The Brahms Two Songs, Op. 91 are among the most beloved of viola chamber works - gorgeous, iconic pieces that represent a true marriage of voice and viola as equal partners. However, most performers never venture beyond Brahms into the rich, extensive repertoire for this combination of performers. In this lecture-recital we share our experience of taking “next steps” into the repertoire with compelling works by composers such as Charles Martin Loeffler, Frank Bridge, Joseph Marx and Hermann Reutter, and include suggestions for further exploration.
PROGRAM:
(Repertoire to be selected from the following)
Johannes Brahms: Zwei Gesänge, Op. 91
I. Gestillte Sehnsucht
II. Geistliches Wiegenlied
Charles Martin Loeffler: Quatre Poèmes, Op. 5
I. La Cloche fêlée
II. Dansons la gigue!
III. Le son du cor
IV. Sérénade
Frank Bridge: Three Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano
I. Far, far from each other
II. Where is it that our soul doth go?
III. Music, when soft voices die
Joseph Marx: Durch Einsamkeiten
Thomas Clark: Landscapes in Motion (2016, world premiere)
I. Riding backwards on a Train
II. Sailing at Sunset
Hermann Reutter: Fünf antike Oden nach Gedichten von Sappho
I. Wie hernieder vom Berge
Violist Ames Asbell has performed in over 30 countries on five continents, in venues ranging from rock clubs to concert halls. She is currently Principal Viola of the Austin Opera orchestra, a member of the Austin Symphony, and performs regularly in the Arizona Musicfest and Victoria Bach Festival orchestras. As founding violist of the Tosca String Quartet, she is an active recording artist and a fixture in Austin’s vibrant classical crossover scene. A dedicated artist-teacher, she is currently Assistant Professor of Viola at Texas State University and founding director of the Texas State String Project.
An active recitalist, chamber musician, oratorio and concert soloist, and equally at home on the opera stage, lyric mezzo-soprano Soon Cho has gained recognition as a versatile performer. Recent performances have taken her across the United States and to Italy, France, Belgium, Bulgaria and South Korea. Deeply committed to education as an artist teacher, Dr. Cho is on the faculty at Pacific Lutheran University as well as the Cornish-American Song Institute, a three-week intensive study of Art Song in Oxford and Falmouth in England.
Joey M. Martin is professor of music at Texas State University where he serves as the Associate Dean for the College of Fine Arts and Communication and as the Director of Choral Activities. In addition, Dr. Martin has served as artistic director for the Alamo City Men’s Chorale, and with Craig Hella Johnson and Michelle Schumann on the creative team for the Victoria Bach Festival. As a pianist, he enjoys collaborating with vocal artists in recitals serving as coach/accompanist, and with instrumentalists in small chamber groups.
