MUSIC

 The NEC Chamber Orchestra, NEC's conductorless orchestra, was created in 2000 by double bassist Donald Palma, a founding member of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. It gives young players a chance to work together in a completely new way, each player taking full responsibility for the sound of the group. Palma's regular coaching is supplemented by other members of the NEC faculty.Music of the classical era by Handel, Haydn, and Mozart is at the core of virtually every program, along with an occasional baroque work, as well as modern pieces. Tonight's concert features Haydn's Symphony No. 44 in E Minor, known as the Trauer (mourning) sinfonie because Haydn asked for the slow movement to be played at his funeral. Also, the Dvorak Serenade in E Major for String Orchestra, Opus 22 and Rudolf Barshai's chamber orchestra transcription of Shostakovich's tragic 1960 String Quartet No. 8, known in this incarnation as the Chamber Symphony Op. 110a, completes the program.