Van Der Stucken Festival – March 22

A mix of musicians will present a concert in honor of Fredericksburg-born composer Frank Valentin van der Stucken, on Friday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Halle in Fredericksburg. This is the 22nd Festival, and celebrates Van der Stucken’s 155th birthday. Admission is by donation.

The program:

The Hermann Sons Mixed Chorus, under the direction of Mark Hierholzer, will perform selections from the traditional German repertoire:
Mein Mund der Singet
Praege Deine Liebe
Pilgrim’s Chorus, by Wagner

The Fredericksburg Community Orchestra, under the direction of Theresa Britt, will play:
March in D Major, G. F. Handel
Brandenburg Concerto No.3, Allegro J. S. Bach, arr. Issac
Gopack, Modest Mussorgsky
Slava (Glory), Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, arr. Dackow
Lullaby, Hofeldt
Edelweiss, Rogers & Hammerstein, arr. Britt

Carol Wills, Mezzo-Soprano, will sing “Via de la Rosa,” by Billy Sprague and Niles Borop, accompanied by Mark Hierholzer.

Baritone Larry Wolz, professor of voice and music history at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, will present the following works by Van der Stucken:
Dämmerstunde, Op. 34, No. 2 (Twilight)
Unter der Linde, Op. 33, No. 5 (Under the Linden Tree)

The Finale will be all participants singing the introduction to Van der Stucken’s Pax Triumphans (Triumph of Peace), which Van der Stucken traditionally used to end his concerts.

Dr. Wolz is an authority on the German composer’s life, and will be available to answer questions during the reception following the program.

Van der Stucken, who was born in Fredericksburg in 1858, led the “Sangerbund” movement, training singers in the tradition of German male choruses. He also was a champion of contemporary American composers, conducting the first concert devoted exclusively to them.

For information, call (806) 549-2483.