Hendersonville Chamber Music
Presents Chante Piano Trio
My Experience
Living in an area that hosts the Brevard Music Center, finding a musical event is not a difficult task to do. However, I happened to run across an event in Hendersonville, NC called Hendersonville Chamber Music. I remember learning about chamber music in chapter thirteen of our text with "Revenge" by Barbara Strozzi. Chamber music refers to music played in private gatherings in small rooms or "chambers." Upon further research, I found out that music by W.A. Mozart and Johannes Brahms was going to be played, which we have heard pieces from each of these composers in our text. I decided that this would be the event that I attended. As I was getting a ticket, I happen to notice that admission was $20.00 a person and students were free. So to clarify what they consider a student, I called the phone number and asked if college students get free admission, and to my surprise, we do. So my boyfriend and I were able to enjoy a $20.00 event for free. As you can imagine, not many young people were there which is why they give students free admission to encourage younger adults and teenagers to explore music and take an interest in it.
The Chante Piano Trio performed way above my expectations. To be honest, I thought that I might have a hard time staying awake in such an event because I didn't know what to expect. The music, though relaxing and exciting, was beautifully performed by three young college students. I enjoyed the event and the music played simply for the complexity of the music and the talents of the young performers. Even though I tried my best, it is still hard for me, who has no musical background what so ever, to appreciate the music for the variations in timbre, rhythm, themes, etc. I tried to recall terms I have learned in this class thus far, and to maybe pick out parts I think are changing tone or key, however, I could not confidently say that I am able to recognize such things without it being pointed out to be as it is in our automated listening guides.
The Chante Piano Trio performed way above my expectations. To be honest, I thought that I might have a hard time staying awake in such an event because I didn't know what to expect. The music, though relaxing and exciting, was beautifully performed by three young college students. I enjoyed the event and the music played simply for the complexity of the music and the talents of the young performers. Even though I tried my best, it is still hard for me, who has no musical background what so ever, to appreciate the music for the variations in timbre, rhythm, themes, etc. I tried to recall terms I have learned in this class thus far, and to maybe pick out parts I think are changing tone or key, however, I could not confidently say that I am able to recognize such things without it being pointed out to be as it is in our automated listening guides.
Erin (Me)
The event was held at First Congregational Church of Christ in Hendersonville NC
Chante Piano Trio
Event Ticket
Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion
The event started out with a short song, or short compared to the following songs. Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla is actually a tango song. Piazzolla was the first to bring tango music into the classical world. However, I did not hear traditional tango rhythm as I might have thought. The piano trio of the tango sounds sad and melancholy. Maria Parrinni, the pianist, introduced the tango as Romantic. Again, without her telling me, I would not have thought of the song as romantic, but I can definitely hear a sad romance story behind it. This particular piece is played in polyphonic texture because all three instruments, piano, violin, and cello are playing different musical lines that are all equally important in making the music come together as it is supposed to, also giving the piece a thick texture. The cello and violin seem to be playing much longer drawn out notes with the piano playing shorter notes.
W.A. Mozart - Piano Trio No. 7 in C, K. 548
Mozart's Piano Trip No. 7 in C starts out very upbeat and lively and then slows down to a more mellow tune and then goes back up to lively at the end of the song. The For the most part all three instruments, piano, cello, and violin are playing together at the same time, however, there are times throughout the piece where the piano or violin may play a solo. As the title suggests, the piece is played in key, C major. It consists of three movements starting out with allegro, then andante cantabile, and then back to allegro. This work is a sonata since there are no words, but is all instrumental. I would say that this piece has sonata form because it starts out introducing us to the piece in the allegro movement (exposition), then moves to the andante cantabile which is the middle movement (development), and then returns to the allegro movement recapping the exposition (recapitulation). There are full cadences in between each movement. Mozart only lived from 1756 to 1791, which suggests that Mozart composed this piece in the Classical period which takes place from 1750-1800.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart was born in 1756 and died in 1791. He was brought up during the Classical period. Leopold, Mozart's father, who was a renown composer himself, recognized Mozart's ability at a young age and began to take Mozart on tours around the world to perform and learn from others. As Mozart got older he decided he wanted to move to get a position at the imperial court in Vienna. Mozart never got the position he wants but instead earned a living selling his compositions and giving piano lessons.
