|
Rebecca Clarke: Passacaglia on an Old English
Tune |
|
Dvorak: Piano Quartet no.2 in E flat major,
op.87
Allegro con fuoco
Lento
Allegro moderato, grazioso
Finale: Allegro, ma non troppo |
Tonight's program is, in part, a celebration of the centenary
of the death of the great Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904).
Dvorak's career mirrored the rise of Czech nationalism, and from
relatively humble beginnings in the Bohemian lands of the old
Austro-Hungarian empire, at the time of his death one hundred
years ago he was revered as one of the world's most admired composers.
He still remains the greatest figure of the Czech national school
of the nineteenth century, with superb contributions to a breadth
of compositional genres unsurpassed by his contemporaries.
Chamber music was especially dear to Dvorak, and although
primarily a string player, he often appeared as pianist in performances
of his own chamber works that feature this instrument. The two
attractive and characteristic Piano Quartets date from two contrasting
periods of Dvorak's life. The little performed D major Quartet
was written in 1875, in the very productive period after Dvorak
had received a state grant to devote himself to composition.
It was written after the operas "King and Charcoal Burner"
and "The Stubborn Lovers", along with the Piano
Trio in B flat, op.21, the String Quintet, published as op.77,
and beside his ever-popular String Serenade in E major, op.22.
The Piano Quartet in D major is notable for its wealth of melody
and for leisurely thematic developments that are always infused
with harmonic and melodic beauties. The second movement is written
as variations on a particularly haunting theme, and the expansive,
lyrical finale incorporates scherzando elements into its musical
argument; almost two movements in one. Dvorak wrote the work
between 24 May and 10 June 1875, but the first performance was
not to take place until 16 December 1880 in the Prague Konvikt
Hall.
Unlike the less known D major Quartet, the Piano Quartet
in E flat op.87 has been one of Dvorak's most admired works from
its first performance. Written at the height of maturity, it
stands with such contemporary works as the famous Piano Quintet
in A major, op.81, the opera "Jacobin" and the
8th Symphony in G major, op.88. Dvorak had been long asked for
a second piano quartet by the Berlin publisher Simrock, and this
work fulfilled all expectations. The masterful instrumental writing
is Dvorak at his finest, as are the integration of symphonic
grandeur with characterful elements of Czech folk music, the
subtle rhythmic interplay and the lavish richness of harmonic
palette. The E flat Quartet received its first performance on
23 November 1890 at the Rudolfinum Hall in Prague.
The "F.A.E." Scherzo can stand as a separate
piece although it was originally part of a collaborative sonata.
The origin of the F.A.E. Sonata dates back to a concert given
by the great violinist Joseph Joachim in Düsseldorf on October
27, 1853 under the direction of Robert Schumann. It was Schumann
who, according to Albert Dietrich, suggested to surprise Joachim
with a violin sonata that was to be written jointly by Dietrich
(a pupil of Schumann), the young Brahms and Schumann himself.
The day after the concert the sonata was presented to Joachim
ho played it at sight with Clara Schumann while he had to guess
each composer. The F.A.E. Sonata - the letters are taken from
Joachim's device "Frei Aber Einsam" (Free, yet lonely)
- was given to Joachim as a present.
Schikele's notes about Stony Mountain Holler:
"I chose the title "Stony Mountain Holler"
as a tribute to the best traditional bluegrass band record I've
ever heard, performed by Early Taylor and his Stony Mountain
Boys. The piece from which this movement is taken is entitled
Mountain Music I. All of the movements are folk-like,
evoking elements of Bluegrass music. In "Stony Mountain
Holler", the cello depicts the distinctive wailing and howling
of the vocalists and the piano takes the role of the banjo as
well as the rhythm section."
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) was born in England, but spent
much of her life in the United States. The viola was the basis
of Clarke's world-wide career as a soloist and composer. Her
advocacy is admirable having composed over 90 works, the most
well known being her Sonata for Viola and Piano.
The short work performed in this concert is her "Passacaglia
on an Old English Tune." This work in particular shows the
range of the viola along with its deep, expressive qualities
and colors. The melody, on which it is based, was a familiar
folk tune for this English composer.
