Development - States theme in B-flat, moves through G minor, E-flat, A
- Recap with Second Theme in E minor (relative minor of Dominant), Third Theme in Tonic
- Movement II in D minor (Largo e mesto) - ABA Song Form with Coda
- Movement III in D (Allegro). Menuetto
- A Theme in Tonic
- B Theme in Relative Minor (B minor)
- Trio begins in Subdominant (G), moves to Dominant (A)
- Movement IV in D (Allegro). Rondo. ABACA with Coda.
- A Theme on Tonic
- B Theme on Dominant
- C Theme on Flat Submediant (B-flat)
Op. 13 (Grande Sonate Pathetique) in C minor
- Introduction.
- First Theme in C minor
- Second Theme in E-flat
- Intro Theme returns following Exposition
- Development cycles through E minor, D major, G minor, F major, F minor, finally to an extended Dominant 7th
- Recap with Second Theme in Tonic
- Movement II in A-flat (Adagio cantabile) - ABA Song Form with Codetta
- Second Theme in Parallel Minor (A-flat minor), cycles through E
- Movement III in C minor. (Allegro) Rondo - ABACABA with Coda
- B Theme in Relative Major (E-flat)
- C Theme in Submediant (A-flat)
Op. 28 in D
- Movement I in D. (Allegro)
- Large second section begins in C#, resolves to F# minor, moves to A (dominant). Three distinct motives in this section.
- Development begins with primary theme in C
- Additional development in Recap, with second theme in F#, resolves to B minor before returning to tonic.
- Movement II in D minor. (Andante)
- ABA Song Form with B section in D major (Parallel Major).
- Reprise elaborates primary theme.
- Movement III in D. (Allegro vivace). Scherzo
- Trio in B minor (Relative Minor)
- Movement IV in D. (Allegro, ma non troppo). Rondo
- ABACABA
- B Theme in A Major (dominant)
- C Theme begins in G Major, modulates in developmental manner
- Return of B Theme in tonic
- Coda
Op. 53 in C (“Waldstein”)
- Movement I (Allegro con brio)
- Second Section in E
- Development: beings in F, cycles through C minor, G minor, C minor, F minor, C- flat, A-flat, back to C, F, B-flat, E-flat minor, F#, B, G (extended)
- Recap - Second Theme returns in A, before moving to C
- Introduzione (Adagio molto) in F - Replaced original second movement
- Finale (Allegretto moderato). Rondo. ABACA
- B Theme in A minor
- C Theme in C minor
- A returns on A-flat
- “Developmental” section - cycles through keys then an extended dominant section
- Extended Coda
Op. 57 in F minor (“Appassionata”)
- Movement I (Allegro assai)
- Second Theme in Relative Major (A-flat) with A-flat minor lead-in
- Third Theme returns to A-flat minor (cycles through keys you will “never” see - F- flat and C-flat)
- “Cadence” Theme leads to
- Development: cycles through E, E minor, C minor, A-flat, D-flat, B-flat minor, G-flat, B minor, G, C
- Extended Improvisatory section on the dominant
- Recap: Second Theme in Parallel Major (F), Third Theme in Tonic
- Developmental Coda
- Movement II in D-flat (Andante con moto) - Theme & Four Variations
- Chorale
- “Resolves” to a diminished 7th chord, leading to
- Finale in F minor (Allegro ma non troppo)
- Introduction serves as an extended cadence
- Exposition reveals several distinct motives. Development begins in B-flat minor
- No quick cycling through keys, F minor predominates