05.02.2026 SNR Singleton Program Notes

ABOUT THE ARTISTS Ty’lei Singleton, violin Ty’lei Singleton is a senior music composition student at Wesst Chester University with a violin focus. He has performed with the West Chester University Symphony Orchestra and other small ensemble groups for new compositions. Ty’lei has studied with Carolyn Gaul and Carlos Rubio. He has composed music for acclaimed ensembles such as Network for New Music, The Criterions, the WCU Wind Symphony, the Dali Quartet, and Kitchen Sink. His works include large ensemble writing and cross-cultural fusions featuring Latin rhythms, jazz harmony, and avant garde styles. In the future, he plans to travel and explore more diverse music genres around the globe.

PROGRAM NOTES Violin Concerto in G Op. 24, Oskar Rieding (1846-1916) Oskar Rieding was a German violinist, composer, and teacher who was born in Banie Pomerania, current day Poland.

His works include exercises and performance pieces for his violin students that have become widely popular amongst a global audience. His Violin Concerto in G features a bold theme and a tender, loving melodies.

Three Romances for Violin and Piano (III), Clara Schumann (1819-1896) Clara Schumann was a pianist and composer from Leipzig, Germany. Her Three Romances for Violin and Piano were composed in 1853 and features a passionate, flowing melody over an unrelenting piano accompaniment. Her third romance became one of her most famous chamber works for violon and piano.

Café 1930, Astor Piazzolla (1846-1916) Astor Piazzolla was a tango composer born in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He was a revolutionary figure in the transformation of tango and is respected for his large ensemble works including More Seasons, Libertango, and Oblivion. Cafe 1930 was written in 1986 as the second movement from Piazzolla’s Historie de Tango. It features heart pulling melodies and Latin rhythms that focus more on listening rather than the dance of Tango.

Violin Sonata in B minor (allegro agitato), Alexey Shor/Mikail Pletnev (1970-1957) Alexey Shor is a Ukrainian-American composer who was born in 1970. Hs violin concerto in B minor was later reworked by pianist Mikhail Pletnev as a sonata for violin and piano. The piece was composed in 2021 and performed in 2024 by Daniel Lozakovich and Mikhail Pletnev. It features a fast and intense melody that is constantly transformed into new material.

Space Dog, Ty’lei Singleton (b. 2002) Space Dog was written in 2023 for the Dali Quartet. It is based on the experiences of the dog Laika that was sent into space by the Soviet Union. Laika was sent on a one-way trip without a plan to return home and quickly died before overheating from stress and spacecraft malfunctions. The quartet was originally written as four movements but was later reenvisioned as a single movement encapsulating both Laika’s bravery and her grief.

La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin, Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Claude Debussy was born in Germain-en-Laye, France. He was a leading composer and pianist who created musical color and atmosphere. He wrote La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) in 1910 for solo piano and was later arranged for violin and piano by Arthur Hartmann in the same year. The music features a slow and loving melody that effortlessly brings out the natural timbre of each instrument.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my professor Carlos Rubio and the West Chester violin studio for helping me improve as a musician. I would also like to express gratitude for my friends and family for supporting my music career and showing interest in my music both as a composer and performer.