SPECIAL PROJECTS
Coming in May, 2010
Johann Sebastian
Bach: The Eloquence and Wit of the Goldberg Variations
an
evening enrichment course in 4 sessions, the University of Denver
Register
at https://universitycollege.du.
“China through the Lens of Piano Music”
A civilization’s
music reveals its philosophy, style, and identity. This performance project
gives the perspective of award-winning pianist Hsing-ay Hsu, a
Chinese-American, on Chinese culture through Chinese piano music. The
performance component includes a wide variety of Chinese music, from ancient
tunes to new commissions. The interwoven film segments with live narration
involve a historical and a philosophical overview of Chinese aesthetics, and of
the Chinese “experience” lived by Ms. Hsu and her family.
DVD available through
the CD Shop page.
Professional
Clinics (please email for detailed information)
Conquering Performance
Anxiety
Creating a Music Career
In the Practice Room
Messiaen
Centennial Celebration
Program I: ENTERING THE WORLD OF
MESSIAEN
50 minutes lecture-recital
One of the most sensual and exotic
composers of the 20th century, Olivier Messiaen created a new sound
world to express his mystical Catholic faith. Hsu discusses the synthesis
of nature, the French lineage, synesthesia and the visual arts, and other
disparate elements in Messiaen’s works. The two featured pieces are
Messiaen’s Premiere Communion de la Vierge and Regard de l’Eglise
d’amour from Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jesus. This
lecture-recital enables the non-scholar to develop a personal relationship with
Messiaen’s musical art.
Program II: THE FRENCH
CONNECTION
50 minutes solo and chamber music
Guest violinist Judith Ingolfsson
in Messiaen’s Theme & Variations
French music has evolved quite
dramatically over the last few centuries, and yet they share certain
aesthetics. A love for rich harmonies, for nature, and for poetic
renderings draw together this program of Couperin, Debussy, and Messiaen.
Program III: FAITH IN THE
MUSIC OF MESSIAEN
50 minutes lecture-recital
French composer Olivier Messiaen
expressed his devout Catholic faith through his musical art. Among his
numerous sacred works is the masterpiece Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jesus,
or “Twenty Contemplations on the Baby Jesus”, written in 1944. Hsu
explains basic compositional devices that represent the theological ideas
behind this grand work, and performs Premiere Communion de la Vierge and
Regard de l’Eglise d’amour.
Program IV: VISIONS DE
L’AMEN
50 minutes piano duo
Guest pianist David Korevaar
“Visions de l’Amen” is one of the
most striking 20th century works for piano duo. The idea
of “Amen” comes from Ernest Hello’s definition: “expressions of the creative
art, obedient acceptance, spiritual desire, and eternal consummation”.
Messiaen evokes the majesty and power of the eternal world with sounds of
gamelan, jewels, and birdsong.
