Living Room Music by the Coast: Classical with a Dash of Tango

Johann Sebastian Bach - Violin Sonata No. 2 in a minor BWV 1003 - “Andante” and “Allegro”

Bach wrote a set of six works for solo violin, the Sonatas and Partitas. Over centuries, they have maintained their place as a core repertoire for solo violinists. The violinist is required to play many voices at once just like a piano or an ensemble, especially in the Andante of the second sonata, where the soloist consistently plays a heartbeat-like line throughout the whole piece while playing other voices, on one instrument.

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 30 Op. 109 3rd movement

The third movement of the final three piano sonatas ever written and published by Beethoven. They are some of his most mature, and intimate works, and the 3rd movement of Op. 109 is considered one of the greatest. The theme is a glass half full, hopeful chorale, the following variations wandering and exploring the hopefulness of humanity.

Pablo de Sarasate Spanish Dances - Romanze Andaluza

The third of Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate’s Spanish Dances, a romantic and flirtatious piece, filled with elegance and wit. During this era of the late 1880s, short forms of dance pieces were very popular, most notably the Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms.

William Bolcom - Graceful Ghost Rag
A nostalgic rag written by William Bolcom, an American composer and pianist. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, and studied with Messiaen in France. He was composer in residence and a professor at University of Michigan, and frequently performs his own compositions.

Gershwin/Frolov Fantasy on Themes from Porgy and Bess (1987)

A transcription of Gershwin’s popular opera Porgy and Bess for violin and piano. Popular songs and themes are woven together in a fantasy-like structure, with graceful and smooth transitions. The melody switches between the violin and the piano, and ends with a bombastic finale.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Violin Sonata No. 9 Op. 47 (1803) “Kreutzer” 1st and 2nd movement

The last violin sonata Beethoven ever wrote before taking a 14 year hiatus before writing his final one. The epitome of Beethoven’s “middle stages” of his compositional career, filled with heroism, and grandeur. The first movement opens majestically, and takes off running, while the second movement brings the music back down to earth, in an intimate and cantabile fashion.

Astor Piazzolla - Libertango for Violin and Piano

Born as an instrumental concert piece, there have been many transcriptions and versions of this piece for different instruments, and voices alike. As a classically trained composer, this piece symbolized his break from the classical forms of tango, to “tango nuevo” a new form of tango where new elements of music became incorporated into tango. The name of the piece means “liberty” and “tango”, combined into one word.

Tonight, we will perform a mixed program stemming from the influence of Western Classical Art music. From the greats of J.S. Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven, to the American greats in Astor Piazzolla and George Gershwin, we perform a program of historical and modern compositions of violin and piano repertoire, with a dash of tango!