Fine Music Friday
4 August 2023
3.00pm - 4.00pm
Free Event
Come along to enjoy an hour of fine music performed by students of the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music
Featuring a range of musical styles and instrumentation, experience the up and coming talent of the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music Students in the beautiful setting of the Waikato Museum galleries.
Please note: this event on 4 August was previously scheduled for 21 July.
Programme
The voice and piano students from the Waikato Conservatorium of Music present selections from three song cycles:
Liederkreis, Op.39 - Robert Schumann ( 1810- 1856 )
For solo voice and piano
Schumann's Liederkreis is a song cycle consisting of 12 songs setting to music the poems by Joseph von Eichendorrf. Schumann wrote, "The voice alone cannot reproduce everything or produce every effect; together with the expression of the whole the finer details of the poem should also be emphasized; and all is well so long as the vocal line is not sacrificed." Liederkreis, Op. 39, is regarded as one of the great song cycles of the 19th century, capturing, in essence, the romantic experience of landscape. Schumann wrote it starting in May 1840, the year in which he wrote such a large number of lieder that it is known as his "year of song" or Liederjahr.
Liebeslieder Waltzer, Op. 52 - Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
For four voices and piano four hands
These waltzes are a collection of love songs, originally written for voice 'ad libitum' and four hands. This ensemble was unique, as Brahms usually wrote for choir and organ or orchestra. Brahms resourcefully uses the voices in a number of ways, chorus, duets and solos. Brahms described the Liebeslieder as pieces of genuine Hausmusik, intended for informal musical gatherings. There are eighteen waltzes in total, depicting the many facets of love such as longing, reluctance, flirtation, excitement, passion, bliss, rejection, disappointment, sadness and loneliness.
Other Love Songs (2010) - Stephen Hough (1961 - )
For four voices and piano three hands
Stephen Hough's Other Love Songs is a contemporary song cycle of 8 contrasting songs using texts from various literary sources. It was written to be performed after the Brahms Liebeslieder.
"I was delighted when Alisdair Hogarth asked if I would like to write a song cycle for The Prince Consort as a companion for the two Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzer sets, but I decided for the sake of contrast, to avoid waltzes, and to avoid setting poems about romantic love between a man and a woman.
‘Other Love Songs’ explore other kinds of love; and, as a symbol of this, the accompaniment is for three rather than four hands at one piano.
Love in its many forms conquers all " - Stephen Hough
With special thanks to our sponsors The Dame Malvina Major Foundation with the support of the Greenlea Foundation Trust
And thanks to -
- Francis Cowan - Head of collaborative piano at Waikato University
- Stephen De Pledge - Pianist and piano teacher at Auckland University
- Katherine Austin - Pianist and piano teacher at Waikato and Auckland Universities
- Vocal coaches - David Harper, Anna Leese, Kristin Darragh, Gina Sanders and Ian Campbell
- Anna Leese for introducing us to the wonderful song cycle by Stephen Hough
Other Dates: