Program Notes - Autumn Winds

October 18, 2026

 THSO Woodwind Quintet

Three Nature Walks

Alexandra Molnar-Suhajda (b. 1975)

Composed in 2015 for the Patagonia Winds Woodwind Quintet, Three Nature Walks consists of three musical vignettes inspired by the landscapes surrounding the Washington, D.C. region: Autumn Woods, Winter Moonlight, and Cherry Blossom Path. The work was premiered at the National Flute Association Convention in Washington, D.C., and reflects the composer's deep appreciation for the natural world.

Each movement captures a distinct mood and season. Warm colors and rustling textures animate Autumn Woods; the stillness and mystery of a winter evening emerge in Winter Moonlight; and Cherry Blossom Path evokes the freshness and renewal of spring. Molnar-Suhajda's accessible musical language, vivid imagery, and colorful writing for woodwind quintet invite listeners to experience nature not as a distant landscape, but as a series of personal encounters and quiet reflections.

Pastorale, Op. 151

Amy Beach (1867-1944)

One of America's most celebrated composers, Amy Beach wrote her Pastorale for woodwind quintet in 1941 during her final stay at the MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire. It was her only work for woodwind quintet and one of the last compositions published during her lifetime.

The title reflects Beach's lifelong love of nature. Gentle melodies, flowing lines, and warm harmonies create an atmosphere of tranquility and contemplation. Written in a simple arch form, the music unfolds organically, allowing each instrument an opportunity to contribute to the lush, lyrical texture.

Though modest in scale, Pastorale demonstrates Beach's masterful craftsmanship and expressive depth. The music seems to wander through a peaceful landscape, offering listeners a moment of calm and reflection. Its graceful elegance makes it a fitting tribute to both the natural world and a pioneering American composer whose voice continues to resonate today.

Pastoral, Op. 21

Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987)

Written in 1943, Vincent Persichetti's Pastoral has become a cornerstone of the woodwind quintet repertoire. Although its title suggests a simple pastoral scene, the work reveals a distinctly twentieth-century perspective, blending lyricism with rhythmic vitality and inventive counterpoint.

The piece opens with gentle, pastoral gestures before embarking on a lively musical journey. Persichetti's characteristic clarity of texture allows each instrument to shine, while short motives pass effortlessly among the ensemble. Moments of serenity alternate with passages of playful energy, unexpected harmonies, and shifting rhythms.

Persichetti often described both "graceful" and "gritty" elements within his musical personality, and both can be heard here. The result is music that is simultaneously sophisticated and approachable, pastoral in spirit but modern in language, celebrating the expressive possibilities of the woodwind quintet.

"Fall" from A Year in the Catskills

Peter Schickele (1935-2024)

Best known to many audiences through his humorous alter ego P.D.Q. Bach, Peter Schickele was also a gifted and imaginative composer of serious concert music. A Year in the Catskills is a five-movement work for woodwind quintet that paints a musical portrait of the seasons in New York's Catskill Mountains. The movement heard today, Fall: Variations, reflects the colors, activity, and changing atmosphere of autumn.

Rather than simply depicting falling leaves or harvest scenes, Schickele develops a series of variations that transform a central musical idea. The result is music that is witty, colorful, and richly crafted. Listeners may hear echoes of folk music and American vernacular styles woven into a thoroughly classical framework. Like the season itself, the movement balances energy and nostalgia, capturing a moment of transition as the year moves toward winter.

THSO String Quartet

Summerland

William Grant Still (1895-1978)

Summerland is among the most beloved works by William Grant Still, often called the "Dean of African American Composers." Originally the second movement of his piano suite Three Visions (1935), the piece represents a serene and beautiful vision of the afterlife. According to Still's family, "Summerland" refers to a peaceful heaven where the soul finds rest and renewal.

The music unfolds with remarkable simplicity. A gently rocking accompaniment supports a soaring melody that seems to float effortlessly through time and space. Rich harmonies and long lyrical lines create an atmosphere of warmth, peace, and quiet wonder.

Though only a few minutes in length, Summerland possesses extraordinary emotional depth. Its message of hope and transcendence continues to speak powerfully to audiences nearly a century after its creation, making it one of Still's most enduring musical statements.

Appalachian Waltz

Mark O'Connor (b. 1961)

Mark O'Connor's Appalachian Waltz stands at the crossroads of classical music, folk traditions, and American fiddling. Originally composed in 1993 and later popularized through the Grammy-winning collaboration of O'Connor, Yo-Yo Ma, and Edgar Meyer, the work has become a contemporary classic.

Despite its title, the piece is less a traditional dance than a lyrical meditation on the musical heritage of Appalachia. Its long-breathed melody unfolds over simple harmonies, creating a sense of timelessness and emotional sincerity. Folk-inspired intervals, gentle drones, and expressive phrasing evoke both the grandeur of mountain landscapes and the intimacy of front-porch music-making.

The enduring appeal of Appalachian Waltz lies in its ability to bridge musical worlds. Rooted in tradition yet unmistakably modern, it celebrates the rich cultural heritage of American folk music with warmth, elegance, and heartfelt simplicity.

"Autumn" from The Four Seasons

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

No musical depiction of autumn is more famous than Vivaldi's Autumn, the third concerto from The Four Seasons. Composed around 1720 and published in 1725, the work is among the earliest and most vivid examples of program music, music that tells a story. Vivaldi even provided an accompanying sonnet explaining the scenes portrayed in the score.

The opening movement celebrates the harvest with dancing and festivity. The slow middle movement depicts revelers who have drifted into sleep after the celebration, while the energetic finale portrays an autumn hunt, complete with galloping rhythms and vivid musical imagery.

More than three centuries after its creation, Autumn remains fresh and engaging. Its colorful storytelling, rhythmic vitality, and vivid depictions of nature continue to delight listeners, making it a perfect musical embodiment of the season

Selections from Keel Road

Danish String Quartet (2024)

The Danish String Quartet's Keel Road project traces musical pathways across the North Sea, bringing together traditional tunes from Denmark, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Ireland, and England alongside original compositions inspired by those folk traditions. The quartet describes the album as an exploration of the cultural connections that unite Northern Europe while celebrating the unique character of each region's musical heritage.

Today's selections highlight three distinct voices from that tradition. Kjølhalling, composed by Danish String Quartet cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin, takes its name from a traditional Norwegian courtship dance in which a hat was balanced on a stick and dancers attempted to kick it off. The energetic tune captures the rustic vitality and rhythmic drive of Nordic folk music. Regin Smiður is one of the Faroe Islands' most famous traditional ballads, recounting the legendary tale of Regin the Smith, a figure rooted in Norse mythology and medieval storytelling traditions. In contrast, Stormpolskan, composed by Swedish folk musician Ale Carr, evokes the force and motion of a storm through the spirited rhythms of the polska, a traditional Scandinavian dance.

Together, these pieces demonstrate the Danish String Quartet's remarkable ability to move seamlessly between folk and classical worlds. Whether preserving centuries-old melodies or creating new music inspired by traditional forms, the quartet reveals how folk music remains a living art, carrying stories, dances, and cultural memory across generations and national boundaries