It looks like the Richland Observer didnt print our concert review, so Ill post it here since we asked a couple of attendees to contribute. Pianist Ned Kirk performs for an enthusiastic crowd by Carol Kramer, Jesse Peckham, and Juan Hansen Pianist Ned Kirk performed Sunday afternoon, March 16th, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Richland Center. An enthusiastic audience enjoyed a varied program, including works of Handel, Beethoven, Chopin, and three 20th Century composers: Medtner, Messiaen, and John Adams (not the president). Dr. Kirk, Professor of Piano at Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota, wasted no time in displaying his artistry and agility. Beginning with Handel’s “Chaconne in G Major”, he executed clean, crisp trills and raced over the keyboard with ease in lightning fast passages of black notes (musician speak for notes with lots of flags, like sixteenth and thirty-second notes). In Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 3 in C minor” that followed, Kirk coaxed out all the style that Beethoven notated - including thunderous, almost growling bass in the first movement, and joyful, dance-like patterns in the second. Several passages clearly contained some jazz elements (swung notes and syncopation)…before the genre of jazz had even emerged in music history. Following an intermission, Kirk returned to introduce the audience to some more modern and less familiar pieces (less well known pieces being a particular passion of his). Though all three of them were written in the twentieth century, none was strictly atonal. The first piece, Russian composer Nikolai Medtner’s “Fairy Tale in the Phrygian Mode”, was brief and engaging, with softly cascading notes and lush colors. Kirk said it was written with the pianist’s fingers in mind, and not just the notes – ergonomically correct, one might say. The second modern piece, “Regard des bergers et des Mages” (one of a set of twenty meditations on the Infant Jesus) by French composer Olivier Messiaen, was much more rhythmic and repetitive. With its 4-note melodic bits reminiscent of the “Twilight Zone” and its dissonances seeming to signal impending doom, it could easily be the soundtrack behind a sci-fi film. Third of the moderns was American composer John Adams’ “China Gates”, a minimalistic work with colorful and gentle repetitive polyrhythmic patterns (placing three notes against four), reminding at least one listener of rainfall, and another of a Monet painting. Kirk said Adams was one of his favorite Twentieth Century composers. A piano recital would hardly be complete without a taste of Chopin, and this program obliged with his “Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat major”. Kirk said it was a favorite of his, in part because it’s not the one that is most frequently heard (that being No. 4). He performed it with the delicacy and dexterity essential to Chopin’s compositions. Dr. Kirk seemed at ease with all the styles on the varied program, and had an easy rapport with the audience as he spoke about each of the pieces on the programs second half. Kirk concluded the program with an audience favorite, Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor” or “Moonlight Sonata”, and related a funny story about the time he performed it in China. It was a huge concert venue, with varied acts performing rapid-fire one after the other. The stage crew actually ran across the stage carrying (not pushing) the grand piano on which he was to play! The camera crews then quickly moved in (within inches of Kirk’s face) to project his image on a massive screen. Apparently “Moonlight Sonata” is extremely popular in China, and it was a big hit. Coming up soon is the final concert of this season’s series sponsored by the Richland Concert Association. Larry Snitzler, classical guitarist, will perform on Sunday, April 6th, 2 p.m. at Town and Country Presbyterian Church in Richland Center. Season tickets for the exciting new 2014-2015 concert series will be available at the concert. New subscribers will enjoy the concert free of charge!
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:24:21 +0000
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