Tonight we feature music by Amy Beach, Joan Tower, Marion Bauer and Gustav Mahler.

Gustav Mahler is known as the composer of ten-ish unwieldy Symphonies, numerous song cycles, and as one of the most polarizing musical figures of the late 19th century. Noticeably absent from his compositional output are any substantive chamber works. There is one exception, however, that of a single movement for piano quartet in A minor. We pair Mahler’s single movement with music by three American composers, Amy Beach, Marion Bauer and Joan Tower.

Originally hailing from Walla Walla (woo-hoo!), Marion Bauer made her mark in New York City as a composer, author and professor, influencing such luminaries as Aaron Copland and Milton Babbitt. She was also the first in a long line of Americans to study with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Her three-movement Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 22, is required listening for any self-respecting music-loving resident or visitor to the Walla Walla Valley.

Rounding out the program are two works for flute and string quartet, the Theme and Variations, Op. 80, by Amy Beach and Rising, by Joan Tower (2009).

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Tom and Margo Scribner.

Festival Founder and Artistic Director, Timothy Christie, usually hosts and moderates the Portrait of an Artist Series, asking probing questions of the Festival’s roster of artists and revealing aspects of musicians’ lives that do not typically make it into the artist biographies in your program book. For the kick-off event of the 2015 Season, Tim becomes the subject of the portrait.

This provokes many a question: Who will host? Will it be courteous, or will it turn into a flat out roast? In all likelihood, there will be a roast-like tenor to the proceedings, but as you might guess, there is only one way to find out. Garrison Creek Cellars lends the acoustics of a Renaissance chapel and bucolic perfection to the proceedings.

ANNOUNCED FROM THE STAGE

Scotland the Brave, traditional — with Charlotte Christie

Duo in G Major for violin and viola, III: Rondo, Mozart — with Maria Sampen

Trio Sonata in D Major, Op. 3 No. 2, Corelli — with Stephen Miahky and Meta Weiss

Trio Sonata in C Major, Op. 4 No. 1, Corelli — with Stephen Miahky and Meta Weiss

Roumanian Folk Dances, Bartok — with Christina McGann, Maria Sampen and Norbert Lewandowski

Chaconne from the d minor Partita, Bach

TIM’S "DESERT ISLAND" MUSIC SELECTIONS

Mahler Symphony No. 2, “The Resurrection”
Respighi "Church Windows”
Mozart Serenade in B Flat for winds, K. 361, “Gran Partita”

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Christina McGann, violin; Stephen Miahky, violin; Maria Sampen, violin; and Meta Weiss, cello.