Welcome to Winter 2026 at BYSO!
We are looking forward to restarting our weekly rehearsals on Monday, January 5! We have a full new cycle of music planned and each piece is completely different. Please print your music and bring it on Monday, January 5. You should print the same part that you played last quarter. If you are new and just joining us, please print the second part for your instrument.
PROGRAM FOR WINTER 2026
- Hopak from The Fair at Sorochinsk by Modest Mussorgsky- 1904
- Mussorgsky wrote this unfinished opera based on a comedic Ukranian story about Ukranian peasants who trick a young couple into getting married and then dance this hopak in celebration. The hopak is an energetic, up-beat folk dance that features dancers leaping while squatting and kicking their legs out.
- Reference recording- Mussorgsky: Sorochintsy Fair: Gopak
- Sleeper’s Wake- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Sleeper’s Wake is from Bach’s church cantata BWV 140. Originally written for choir, this arrangement that we are playing has been orchestrated to keep the same character and spirit that Bach intended.
- Reference recording- from publisher- Sleeper’s Wake- Brubaker
- Tragic Overture- Johannes Brahms- Arranged by Vernon Leidig- 1880
- Brahms composed two concert overtures during the summer of 1880. He later told his biographer, Max Kalbeck, that one overture weeps and one laughs. The light-hearted one is the Academic Festive Overture. The one that weeps is this one, the Tragic Overture. It was not written with any specific tragedy in mind. It was more the commentary on the spirit of tragedy in human life. This is a fantastic arrangement of the piece and I think you will really enjoy playing it.
- Reference recording- Professional orchestra performing the entire overture. Our arrangement is shorter- Tragic Overture- Karajan
Tempo Markings
Mussorgsky- quarter note = 120
Bach- quarter note = 100
Brahms- Quarter note = 108
Seating Auditions- At Retreat on Saturday, January 24
We will hold seating auditions during the first half of our retreat. Please plan to attend so that our coaches can hear you play. This is the only scheduled time that they are able to listen to you perform individually. If you are unable to attend the retreat, we will place you at the end of your section for this concert.
Please prepare these sections of your music and pay careful attention to the tempo, bowing directions, style, articulations, and dynamics. Your coach will listen for all of these elements during your audition. You should prepare all assigned spots and be ready to play any of them for your audition. You will be asked to play one or two of the spots for each piece and everyone in your section will perform the same spots. If you have any questions about this, ask your coach or send me an email. Thank you!
- FLUTE
- Mussorgsky- 4-6, 10-end
- Bach- 44-59, 65-86
- Brahms- 11-21, 43-52
- OBOE
- Mussorgsky- 4-6, 10-end
- Bach- 8-17, 44-59
- Brahms- 11-21, 51-65
- CLARINET
- Mussorgsky- 4-6, 10-end
- Bach- Beginning-9, 43-58
- Brahms- 11-21, 44-52
- BASSOON and BASS CLARINET
- Mussorgsky- 6-8, 10-end
- Bach- 8-17, 44-59
- Brahms- 10-28, 42-60
- TRUMPET
- Mussorgsky- 3-6, 10-end
- Bach- 49-60
- Brahms- 9-21, 84-end
- HORN
- Mussorgsky- 7-8, 10-end
- Bach- 49-62, 100-end
- Brahms- 9-21, 84-end
- TROMBONE
- Mussorgsky- 10-end
- Bach- 28-42
- Brahms- 6-21, 84-end
- EUPHONIUM
- Mussorgsky- 12-end
- Bach- 24-42
- Brahms- 18-28, 84-end
- VIOLIN 1
- Mussorgsky- Beginning-2, 3-4, 8-11
- Bach- Beginning-24, 65-84
- Brahms- 2-13, 16-33, 87-end
- VIOLIN 2
- Mussorgsky- Beginning-2, 2-4, 9-11
- Bach- Beginning-24, 65-84
- Brahms- 2-13, 16-33, 87-end
- VIOLA
- Mussorgsky- Beginning-2, 2-4, 9-11
- Bach- Beginning-25, 49-62
- Brahms- 2-21, 21-33, 87-end
- CELLO and BASS
- Mussorgsky- Beginning-4, 2 before 9-end
- Bach- 12-26, 66-86
- Brahms- 2-21, 23-33, 87-end
David Drassal- Conductor
Hannah Ogden- Assistant Conductor
