Denton Homeschool Orchestra Spring 2025 Concert
May 1, 2025, 7:00 PM
The Recital Hall at the University of North Texas
415 Avenue C, Denton, TX 76201
Director: Carma Needham
Program
(*Digital program looks best in landscape mode*)
Beginner II Ensemble:
Go to:
Old MacDonald
Traditional, arr. Carma Needham
Jesus Loves Me This I Know
Anna Bartlett Warner, arr. Carma Needham
London Bridge is Falling Down
Traditional, arr. Carma Needham
Mary Lost Her Little Lamb
Traditional, arr. Carma Needham
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Traditional, arr. Carma Needham
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg, arr. Benjamin Auriol & Carma Needham
featuring Sammy Packer, Piano & Eliza J Oliver, violin
Members:
Violins: Bethany Harrison, Kinsley Hodges, Sebastian A Los, Camdyn Martino, Landon McGinnis, Sterling Morgan, Lilly Packer, Eliza J Oliver, Glorianna Oliver, Charlie Rose Singleton, George Yen
Violas: Mary Katherine Harrison, Macy Jane Oliver, Caris Singleton, Fiona Turner, Norah Yen
Cellos: Gabriella Harrison, Clara Oliver
Piano: Sammy Packer
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
This classic “I want” song almost didn’t make the final cut of the 1939 classic Wizard of Oz. Associate producer Arthur Freed insisted, and eventually persuaded the film executives to keep it.
In 2001, “Over the Rainbow” was voted the greatest song of the 20th century by the National Endowment for the Arts, and its original performer, Judy Garland, was requested to sing it throughout the rest of her singing career.
Beginner I Ensemble:
Go to:
A collection of folk songs:
Hot Cross Buns
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Twinkle Twinkle
This Old Man
Frere Jacques
Members:
Violins: Hadessa Lee, J.J. Negrete, Kaleb Negrete, Inara Schwartz
Viola: Ellie Needham
Cello: Chloe Hendel
Fun Facts about Twinkle Twinkle Little Star–
-The tune is from an old French melody dating back as early as 1760.
-The lyrics come from a poem that actually have 5 stanzas, though only the 1st is commonly known.
-The same melody is used for “Baa, Baa Black Sheep,” the “Alphabet Song,” as well as Mozart’s famous “12 Variations”
-In chapter 7 of Lewis Carroll’s famous Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter recites a parody called “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat.”
Novice Ensemble:
Go to:
Ode To Joy
Ludwig van Beethoven, arr. Carma Needham
Yankee Doodle
Traditional, arr. Carma Needham
Can-Can
Georges Bizet, arr. Carma Needham
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Harry Gregson-Williams, arr. Carma Needham
Members:
Violins: Layla Benson, Brooklyn Merkley, Aiden Schilhab, Cecily Yarbrough
Viola: Caleb Yen
Cellos: James Ellis, Jacob Merkley, Haven B Yarbrough
Can-Can
Did know you that you would hear some opera tonight? This famous kick-line dance comes from Georges Bizet’s famous opera Carmen which premiered in Paris in 1875 — 150 years ago!
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
First published in October 1950, this timeless and imaginative story by C.S. Lewis brings Christian allegory to the mainstream media. Our music today comes from Disney’s 2005 film adaptation.
The piece opens with the “Wardrobe” theme, when during a game of hide and seek, young Lucy first discovers the portal to the magical land of Narnia. You can hear the mystery and wonder she feels in the haunting tones of the music.
Next comes the lively tune of “Father Christmas,” when the 4 Pevensie children receive the gifts they will need to defeat the evil queen. This light-hearted and joyful moment bolsters the children’s hope before the dramatic and inevitable confrontation.
Lastly, we hear the “The Battle Song” — the soulful march of Aslan’s army against the forces of the winter queen. Portrayed first by the cellos, then higher in the violins, good triumphs over evil, as those who believed in Aslan always knew it would.
Intermediate/Advanced Ensemble:
Go to:
Slavonic Dance No. 8 Op 46
Dvořák, Antonín, arr. Christian Morris
Ave Maria
Johann Sebastian Bach/Charles Gounod, arr. Carma Needham
Pirates of the Caribbean
Hans Zimmer & Klaus Badelt, arr. Carma Needham
Members:
Violin I: Clara Whitworth
Violin II: Nathan Hendel
Viola: Emmett Fish
Cello: Hyrum Packer
Piano/Harp: Selah Brock
Ave Maria
One of the original mashups! Bach’s Prelude No. 1, written in 1722, underpins the Latin prayer Ave Maria set to a melody written in 1853 by French composer Charles Gounod, et violà–a masterpiece is born.
Today, you’ll hear Bach’s Prelude No 1 played by the harp, and the Ave Maria in the strings. You may have heard the version made famous by The Carpenters, routinely played at Christmas time.
Themes from Pirates of the Caribbean
In the opening scene of the 2nd Pirates movie (At World’s End), as pirate sympathizers are being herded to the gallows, they sing “Hoist the Colors.” This angry funeral dirge is their last act of defiance in the face of the watching dignitaries, and it is the first melody you’ll hear.
But, nothing deters the unconquerable rebel attitude, as personified by the rapscallion Jack Sparrow. I mean, Captain Jack Sparrow. His theme, “He’s a Pirate,” breaks into the gloomy death march, sweeping away the despair with its bounding energy and syncopation.
As with the constancy of Jack’s flippant mockery, rope swinging antics, and utter disregard for the rules, a brief reprise of “Hoist the Colors” can’t hold the stage for long before being swept away again in the current of care-free pirate life.
Links:
Go to:
If you’ve had a good experience with Denton HSO, the best thank you you can give is to share it with others. Would you considering sharing on social media or with your homeschool groups?
Thank you for a wonderful year! I can’t wait to see what we’ll do together next!
-Carma Needham