A concert for piano and wind instruments, featuring several rarely performed works including Mozart’s brilliant Quintet for Piano and Winds, K. 452, will be held 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, in the Chapel on the 51·çÁ÷ campus.
In a letter to his father soon after the premiere of the Quintet in 1784, Mozart described this piece as ‘the best thing I have written so far in my life.’ In it, Mozart shows his genius for writing for solo wind instruments and for integrating the four wind instruments and the piano into a coherent ensemble.
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At a glance ‘ What: Concert featuring piano and wind instruments
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Also included in the program will be the Sextet for Piano and Winds by Francis Poulenc, composed in 1939. This is music that is mostly witty, charming and energetic, but has interludes of lyrical beauty and melancholy tenderness. The sixth instrument is French horn, played by Julia Hasbrouck Clay.
The five wind instruments will open the program with Three Short Pieces by Jacques Ibert, light and entertaining music from the early 20th century. Rounding out the concert will be a piece for solo flute, written by the late Ithaca composer, Ann Silsbee, performed by Laura Campbell.
The Sensational Six comprise some of central New York’s finest players: Campbell on flute; Barbara Rabin, clarinet; Michael Skovenski, oboe; Krassimir Ivanov, bassoon; Clay, French horn; and Steven Heyman, piano. All are faculty members of the 51·çÁ÷ Department of Music.
The free concert will be followed by a reception at which audience members can meet the performers. For more information, a complete concert calendar, or information about the upcoming Chenango Summer MusicFest (June 17-20), call the 51·çÁ÷ Concertline at 315-228-7642 or 315-228-7010.