MUSIC’S RECREATION offers THEMES and VARIATIONS Concert on Sunday afternoon at 2 - Nov. 23 - CSMA 3rd floor Performance Space - 330 E. State St. Contributed by Bill Cowdery Continuing a series begun last season, Music’s Recreation presents “Themes and Variations, Part Two” exploring the composer’s art of transforming themes, both melodic and harmonic, into compositions well known and loved. The program is narrated by tour guide Rosalind Feinstein. The age-old art of improvising to a bass line is shown in “La Follia”, based on a harmonic progression used by legions of Baroque and Pre-Baroque composers.Violinist William Hurley and Bassist Sam Shuhan will tackle the work in a recent scholarly edition by the late Christopher Hogwood. The same concept leads a foray into 12-bar blues with Feinstein at the piano and other ensemble members joining in. Two landmark examples follow by Beethoven, a classic master of variations: first on a well-known tune from “Judas Maccabeus”, played by Feinstein and cellist Elisa Evett, then on a Viennese street song in a trio featuring clarinetist John Greenly. In both cases the original songs themselves will precede Beethoven’s transmogrifications. Continuing in a popular vein, duo-flutists Laura Campbell and Beth Kelly will offer variations on a Swedish folk tune by Friedrich Kuhlau, said to be “the Beethoven of flute music.” Still more exotic is a set by Spanish composer Joaquin Turina played by Evett and Hurley joined by pianist Karen Melamed Smith. Schubert’s beloved “Trout Quintet” variations sprang from his own German lied “Die Forelle”. Soprano Kristen Park will sing Schubert’s song, then his own variations will be played by the full company ensemble, plus guest violist Max Buckholtz and bassist Sam Shuhan. the program concludes with Brahms’ majestic Variations on a Theme of Haydn in its original version for two pianos, played by Feinstein and Bill Cowdery, in homage to its original players Clara Schumann and Brahms himself. Refreshments featuring “variations on chocolate” will follow, accompanied by conversation as is usual for Music’s Recreation concerts. Tickets at the door are $8 and $22 for family groups.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 08:06:16 +0000
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