A Celebration of Bay Area Music

Sunday afternoon clarinetist Brenden Guy (pictured) presented a pleasing chamber recital of new music. About a dozen musicians, in various combinations, played works by 7 composers. Only one composer is dead, giving this program a higher freshness quotient than American Mavericks. The young performers, drawn from the SF Conservatory of Music, are friends as well as colleagues, giving the event an intimate feel. The single movement of David Conte's Sonata for Clarinet & Piano is nicely melodic, & Mr. Guy's playing was unfussy & open. A wind quintet gave a lively performance of Eight Figments, a suite of short, contrasting character pieces by Nicholas Pavkovic. Before playing the ethereal China Gates by John Adams, pianist Sarah Cahill showed us the original score. Her playing was clear & even. She suffered a memory lapse near the end & stopped to open the music to get back on track. The 1st half ended with an appealing Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Cello & Piano by Joseph Stillwell. I liked its elegiac 1st movement & mordant 2nd movement with its raucaous finale. Both the piece & the performance were completely engaging.

Mr. Guy's playing was free & cheerful in Aaron Pike's Child's Play for vioin, clarinet & piano. The music is bright & playful & fits the piece's title. Conductor Barnaby Palmer led an ensemble of 5 in Dan Becker's S.T.I.C., which is dense, busy & chugging. Violinist Kevin Rogers was a virtuosic soloist in Bloch's Nigun, playing deep into the strings. Mr. Conte introduced his Sextet closing the program, explaining that he arranged it from his orchestral piece that pays homage to Copland. It is melodic & expansive, & even in reduction it had a rich texture. I enjoyed the sextet's lively performance & the spirited playing of cellist Michelle Kwon.

Besides Mr. Conte, composers Mr. Pavkovic, Mr. Stillwell & Mr. Pike were also present. Mr. Becker was ill & unable to attend. The grateful Mr. Guy presented flowers to some of the performers & took a moment to thank all the participants & the audience. He also acknowledged Ms. Ames, no doubt embarrassing her against her wishes.

§ A Celebration Of Bay Area Music
Presented by Brenden Guy

Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1978): David Conte (b. 1955)
Brenden Guy, clarinet
Miles Graber, piano

Eight Figments (2010): Nicholas Pavkovic (b. 1963)
Valinor Winds
Sasha Launer,flute
Jessica Huntsman, oboe
Brenden Guy, clarinet
Alexis Luque, bassoon
Sivan Adato,Jrench horn

China Gates (1977): John Adams (b. 1947)
Sarah Cahill, piano

Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano (2012): Joseph Stillwell (b. 1984)
Brenden Guy, clarinet
Kevin Rogers, violin
Erin Wang, cello
Aaron Pike, piano

Child's Play (2011): Aaron Pike (b. 1984)
Kevin Rogers, violin
Brenden Guy, clarinet
Aaron Pike, piano

S.T.I.C (1995): Dan Becker (b. 1960)
Kevin Rogers, violin
Michelle Kwon, cello
Sasha Launer,flute
Brenden Guy, clarinet
Miles Graber, piano
Barnaby Palmer, conductor

Nigun - No.2 from Baal Shem Suite (J923): Ernest Bloch (1880 - 1959)
Kevin Rogers, violin
Miles Graber piano

Sextet (1999; arranged 2011): David Conte (b. 1955)
Tess Varley, violin
Cassandra Bequary, violin
Kevin Rogers, viola
Michelle Kwon, cello
Brenden Guy, clarinet
Miles Graber, piano

Sunday, March 18, 2012, 4:30p
First Unitarian Universalist Church