This evening's guests:
Terence Dennis was born in Christchurch,
New Zealand, and is a graduate of the University of Otago and
of the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Cologne, Germany,
where he was awarded the Konzertexamen Degree with Distinction.
Currently Associate Professor and Head of Performance Studies
at the University of Otago, his performances throughout New Zealand
and overseas have received high acclaim. He regularly partners
with leading New Zealand musicians and distinguished visiting
artists in recital and recording. Recent highlights have been
the sell-out recital in the Sydney Opera House with American
soprano Alessandra Marc in the Sydney Symphony's "Great
Performer Series", for the 2000 Sydney Olympics Arts events,
recitals with bass Jonathan Lemalu in NZ and the USA, which included
a concert in the events of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
and their joint Schubert "Winterreise", considered
one of the highlights of the 2002 NZ International Festival of
Arts. During this 2002 visit to the USA he was honored to be
invited as guest adjudicator for the regional finals of the prestigious
Metropolitan Opera Auditions competition. He has participated
in NZ Embassy concerts in Washington D.C., Paris, Bonn and Singapore,
and presented masterclasses in the USA, Australia, Japan, Korea
and Taiwan. As teacher and adjudicator he has been active in
teaching and lecture presentations throughout NZ, in Australia,
Asia and the USA. As performer his repertoire embraces much of
the chamber music and vocal legacy, with selected solo piano
appearances as time permits. He was appointed to the New Zealand
Order of Merit (MNZM) by Queen Elizabeth II.
Kevin A. Lefohn, violinist, is Lecturer
in Violin and Director of the Marama Strings Project at the University
of Otago. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and the
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music studying
with Dorothy DeLay, Kathryn Lucktenberg, Piotr Milewski, and
Kurt Sassmannshaus. He is highly sought after as both performer
and teacher. Dedicated to the technical and musical training
of talented young string players, he is co-founder and the Artistic
Director of the Queenstown Violin Summer School in New Zealand.
As soloist and chamber musician his performances have gained
international acclaim with recent tours throughout the United
States, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. He
is a National Recording Artist for Radio New Zealand Concert
FM. His 2005 schedule includes guest residencies at Arizona State
University and Illinois State University. At the invitation of
Maestro Shlomo Mintz, he will be an adjudicator for the Sion-Valais
International Violin Competition in Sion, Switzerland in August.
Kate Hamilton, violist, has been
heard in recitals in the United States, England, Austria, South
America and New Zealand. Her commitment to new and lesser-known
works for viola has helped expand the horizon for the instrument.
Teaching appointments include Baylor University and the University
of Missouri, the latter where she was Artist-in-Residence and
violist of the Esterhazy String Quartet. She has been a performer
and guest artist at the Canterbury (UK) Festival, London Music
Festival, Texas Music Festival, International Festival of Para
(Brazil), and the Haydn Festpiele (Austria). Her musical studies
were at the Oberlin and Peabody Conservatories. Currently, she
is the Associate Professor of viola at Illinois State University.
A sought after teacher, her students enjoy careers as university
teachers and symphony players, as well as competition winners.
Gregory Hamilton is the faculty
cellist at Illinois State University and founding member of the
Ricard Piano Trio. Mr. Hamilton also performs with the Sinfonia
da Camera chamber orchestra as principal cellist. Chamber music
engagements include performances as guest artist at the Spoleto
Festival in Italy, Otago University in New Zealand, and the Canterbury
Music Festival in England. Mr. Hamilton has been heard in live
chamber music broadcasts on German Public Radio of Cologne and
National Public Radio. He has been a member of the Columbus Symphony,
toured and recorded with the Houston Symphony, and was the solo
cellist for the Spoleto Opera Orchestra. His teaching credentials
include faculty appointments at the Interlochen Arts Academy,
MidAmerica Chamber Music Festival, the University of Arkansas
Quartet Festival, the SUNY London Music Festival, and Victoria
University in New Zealand. His current projects include Baroque
cello performances of works from the 17th century and compiling
a bibliography of cello pedagogy articles for publication.
