Neologistics→ Music → Selah → My Father → Newton Concert Ensemble |
The North Shore arts festival my father attempted to put
together was intended as a launching pad for his most cherished
project, what he hoped would be a permanent professional chamber
orchestra under his direction. Below are the front cover and
inside two pages of a brochure designed to promote the group.
The orchestra was known under various names: the Harold Newton
Chamber Players, the Newton Concert Ensemble, the Chicago Little
Symphony, and his favorite, the Little Symphony of Chicago.
However, there had been an earlier but long defunct professional
chamber orchestra by the name Little Symphony of Chicago, of
which he had been a member as far back as 1935. Apparently there
was a copyright or some such restraining hold on the name, but
eventually Dad was able to use it.
Dad wanted to develop a core of regular personnel, hiring extra
players as needed. As it turned out, because they played only a
half dozen concerts or so all together, of which I heard one, it
was essentially a pickup orchestra. However, the musicians he
used were the best in town, mostly Chicago Symphony players, and
all musicians he knew and had worked with personally and
respected.
The programs sometimes included some interesting things. Dad
attempted to promote contemporary music, and so would usually
program at least one work by a relatively unknown American
composer. The most adventuresome thing he ever did was a
performance of Octandre by Edgard Varèse,
which is my personal favorite Varèse composition.
Newton
Concert Ensemble brochure front page
Note: if you expand your window to full size you may be able to read the text below better
The
brochure inside spread