Western Connecticut State University and the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra will partner again for the final performance of the 2013–14 chamber concert series at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The program’s pieces will offer a great variety of musical styles, ranging from a Beethoven trio partly based on a popular song to a tribute to the 2012 Newtown massacre victims, written last year by a promising new composer with roots in Danbury.
The five selections are: Aria in Classic Style (Grandjany), Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano (Martinu), Dawn (Frucht), Six Studies in English Folk-Song (Vaughan Williams) and Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in B flat Major (Beethoven).
Grandjany was an internationally famous harpist and a founder of the American Harp Society. His Aria is based on a lyrical song first presented by solo harp, which then spreads to the remaining instruments.
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The Martinu Trio has two energetic movements surrounding a serene one, and there are imaginative jazz and tonal effects that sound like more than three instruments playing.
Twenty-four-year-old Paul Frucht is in the doctoral program at Juilliard, where he received a master’s degree and several awards for his compositions. He attended Danbury public schools, including Rogers Park Middle School, where Dawn Hochsprung was assistant principal. She later became principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School and lost her life in the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting there. Dawn is dedicated to Hochsprung, the other 25 victims, and their families. It has been performed several times in New York and Connecticut. Frucht will be present and will say some words about his piece.
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The Six Studies are for cello and piano, perfect instrumental choices for showcasing the beautiful nature of each song. All are short and lyrical, except for the lively finale.
The witty Beethoven trio has clarinet and piano fighting for attention in the first movement, the cello prominent in the slow movement, and all three challenged in the finale’s variations on a popular comic opera song.
The six performers will be: pianist Jerry Steichen, RSO musical director; Wendy Kerner Lucas, RSO’s principal harpist; Edward Wojtowicz, RSO’s clarinetist; violinist Victoria Paterson, a WCSU music faculty member; Nick Hardie, who served as assistant principal cellist in the RSO’s most recent concert; and Kerry Walker, both the RSO’s principal flutist and a professor of music at Western.
Single-ticket prices are $25 (general admission), $15 (students, seniors and WCSU employees). Western students with valid I.D. will be admitted free. To purchase tickets, visit www.tickets.com with Ives Concert Hall as the venue, or call the university box office at (203) 837-TIXX.
For more information, call the WCSU Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486 or George Leeman from the RSO at (203) 438-7538.
