Date: Fri 07-May-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SARAH

Quick Words:

NFoM-Greenleaf-Players

Full Text:

CONCERT REVIEW: Closure For 21ST NFoM Season

By June S. April

Culminating the 21st year of splendid performances, the final concert of

Newtown Friends of Music's 1998-99 season was particularly memorable.

The Greenleaf Chamber Players have that wonderful distinction of being

comprised of individually outstanding musicians who are able to come together

and blend their talents to perform exquisitely as an ensemble. Founded in 1993

by the oboist Peggy Pearson, the Greenleaf Players is comprised of a core of

four musicians who augment their numbers as warranted by the works they

perform.

For the May 2 season-closing concert at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, eight

musicians were involved in varying numbers to perform works of Telemann,

Glinka and Street.

Rather than the grand piano, at the beginning of the afternoon a magnificent

harpsichord graced the stage. Performing the Baroque music of George Philipp

Telemann, harpsichordist Edward Brewer joined Ms Pearson, violinist Nick Eanet

and cellist Marcy Rosen to sensitively and brilliantly perform the six

different sections that make up the Quartet in E minor.

The second offering of the program was an original work commissioned by Ms

Pearson. The award-winning composer Tison Street had been invited by Ms

Pearson to attend the concert and he accepted.

The tall, slim, modest gentleman was thrilled with the performance, he said

during Sunday afternoon's concert intermission. "I wish this had been

recorded," he said smiling. "They performed it perfectly."

Mr Street's Adagio in E-flat for Oboe and Strings is exceptionally lyrical and

beautiful. For a contemporary composer whose works are normally of an atonal

nature, the new Adagio was conceived of as "melodic and expressive, rather

than virtuosic; song-like rather than concert-like." Influenced by the

Expressionist School of musical composition, the work recalls the brilliance

of Faure, with the innovative creative melodies of Richard Strauss, underlined

by the beauty of Bruckner. Adagio in E-flat calls for multiple listening

opportunities; it nourishes the spirit.

The third and final work on the program was a rousing piece by the Russian

composer Mikhail Glinka. The grand piano had been brought back on stage, and

joining noted pianist Diane Walsh were the violinists David Chan and Nick

Eanet.

Rounding out the group for the Glinka piece was violist Lois Martin, cellist

Marcy Rosen, and double bassist Deborah Dunham.

Published and first performed in 1834, Gran Sestetto Originale has that

strongly nationalistic folk quality that is characteristic of Moussorgsky,

Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov, all of whom influenced Glinka's music. The three

movements generated excitement from the audience.

Part way through the "Allegro," the first movement, the town hall's ubiquitous

emergency siren suddenly sounded. In true tradition of theatre, the musicians

tried to play through it but realized it wasn't worth trying to compete, so

they stopped and waited until the wailing ceased.

Once resumed, the Andante was graceful and elegant, and deliciously melodious.

The vigorous finale brought the audience to its feet, bringing an exciting and

spirited musical experience to a close.

This season has seen fuller houses and increases in the number of young people

attending. This is due in large part to the very persistent work of Ellen

Parrella, president of the Newtown Friends of Music, who now, in addition to

the usual publicity channels, also sends out reminder postcards to schools.

They seem to be heeding the call.

The consistent quality of programs and musicians brought into this area

through NFoM is most fortunate. The 1999-2000 season offerings promise to

continue to support the excellence of musical opportunities this organization

offers.