SPRING 2021
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SPRING SALON SERIES 1 | APRIL 8-11
Join us for a joyful program of music for piano and winds as we welcome spring and all of the hope and renewal it brings. We will start off with Jacques Ibert’s Cinq Pièces en Trio for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, a charming work composed in Paris in 1935. We then perform the 2005 “Haas Trio” by American Simon Sargon for oboe, bassoon, and piano. This work pays tribute to radio personality Karl Haas, whose “Adventures in Good Listening” educated people about classical music all over the world. The program will conclude with Mozart’s Quintet for Piano and Winds in Eb, which premiered on April 1, 1784 in Vienna. This work was referred to by Mozart himself as “the best thing I have written in my life.” Considering he had already written 37 symphonies and numerous other works at this time, this certainly was high praise!
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Program:
JACQUES IBERT Cinq Pièces en Trio
SIMON SARGON Haas Trio for oboe, bassoon, and piano
W.A. MOZART Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat Major, K. 452
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Musicians:
Nancy Dimock, oboe
Ian Greitzer, clarinet
Ron Haroutunian, bassoon
Robert Marlatt, horn
Rebecca Plummer, piano
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SRING SALON SERIES 2 | MAY 20-23
Program:
BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in B-flat Major, op. 11
BRAHMS Clarinet Trio in A minor, op. 114
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Musicians:
Ian Greitzer, clarinet
Jolene Kessler, cello
Rebecca Plummer, piano
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PROGRAM NOTE
For this Month's Salon Series, Pro Arte contrasts two Trios for clarinet, cello and piano, written by two different men at two different times in their lives. One was inspired by the instrument, and the other was inspired by the player.
First is the Trio, op. 11 for Piano, Clarinet and Cello by Beethoven, written when he was 23. Performed by Beethoven at the piano in 1793, with Haydn present in the audience, this piece was not published until 2 years later. It was written for a clarinet player whom Beethoven knew but whose playing did not inspire Beethoven very much.
It is divided into 3 movements: The first is a pleasant "passing around" of melodic fragments, and the second is a lovely Adagio, giving each instrument to showcase the melody. The third movement is a set of 10 Variations based on a very popular tune from an opera by composer Joseph Weigt. At that time, nearly anyone in Vienna could hum or whistle this tune which translates "Before I Go to Work".
Our second Trio is the Brahms Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello op. 114 and one of four pieces of chamber music Brahms wrote at age 58 for the clarinet. Unlike Beethoven's clarinetist, Brahms was greatly inspired by the playing of Richard Mühlfeld, a clarinetist in the Meiningen orchestra, whose concert Brahms attended while visiting there. This piece was written for, dedicated to and premiered by Richard Mühlfeld in 1891. It is written to be played on the A clarinet, unlike the Beethoven who utilized the Bb clarinet.
Pro Arte is pleased to present these two, contrasting Trios and is grateful to be able to bring these performances to you.
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—Rebecca Plummer
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SPRING SALON SERIES 3 | JUNE 17-20
Dance in Celebration and Reflection
Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the United States. We will come together in contemplation of the horrors of slavery and its lasting legacy, in celebration of emancipation, and in honor of the continuing work that must be done to eradicate white supremacy. We will share three works by African American composers, each of which has moments of dance and reflection. Florence Price's String Quartet No. 2 in A minor weaves together her beautiful lyric writing and African American vernacular with daring chromaticism and vibrant movement. The third movement (of four) is a Juba, a dance developed by Africans brought to America against their will. Dorothy Rudd Moore's Modes is a beautiful and compact three-movement work, which ends with an energetic, movement-inspiring finale. Wynton Marsalis' At the Octoroon Balls is a set of scenes inspired by his early life in New Orleans. We will play three movements from this work - Creole Contradanzas, Blue Lights on the Bayou, and the Rampart Street Row House Rag.
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Program:
PRICE String Quartet No. 2 in A minor
DOROTHY RUDD MOORE Modes
WYNTON MARSALIS At the Octoroon Balls
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Musicians:
Lisa Goddard, violin
Colin Davis, violin
Anne Black, viola
Steve Laven, cello
Janelle Gilchrist, choreographer and dancer
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All concerts air on Thursday night at 8pm and are available to stream through Sunday night.