Program for Thursday, March 26, 2015

Below is the program for a short concert to be held at Saint Stephen’s Church in Middlebury on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 12:15.  Bring a bag lunch!

Emily Sunderman, viola and violin and Cynthia Huard, piano

Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, Allegro Moderato by Franz Schubert

The Sonata in A minor for Arpeggione and Piano, D. 821, was written by Franz Schubert in Vienna in November 1824. The sonata is the only substantial composition for the arpeggione (which was essentially a 6 stringed cello). It was composed during the same period as the Death and the Maiden Quartet, when Schubert was suffering from syphilis and frequent episodes of depression. The sonata was published posthumously in 1871 at a time enthusiasm for the arpeggione instrument had vanished.  It is played today on viola with piano. Special thanks to Paul Reynolds my viola teacher for working with me on this piece.

Andantino by Fritz Kreisler

Andantino was published in 1910 and originally attributed to Giovanni Battista Martini.  Friedrich “Fritz” Kreisler (1875 – 1962) was an Vienna-born violinist and composer. Kreisler is considered one of the famous violinists of all time.  He also published a number of pieces for the violin, many of which he attributed to earlier composers.  In 1935, Kreisler revealed that he actually wrote the pieces. Special thanks to Arturo Delmoni, my violin teacher for working with me on this piece and also the Sicilienne and Rigaudon many years ago when I lived in Boston.

Liebesleid by Fritz Kreisler

Liebesleid was published in 1905 and originally attributed to Joseph Lanner.  

Sicilienne and Rigaudon by Fritz Kreisler

Sicilienne and Rigaudon was published in 1910 and originally attributed to Francois Francoeur.

Songs my Mother Taught Me by Antonin Dvorak

Songs My Mother Taught Me was originally published in 1880 a vocal piece set to a poem by Adolf Heyduk.  It was later transcribed and published in 1915 by Fritz Kreisler for violin and piano. Below is a translation of the poem. 

Songs my mother taught me, in the days long vanished

Seldom from her eyelids were the teardrops banished. Now I teach my children, each melodious measure,

Oft the tears are flowing, oft they flow from my memories treasure.