Johannes Brahms - Piano Trio in C, Op.87, No. 2
This work by Johannes Brahms is unique to me due to the wide variety of different sections. There seems to be lots of different movements or themes to this piece that are put together to make up the whole piece. The difference that stuck out to me in the piece over Mozart's Piano Trio No. 7 in C, K.548 was that the music seems to change every few seconds all throughout the piece. Brahms work was played in key C. There are four movements to this piece: allegro moderato, andante con moto, scherzo:presto, and the finale: allegro giocoso. It was hard to recall if any of the "themes" that took places throughout the work was repeated or not, so I am not sure if this was in sonata form. However, since the first movement was an allegro and the last movement was an allegro, the piece may very well take on sonata form. I want to say that this piece has a theme and variations form as well because of the many different sections to it. Each variation seems to change in key or tone because one may be played softly and then next loud and the next a variation of soft and loud. The violin stuck out to me the most in this piece. I would say that this piece has a coda because of the very distinct ending. Brahms lived from 1833 to 1897 suggesting that this work was composed in the nineteenth century which was known for its Romanticism period.
Johannes Brahms
Brahms lived from 1833 to 1897. Unlike many other famous composers who enjoyed flaunting themselves and their work, Brahms like to keep quiet and let his music speak for him. Brahms became an instant celebrity when Robert Schumann, an editor for a music journal, introduced him as the next Beethoven. Brahms was known to be sort of irritable and moody because of the criticism he received throughout his life from unrealistic expectations put on him. He was even compared to a hedgehog because of the "prickly" similarities between the animal and himself. Brahms was buried next to Beethoven in Vienna's Central Cemetery.
Brief History on the Performers
Pianist Maria Parrini age 18 began her study of music when she was only three years old. With her parents help, she continued on with her musical studies all throughout her childhood. Maria now studies music at the Cleveland Institute of Music and plans to graduate with a Bachelor's in Piano Performance. Maria grew up in Greenville, SC and founded the Chante Piano Trio with two other student colleagues through their attendance at the Greenville Fine Arts Center.
Violinist Paul Aguilar, age 18 is also a native of Greenville, SC. He also began is journey as a young child. Paul has participated in the USC Quartet Competition in 2014 and the WDAV 2014 Chamber Music Competition and won first place in both competition. Paul is a member of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. He is now attending the Cleveland Institute of Music along with Maria Parrini.
Cellist Stephen Hawkey, is from Taylors, SC. Stephen has participated and won numerous concerto and scholarship competitions around the Greenville, SC area. Stephen is currently a Sophomore at Bob Jones University pursuing a degree in cello performance.
Violinist Paul Aguilar, age 18 is also a native of Greenville, SC. He also began is journey as a young child. Paul has participated in the USC Quartet Competition in 2014 and the WDAV 2014 Chamber Music Competition and won first place in both competition. Paul is a member of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. He is now attending the Cleveland Institute of Music along with Maria Parrini.
Cellist Stephen Hawkey, is from Taylors, SC. Stephen has participated and won numerous concerto and scholarship competitions around the Greenville, SC area. Stephen is currently a Sophomore at Bob Jones University pursuing a degree in cello performance.
References
Bonds, M. E., Neal, J. R., Kaminski, J. S., & Robinson, N. S. (2009). Listen to this (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Brahms and Mozart Pictures:
Tous les compositeurs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2016, from http://www.partitionschorale.com/tous-les-compositeurs.php
Brahms and Mozart Pictures:
Tous les compositeurs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2016, from http://www.partitionschorale.com/tous-les-compositeurs.php