David's groupmuse on Sun, Oct 26

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 784

Edward MacDowell: Woodland Sketches
To a Wild Rose
To a Water-Lily

Dora Pejacevic: Flowers’ Life
Rose
Lily

Boris Papandopulo: Studies
Tempo di Tango
Tempo di Blues

Margaret Bonds: Troubled Water

The first part of the program will feature Schubert’s A minor Sonata. The first movement opens with an austere melody punctuated by spooky chords, as if taking us on a journey through desolate snowy landscapes haunted by menacing ghosts. In stark contrast, the glowingly warm and sweet sounds of the choral second theme bring relief, comfort, safety, and hope. The second movement is short, and relatively relaxed, with a song-like theme being ornamented and developed with brilliant twists and turns. The third movement cycles through sections of clever counterpoint, orchestral grandeur, and gentle plaintiveness, each time modulating a bit further and taking us on a wild adventure until it reaches a grand finale in octaves.

The second part of the program will contrast music from Croatia and America. The American MacDowell’s serene statements of floral adoration might have more in common with the Croatian Pejacevic’s flower life than first meets the ear. Both composers lived and studied in Germany for a while and drew inspiration from the lavish high romantic style popular there in the late 19th Century. The rise of jazz and other popular genres in the 20th Century inspired the Croatian Papandopulo for his imaginative piano studies. The Chicagoan Margaret Bonds took inspiration from the Spiritual Wade in the Water for a touching and dazzling piano fantasy.