Chamber Concert

Saturday, October 28, 2023, 3 p.m.
Steinway Piano Gallery Detroit, 2700 E West Maple Rd, Commerce Charter Twp, MI 48390

Join us on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Steinway Piano Gallery Detroit for the chamber music concert “featuring compositions by Dvořák, Crosmer, and Dumitrescu.

The Program

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1906)

Terzetto in C Major, Op. 74 (B. 148)

Introduzione: Allegro ma non troppo

Larghetto

Scherzo: Vivace—Trio: Poco meno mosso

Tema con variazioni

Jeremy Crosmer (b. 1987)

String Quartet No. 6, “Reflections”

Tempo I Presto

Andante maestoso

Allegro vivace

Andante cantabile

Allegretto

INTERMISSION

Ion Dumitrescu (1913–1996)


String Quartet No. 1 in C Major

Allegro con brio

Andante soave molto semplice

Allegro scherzando giusto e rustico

Allegro risoluto

Program Notes

Antonín Dvořák—Terzetto in C Major, Op. 74 (B. 148)
Written in about two weeks, the Terzetto in C Major was composed in January 1887 with the intention of being performed by two of Dvořák’s violinist friends and himself on viola. Such a performance never took place, however, as the viola part proved to be too difficult for Dvořák. The first public performance of the Terzetto took place on March 30, 1887, in Prague, given by Karel Ondříček, Jan Buchal, and Jaroslav Šťastný. Composed in four movements, the work is a classic, full of beautiful themes and singing melodies contrasted with energetic moments, dotted and rapid rhythms, and tempo changes.

Jeremy Crosmer—String Quartet No. 6, “Reflections”
“Throughout my life, my music has been inspired by the great “Americana” composers such as Copland, Bernstein, and Ives. With this quartet, I wanted to reflect on what it means to be American. The special thing about being American is that it is different for everyone, because our identity is made up of fragments that reflect the people around us. For instance, my version of America includes a deeply rooted Asian culture. Forming a melodic throughline from these diverse fragments is the basis of the first movement. The American Dream is also a journey that differs for each individual: The second movement bubbles and echoes motifs from the first, as if from a distant world. Finally, being American means wandering through the unknown possibilities the future holds for each of us, and creating our own path along the way—a path that mirrors the experiences we’ve had and the people we’ve met.” – Jeremy Crosmer

Ion Dumitrescu —String Quartet No. 1 in C Major
Ion Dumitrescu was born in 1913 in the Vâlcea region of Romania and studied composition in Bucharest with renowned composers such as Mihail Jora and Ionel Perlea. He was an important representative of the Romanian school of composition, and his works are rooted in Romanian folklore. Dumitrescu’s String Quartet No. 1 is in the key of C major and has four movements. The first movement, composed in sonata form, has two melodic themes. The first one has a folk-dancing character while the second one is a singing theme. The second movement, Andante soave molto semplice, has the components of a lied, reminiscent of the Romanian folk song “Doina.” The third movement has a characteristic folk-tune rhythm full of life and dynamism. The final movement is a Rondo in which the principal melody is influenced by Romanian Christmas carols called “Colinde.” A second theme is then introduced that suggests the character of bagpipes. This concert marks the Detroit debut of this work.