On Tuesday, April 11, 2017, UTM Department of Music hosted a piano ensemble recital in the Blankenship Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Building.
Performing in the piano recital was Gian Garma, sophomore UTM music major; Emily Campbell, freshman UTM music major; John Alex Warner, junior music major; Dr. Elaine Harriss, UTM Professor of Music; Linda Williams, a Union City piano teacher; Linda Farmer, a Dresden piano teacher; and Rita Winter, a Union City piano and voice teacher.
The piano recital began with a piece by George Fredric Handel and Carl Czerny entitled Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. The piece was performed by Farmer, Williams and Winter. Up next was a selection performed by Garma and Warner titled Sonata for Piano Four Hands. First composed by Francis Poulenc, the piece was written to be played by two musicians.
Campbell and Harriss then performed Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S. Bach and Myra Hess, a song which was initially written as a hymn. This was followed by a piece composed by Franz Schubert entitled Fantasie in F Minor, performed by Elaine Harriss and Linda Farmer.
“Schubert wrote more music than any other composer,” said Harriss. “He wrote a lot of this music as he made it up sitting at a piano at a friend’s house which is why there are so many pieces by him. He ends this piece very bombastic, then slows it down, which makes it cynical.”
Following this was a piece by J.S. Bach’s grandson, W.F.E. Bach, titled Das Dreyblatt (The Trefoil). The piece was performed by Warner, Harriss and Garma.
“This piece was a fun piece to play,” said Harriss. “This musical piece is not serious, but it’s delightful and fun, and it’s supposed to be humorous.”
The event was attended by a nearly full house.
