Rhapsodic Nostalgia

Ernő Dohnányi (1877-1969) Serenade in C major, Op. 10

Jonathan Crow, violin
Juan-Migel Hernandez, viola
Roman Borys, cello

Dinuk Wijeratne (1978 – ) Love Triangle

Gryphon Trio

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115

James Campbell, clarinet
Borealis String Quartet


Our first concert takes a rhapsodic journey exploring contrasts in emotional depths of three composers spanning three centuries. Beginning the program is the Serenade in C major of the young Ernő Dohnányi composed between 1902-1904. This rustic and rollicking multi-movement suite is packed with musical riches beginning with a lively march. Each movement has a unique and expressive character and the piece finishes with a Rondo finale that suggests the influence of Beethoven’s string trios. The opening march cleverly remerges to close the Serenade with pleasing symmetry. Moving ahead to 112 years to an entirely different tonal landscape is Love Triangle by the Sri Lankan Canadian composer, Dinuk Wijeratne. In his single-movement piece, the music evolves rather rhapsodically exploring Middle Eastern-inspired melody and Indian Classical rhythmic patterns while also integrating a Western Classical sense of structure with three very improvisatory cadenzas from each instrument. The expressive and autumnal Clarinet Quintet in B minor by Johannes Brahms closes the concert. Written in 1891, it is filled with bittersweet nostalgia, a quality to which the darkly limpid sonority of the clarinet is perfectly suited. Contrasting tender and sublime moments with fiery improvisations, this deeply personal work comes to a resigned conclusion recalling the opening melody of the first movement of this masterful Quintet.

You may also like the following events from Cascade Peaks ChamberFest:

• This Wednesday, 18th June, 07:30 pm, Van Django at Cascade Peaks in Princeton
• This Saturday, 21st June, 07:30 pm, Eternal Resonances in Princeton
• This Sunday, 22nd June, 03:00 pm, Sorrowful Elation in Princeton

Also check out other Music events in Princeton, Entertainment events in Princeton, Concerts in Princeton.