About a decade ago, after the conclusion of one of my students’ recitals, the father of one jokingly said that he looked forward to hearing the pieces again next year. Now, I think I have always taken pains to assign varied and interesting music to my kids – indeed, he was likely referring to the method book material that the youngest students all play. However, the comment gave me pause. Was I exploring enough? Were our concerts interesting enough? There is plenty of repertoire – like Burgmüller’s Op. 100, C.P.E. Bach’s “Solfeggietto,” Beethoven’s “für Elise,” and a handful of Sonatinas that I frequently assign. They have long seemed to me to be both popular with the students and extremely valuable to their progress and sense of accomplishment. Other famous pieces find students who long to play them. The “Moonlight” Sonata, “Clair de Lune,” the G-minor Ballade – these, too, come up year after year. In these cases, the value is that students now have a goal they have set for themselves, often displaying a new-found tenacity to push themselves and strive.
Still, the heart of the father’s comment has become a mantra for me: I look forward to hearing new music next year. Indeed, there is such endless variety out there – old, modern, and truly contemporary – that it almost seems an embarrassment to keep hearing Burgmüller’s Arabesque (it’s a great piece, children love playing it, but there’s so much else that can take its place). I can tell you firsthand that the search for new music has become a source of continued joy and excitement for me personally – the more I find, the more I want to hear! And while no one tires of hearing great pieces played well, my students and parents love the variety and surprises we bring to our homes and performances. Keep searching!
It is in this spirit of exploration that the Guild welcomes pianist Alexandra Mascolo-David of Central Michigan University this Thursday (9/18/2015) to Kerrytown Concert House in a workshop entitled:
Teaching compositions from Latin America and the music of Francisco Mignone
Francisco Mignone was a Brazilian composer and a contemporary of Heitor Villa-Lobos. He has a considerable output of instrumental music and opera but also much that is beautifully written for piano solo. Though known for an eclectic style – at various times nationalistic, academic, improvisatory, or even atonal – he is perhaps best loved as a soulful and melodic interpreter of Brazil’s folk-music heritage. Dr. Mascolo-David is an internationally known performer who has recorded two volumes of Mignone’s works and performed them to outstanding reviews from New York’s Carnegie Hall to her home country of Portugal. Her presentation will discuss his intermediate-level teaching pieces plus those of other Latin American composers. Besides Mignone, compositions by Ernst Mahle, Marlos Nobre, Villa-Lobos, Osvaldo Lacerda, Ernesto Nazareth, Octavio Pinto, Ernesto Lecuona, Astor Piazzola, Alberto Ginastera, Carlos Guastavino, and António Carlos Jobim will be addressed.
As a special treat, Dr. Mascolo-David will perform of several of Mignone’s waltzes which she has recently recorded.
Please note that these events are conducted in conjunction with the Guild’s monthly “formal meeting” and presentations are generally preceded by a discussion of Guild business. The meeting officially begins at 9:00, whereas guest speakers generally start around 10:00. These events are open to non-members, though space is limited. Please contact our vice president if you are a non-member who wishes to attend.