Fans of austerity must love chamber music. The very foundation of this style of classical music is rooted in the simple and bareness of the presentation of these works.
But when I look at the structure with a new set of eyes, I see similarities to the startup culture, where a leader is present (but not often evident) as musicians, like collaborators, engage in a thrilling conversation told through the composition. The result is that chamber music concerts are much more intimate than an orchestral piece of music, reflecting a style of music often referred to as a conversation.
For the last concert of the St. Cecilia's Music Center's chamber series, musicians Inon Barnatan (piano), Benjamin Beilman (violin), Paul Neubauer (viola), Torleif Thedeen (cello), and David Shifrin (clarinet) will be traveling from New York's Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to present a program spanning three centuries of music.
In addition, Music from Three Centuries will be part of the U.S. debut of Zhou Long's New Work for Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Piano. This work will have its actual debut in NYC a few days in advance of the Grand Rapids performance, giving audience members of our community tremendous bragging rights.
The program will include:
Trio in G major for Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 9, No. 1 by Beethoven
Sonata in E-flat major for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 2 by Brahms
Zhou Long's New Work for Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Piano (a Chamber Music Society's Co-commission)
Trio No. 3 in G minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 110 by Schumann
If you are not familiar with Long's music, he brings to the modern audience stories from China that span the Eastern and Western cultures. His nod to his Chinese heritage, including the use of folk, the philosophical, and our shared spiritual ideals, has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for music.
The new work debuted this week is the first piece since his Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, "Madame White Snake." Long's mixing of tonal styles and ancient culture is producing a new sound for classical music audiences that synthesizes our very common Western instruments as he leans in from the East, thus opening a new sonic landscape for us to enjoy as an audience.
And just like a startup, being present in the room is often where the magic truly happens.
Admission: $40 & $35 / $10 student
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