Department of Music

• Sunday, March 21, 2010
• Old Cabell Hall
• 3:30pm
• $20/$10 students/Free for those under 18 and for UVa students if reserved in advance

In an attractive and unexpected pairing of percussion instruments and viola, the University of Virginia Chamber Music Series continues its season: Note-able Revolutions offering a recital celebrating the revolutionary element of the female spirit, on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 3:30pm in Old Cabell Hall on University Grounds. Performance faculty members, percussionist I-Jen Fang and violist Ayn Balija with collaborative guest artist Alicja Basinska will present works by Rebecca Clarke, Zae Munn, Judith Shatin, Christopher Deane, Paul McCartney, Kazunori, and Michael Colgrass.

Haunted by the effects of an abusive father and dominated by an early twentieth century culture characterizing women musicians as novelties, Rebecca Clarke struggled to express her creative spirit. In her Sonata for Viola and Piano, she develops rich, emotionally intense themes marked by rhythmically complex colors that contemporaries believed could only be composed by a male. Collaborating with violist Balija will be guest artist Alicja Basinska, a performer at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Composer and Professor of Music at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Zae Munn crafted the high spirited musical psychodrama: Interface for Viola and Marimba. As the viola depicts the emerging images and forms of an artist, the marimba portrays the elusive archetype, the unconscious, creative spirit.

Based on a Chinese poem from the first century, The Bones of Chuang-Tzu by Christopher Deane gives rise to the spirit of clinking bones through manipulations and combinations of mallets, shafts, butts, rims and heads.

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Composition at the University of Virginia, Judith Shatin articulates her musical essence through acoustic and computer technologies which provide a rich spectrum for Shatin’s scrutiny of three major themes: timbral design, poetic interpretation and embodiment of identity. Penelope’s Song for Amplified Viola and CD musically depicts Penelope’s spirit: her faith, determination and despair as she waits at her loom for Odysseus’ return. Using RTcmix, running under Linux, Shatin knits the electronic accompaniment with the sounds from a local weaver’s loom.

Envisioning a black woman, Paul McCartney reacts to the escalating racial tension in the United States in his composition, Blackbird. In this arrangement by Ed Smith, the solo vibraphone performs the Beatles song.

Dedicated to the innovative percussionist Momoko Kamiya, the winner of the 1995 Luxemborg marimba competition, Kazunori Miyake’s piece Chain expresses his creative spirit in a chain of different feelings.

Concluding the program with Michael Colgrass’s Variation for 4 Drums and Viola, the two musicians will reveal their virtuosic spirit. The four drums: roto-toms, small shallow drums to be tapped vigorously with small timpani sticks covered in wool with exposed tips, and the viola performed as though a percussive instrument, navigate technically challenging rhythmical patterns in the five variations.

The final concert of the University of Virginia Chamber Music Series will feature the Rivanna String Quartet on Sunday afternoon April 18, 2010 at 3:30pm in Old Cabell Hall. Exploring the final element of Note-able Revolutions: passion, the string quartet in residence at UVA will present Beethoven’s Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95 “Serioso;” Haydn’s Quartet in F Major, Op. 50 No. 5; Schubert’s Sonatensatz and Janácek’s String Quartet No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata.”

A reception will immediately follow each concert providing an opportunity for the audience to meet the musicians and discuss the concert. Free parking on grounds is available during the weekends. There is a fee to park at the Central Grounds Garage. Please contact the box office for large groups or special needs.

Tickets are $20 for general admission, $10 for students with ID, free for those under 18. UVA students must reserve free tickets in advance at least 24 hours in advance. To purchase tickets call the Arts Box Office at (434) 924-3376, 12pm-5pm, Monday through Friday. For more information, visit http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music.