The Moran Chamber Players will perform a program titled “Chamber Gems” on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Westbrook Music Building Rm. 119. The concert is free and open to the public.
The concert will also be live webcast. Visit https://music.unl.edu/webcasts the day of the performance for the link.
The Moran Chamber Players include John Bailey, flute; William McMullen, oboe; James Compton, bassoon; and Catherine Herbener, harpsichord and piano.
The program includes “Le Parnasse ou L’Apothéose de Corelli” by François Couperin; Luigi Merci’s “Sonata in G Major, op. 3, No. 2;” Heitor Villa-Lobos’ “From” Duo for oboe and bassoon; and Franz Reizenstein’s “Trio in A” (1953).
“The Moran Chamber Players program is built around Couperin’s ‘Apotheosis of Corelli,’ originally for two violins and continuo, and arranged by our trio for flute, oboe, and continuo (bassoon and harpsichord),” Bailey said. “Corelli was the father of the baroque ‘sonata da chiesa’ (church sonata) with slow/fast pairs of movements, and in this piece Couperin, one of the most important French baroque composers of his time, pays homage to Corelli, who in the sonata arrives at Mount Parnassus, home of the Muses. Couperin’s movements alternate Italian and French elements requiring varied performance practice, such as over-dotting and ‘notes inégales.’”
The other major work on the program features flute, oboe and piano in a trio by British composer Franz Reizenstein, a student of Hindemith.
“Hindemith’s influence can be heard in the facile counterpoint, tight motivic construction, and emphasis on quartal harmonies and melodies,” Bailey said. “Two other short works round out the program: a movement from a duo by Villa-Lobos for oboe and bassoon, and a lovely baroque bassoon sonata by Luigi Merci.”
Bailey is the Richard H. Larson Distinguished Professor of Music (flute) in the Glenn Korff School of Music. He is also principal flutist with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. He is an active recitalist, lecturer and masterclass teacher. He has conducted the International Flute Orchestra. For more on Bailey, visit https://go.unl.edu/bailey.
McMullen is Professor of Oboe and area head for woodwinds in the Glenn Korff School of Music. He is also principal oboe with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. He is a frequent recitalist throughout the U.S. with pianist Herbener. For more on McMullen, visit https://go.unl.edu/mcmullen.
Compton is a lecturer in bassoon in the Glenn Korff School of Music. He is principal bassoon for the Omaha Symphony. He started playing bassoon in 7th grade and received degrees from the University of Southern California and The Juilliard School.
Herbener is an adjunct faculty member in music at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska and operates a piano studio in Lincoln. She earned a B.M. in piano performance from Nebraska Wesleyan University an an M.M. in piano performance from Michigan State University. She appears as a collaborative pianist in recitals throughout the U.S.