The UTC Music Department was recently gifted with a Yamaha concert grand piano from the estate of Dr. Eugene Hames, through the generosity of Lakin Boyd. UTC Associate Professor Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai will present a dedicatory recital on Saturday, November 8 at 8 p.m. in the Cadek Recital Hall (located at 715 Oak St., directly behind the UTC Lupton Library). The recital is presented free of charge and is open to the general public.
Tsai has chosen for this recital the theme of “American Diversity” as demonstrated in the works of five American composers ranging from the 19th to the 21st centuries, specifically, Arthur Farwell, Samuel Barber, William Grant Still, Edward MacDowell, and Robert Muczynski.
“Though they had differing compositional techniques and aesthetic principles, all five composers shared the same freedom of genuine expression,” Tsi said. Four of the works to be presented consist of several short lyric pieces which are thematically related to each other, a form of composition favored by Romantic period composers. “Learning these precious miniature pieces has been a journey of discovery and a humbling experience, and I feel especially fortunate to have the opportunity to immerse myself in this diverse culture,” Tsi added.
Arthur Farwell’s “American Indian Melodies, Op. 11” are a collection of harmonizations of ten songs collected on phonograph cylinders by anthropologist Alice C. Fletcher from Native American Indians. The pieces tell a story of the life of the Native American Indian. Samuel Barber’s “Excursions, Op. 20” are four explorations of American musical idioms including a boogie-woogey! William Grant Still’s “Three Visions” are transcendental depictions of the journey of the soul from death and destruction to ultimate restoration of hope. Edward MacDowell’s “Woodland Sketches, Op. 51” are a musical description of the New England countryside. Ending the program will be Robert Muczynski’s “Toccata, Op. 15” which the composer describes as “rage over a lost car.” A virtuoso work featured often in piano competitions, Muczynski describes it as having the momentum of an avalanche propelling itself non-stop to the climatic ending.
Tsai is a UC Foundation Associate Professor of Music at UTC. Her career took off at the age of eight when she was admitted to the prestigious government program for musically talented children in her native city Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Raised and trained in Argentina, German and the US, she has won numerous awards. Her performing experience extends beyond the concert hall to broadcasts in Buenos Aires and Chattanooga and source music for film and theater productions in Los Angeles. She has enjoyed global success as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
For further information contact the UTC Music Dept. Office, 423-425-4601.
