Our Music

Enjoy excerpts of some of our music and performances from our 2024-25 season!

Gabriel Pierné’s Ballet de Cour

Pierné’s Ballet de Cour captures the elegance and charm of 16th-century French court dances, with a modern twist. Originally composed as a set of keyboard pieces, Pierné rescored the ballet for a small orchestra in 1905. Each dance in this suite pays homage to the royal courts of 16th-century France, combining authenticity with a refreshing and witty touch.

Enjoy this excerpt of the Ballet de Cour below.

Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite

In 1908, French composer Maurice Ravel crafted Ma Mère l’Oye (Mother Goose), a charming piano suite inspired by beloved fairy tales. Originally written for the children of his friends, Ravel created this piece to capture “the poetry of childhood” with simple, graceful melodies and clear, enchanting harmonies. The suite’s delicate orchestration and imaginative scenes reflect Ravel’s own childlike spirit and fascination with whimsical worlds. In 1912, Ravel expanded the suite into a ballet, adding new scenes and interludes. The orchestral suite includes five magical movements: Pavane, Tom Thumb, Laideronette, Beauty and the Beast, and The Enchanted Garden.

Enjoy a brief recording of the fifth movement The Enchanted Garden below.

Enjoy excerpts of some of our music and performances from our 2023-24 season!

Copland’s Clarinet Concerto

Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto is a unique work that blends classical, jazz, and Latin influences. Commissioned in 1950 by jazz icon Benny Goodman, the concerto was a natural fit for Copland, whose compositions often drew on jazz and folk traditions. Known for its single-movement structure, the piece begins with a lush, lyrical opening that transitions into an energetic, jazz-inspired cadenza. This section, often considered one of the most challenging for clarinetists, is followed by vibrant rhythms that reflect Copland’s love for the music of Mexico.

Our concert featured clarinetist Bruce Foster, who has performed the Clarinet Concerto internationally.

Enjoy the audio below of the Clarinet Concerto Finale as Copland’s vision is brought to life in this distinctive American classic.

Charles Ives’ Third Symphony

Charles Ives, born in 1874 in rural Danbury, Connecticut, was the son of George Ives, a Civil War band leader turned local music teacher, known for his innovative approach to music. Charles inherited his father’s experimental spirit, graduating in music from Yale and working as an organist before moving to New York’s insurance industry, where he found financial success.

Despite his business career, Ives composed music on weekends, pioneering an “American” style. His Third Symphony, inspired by the camp meetings of his youth, won a Pulitzer Prize (which Ives famously declined). This work integrates hymns like Oh for a Thousand Tongues and What a Friend We Have in Jesus, capturing the spirit and sound of a unique American experience.

Ives’s groundbreaking use of American themes paved the way for composers like Copland and Bernstein, securing his legacy as America’s first true musical innovator.

 

Enjoy the first movement in the recording below with a special introduction by Maestro John Anderson.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays — The Shepherd’s Farewell

A little treat for the 2023 Christmas season — The Shepherd‘s Farewell is one of the most beloved movements of Hector Berlioz’s choral masterpiece, L’enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ), based on the Holy Family‘s flight into Egypt. Berlioz wrote his own words for the piece, and it was first performed in Paris on December 10th, 1854, with Berlioz conducting. This recording was made by Cantiamo Cabrillo in 2018 under the direction of Cheryl Anderson.

Enjoy excerpts of some of our music and performances from our 2022-23 season which marked our 30th anniversary!

Gran Partita

This is the conclusion of the final movement of Mozart’s Gran Partita K. 361. This work opened our 2022-2023 season. Conducted by Dr. John Anderson.

El Sistema

At each Ensemble Monterey concert, we present an outstanding student ensemble. The beginning orchestra of El Sistema of Santa Cruz and Pajaro was scheduled to perform with us on our second concert of the season. Despite being flooded out of their homes, the Pajaro students and their parents retrieved their instruments and they managed to participate in our concert. Conducted by Ensemble Monterey member Amalia Diaz, also their teacher and conductor.

Eternal Memory by John Tavener

This is the concluding portion of the work, performed on our second concert of last season. The Cello Soloist was Kristen Garbeff. It is a deeply meditative and spiritually significant composition. Our performance was a California Premiere and only the third time Eternal Memory has been played in the United States. Conducted by Dr. John Anderson.

Long Time Ago

Set by Aaron Copland. This song is the sixth movement of Copland’s Old American Songs. We performed the entire set of ten songs on our final concert last season. The Tenor Soloist is Daniel Ebbers. Conducted by Dr. John Anderson.

The Choral Fantasy

These are the concluding bars of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, scored for full orchestra, piano soloist, chorus, and vocal soloists. The pianist is Hilda Huang and the guest chorus is Cantiamo! This was the concluding piece of our final concert last season. Conducted by Dr. John Anderson.