UNEARTHING HIDDEN GEMS: MUSIC FOR OBOE, VIOLIN, VIOLA, AND PIANO

Friday 2 June 2023, 19:00 hr

Length: One hour and twenty minutes with intermission

Programme

Hans Gál: Suite for viola and piano, Opus 102a

I. Cantabile

II. Furioso

III. Con grazia

IV. Burla

Sam Wu: Glass Terminals for oboe and piano

David Gompper: Star of County Down for violin and piano

Intermission

Hans Gál: Impromptu for viola and piano

Hans Gál: Trio for oboe, violin and viola, Op. 94

I. Pastorale

II. Intermezzo grazioso

III. Intermezzo agitato

IV. Introduzione. Mediation on a Scottish Tune

Artists

OBOE: Courtney Miller

VIOLIN: Scott Conklin

VIOLA: Christine Rutledge

PIANO: David Gompper

UNEARTHING HIDDEN GEMS: MUSIC FOR OBOE, VIOLIN, VIOLA, AND PIANO

The International Artist Series, in collaboration with the University of Iowa School of Music, explores the remarkable works of composers Hans Gál, Sam Wu, and David Gompper, taking the audience on a journey through captivating melodies and expressive musical landscapes as we unearth these hidden gems in the chamber music repertoire.

The program begins with Hans Gál's Suite for Viola and Piano, Opus 102a. Dating from 1949, this suite showcases Gál's deep understanding and affinity for the viola. Originally composed for viola and orchestra, this revised version comprises four character pieces inspired by Schumann's Märchenbilder. Gál's poignant compositions reflect his personal journey, as he wrote extensively for the viola during his refuge in Edinburgh after fleeing Austria due to the rise of the Nazis.

Next, we encounter Sam Wu's Glass Terminals for Oboe and Piano. Wu's music embraces the beauty found in blurred boundaries, often incorporating extra-musical themes such as architecture, urban planning, climate science, and the search for extraterrestrial life. With numerous accolades to his name, including recognition from the American Composers Orchestra and the Tasmanian Symphony, Sam Wu's compositions resonate globally, transcending cultural barriers and captivating audiences worldwide.

David Gompper's Star of County Down for Violin and Piano is a fantasia, a genre that has a rich heritage of its own. The principal melody is present virtually from the initial to the final measures, and the rhythmic vamping and contrapuntal interplay between violin and piano in the opening strain is but a harbinger of things to come. The two instruments continually trade off portions of the melody and do so in a manner reminiscent of protracted figure/ground exchanges..

During August 1940, in Edinburgh, Hans Gál composed the piece "Impromptu" specifically for his 15-year-old son, Peter. At the time, Peter had been studying the violin and expressed a desire to explore the viola in order to participate in a youth orchestra. As a result, "Impromptu" was crafted to be accessible for beginners, featuring straightforward and approachable musical elements. The composition's Romantic harmonies, accompanied by an equally effortless piano part, create a pleasing and harmonious duet that can be enjoyed and performed by musicians at various skill levels.

The concert concludes with Hans Gál's Trio for Oboe, Violin, and Viola, Op. 94. Written during Gál's prolific years, this work exemplifies his craftsmanship and ability to create musical dialogues within a chamber ensemble. The trio combines the distinctive voices of the oboe, violin, and viola, intertwining their melodies in a rich tapestry of sound.