Punch Howarth
Many in the community and SASO were saddened by the death of Samuel (Sam) Kreiling in December. Sam had many talents as a professional pilot, musician, golfer and friend. My association with Sam started when we both joined the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra in the same year. He had recruited me as he had been recently appointed orchestra concert master, a role he held until he retired and, with our wives Marty and Jeannine, became friends. In addition to his beautiful violin playing he founded concerts at SaddleBrooke. Thus SASO became the first group to present concerts here.
In the beginning concerts were performed at Vistas in SaddleBrooke I.
Tickets for the first concert sold out in three hours. When MountainView Country Club opened, concerts shifted to their larger ballroom and with the completion of the auditorium at the DesertView Performing Arts Center moved again, where they continue to perform a five concert season on Saturday evenings to mostly sold-out houses. SASO performed the very first program in the new DesertView facility. Sam’s big idea has been beneficial to both SaddleBrooke and SASO. In addition to his role as concert master, he also served as president and board member of SASO.
As a memorial to Sam, SASO will perform Faure’s Requiem in his remembrance at concerts on March 17, 18 and 19. Also on the program will be Walton’s Crown Imperial March, Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto and Two Tangos by Piazzolla with saxophone soloist Ashu; the Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto winner to be announced later.
Faure’s Requiem in D minor, a 35 minute work for soprano and baritone soloists, choir and orchestra, had its first performance at the Paris church La Madeleine in 1888. The seven parts are slow to very slow and mostly soft except for three outbursts in Exaudi, Agnus Dei and Dies irae. the seven movements are
I. Introit et Kyrie – Exaudi
II. Offertory
III. Sanctus
IV. Pie Jesu
V. Agnus Dei
VI. Libera me – Dies irae
VII. In Paradisum
Concerts will be performed at SaddleBrooke on Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the DesertView Performing Arts Auditorium, in Oro Valley on Sunday, March 19 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and in Green Valley at Valley Presbyterian Church on March 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Go to www.sasomusic.org for more details on the concerts.