Chamber Concert

JSO’s Chamber Music Series to begin March 14 

Four musicians from the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) have joined together as the Kalamazoo String Quartet and will present a chamber music concert on March 14 in celebration of the coming of spring. The event is part of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s annual Chamber Music Series.

The intimate, instrumental program will begin at 3 p.m. in the Peter A. Weatherwax Hall, 215. W. Michigan Ave.

The chamber music pieces to be played are String Quartet in D Major, op. 71, no. 2 by Austrian composer Franz Haydn (1732-1809); Italian Serenade, which Austrian Hugo Wolf (1860-1903) wrote in 1887; and Under an Ancient Tree (String Quartet No. 4, op. 208, no. 2), a 1970 piece by New England composer Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000). 

Performers will include Julia Neckermann, 1st violin; Lisa Williams, 2nd violin; Grace Byrd, viola; and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s former principal cellist David Peshlakai.

“The delightful Haydn quartet was written just after his first successful tour of London,” Peshlakai said. “Not surprisingly, for this quartet he uses some of the same devices he used in the in ‘London' symphonies.’ The shortest in his set, Haydn still finds room to be creative within each movement, as is his want with this medium.”

Wolf’s serenade is a wonderful souvenir of Italy.  

“Wolf's penchant for song writing and Italy's love of all things vocal make for a very lyrical single movement work for quartet,” Peshlakai said. “Beside the melody, there is a very present bird song played by the second violin, not too be missed.  And with a nod to the opera lovers, there is a recitative in the middle of dramatic intensity, as the cello briefly interrupts the melodic flow. None of this overshadows the gay mood of the piece,” he added. “Clearly Wolf had a wonderful time in Italy and wished to convey it to his listeners.”

Under an Ancient Tree is a beautiful eulogy for a tree that Alan Hovhaness visited as a child at his uncle's house. In describing this selection, Peshlakai said, “Interludes of sadness mix with memories of the fun times he had under that tree as a boy.  The piece ends is a joyful chorale played by the cello of these happy memories as birds are singing in the upper instruments.  It’s a eulogy, but one which will leave you smiling.”

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Admission is $10, payable at the door.  Coffee, tea and pastries are included in the price and seating for this recital will be at tables (instead of the usual graduated rows). Reservations are requested. Please phone 517-782-3221 or visit the JSO concert website www.jacksonsymphony.org.