The Humanities Program Concert Series presents
A PIANO RECITAL with spoken commentary by PAUL ORGEL
4:00 PM, Sunday, April 19, 2009
McCarthy Arts Center
Admission Free and Open to the Public
While visiting America in the 1890s, Antonin Dvorák advised composers to make use of the music of Native and African American music to create an American classical style. One of the pieces that he composed in the U.S. (along with the New World Symphony, the Humoresque and the American String Quartet) is the less familiar American Suite for piano.
Dvorák’s advice, and his American Suite are the points of departure for a piano recital by Paul Orgel that features Native American influenced piano music: Lyrics of the Red Man by Harvey Worthington Loomis, a skillful American student of Dvorák’s, and Ferruccio Busoni’s Red Indian Diary, a virtuosic treatment of a set of American Indian melodies.
Also included are the Pawnee Preludes by contemporary composer, Curt Cacioppo whose music is informed by his profound study of Native American culture, and Variations on an American Folk Song by Allen Brings.
Composers Cacioppo and Brings will attend the concert and be available to meet with students.
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Past Presentations
Fall Semester Program
Sunday, November 4, 2007, 4:00 p.m.
McCarthy Arts Center, Free Admission
“In Honor of György Ligeti, Students, and the 20th Century”
When the Hungarian composer György Ligeti (1923-2006) died last year, many called him the last great composer of the 20th century. This concert celebrates Ligeti’s piano music, and also features music by some of the outstanding composers of 20th century, Hindemith, Stravinsky, and Bartok, in performances by both professional and student musicians.
The Program and the Performers
Musica Ricercata is a dynamic 1953 piano work by Ligeti consisting of 11 short pieces. The first uses only two tones, the second: three, and so on up to the final piece, a fugue that uses all twelve tones of the octave. Musica Ricercata will be performed by a group of young pianists, students of Paul Orgel.
Ligeti’s Études may be the most exciting classical piano music composed in the last few decades, expanding the possibilities of what is possible on the instrument. Vermont’s virtuoso pianist, Michael Arnowitt specializes in playing Ligeti’s etudes and will perform five of them (by memory!).
Also featured will be Bartok’s Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (Paul Orgel, piano) Hindemith’s Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (Rachael Elliot, bassoon, with Paul Orgel) Stravinsky’s Piano Sonata (Xiudan Lin, piano) and Three Pieces for Clarinet (Wesley Christensen, clarinet)
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Spring Semester Program
Friday, March 7, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
McCarthy Arts Center, Free Admission
“Music from the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival”
Program:
Schubert - Rondo brilliante in B Minor, D. 895 for Violin and Piano
Beethoven – Serenade in D for Flute, Violin, and Viola, Opus 25
Dvorak – Piano Quartet in E-flat, Opus 87
Performers:
Kevin Lawrence, violin, Susan Dubois, viola, Brooks Whitehouse, cello, Karen Kevra, flute, Paul Orgel, piano