Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Iain and Stephanida Christie. The Steinway grand piano has been generously provided by the Walla Walla Piano Group.

James Stephenson (b. 1969)

LAST CHANTS (2015) FOR PIANO, VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO AND CLARINET

Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival Commission

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

VIER ERNSTE GESÄNGE, OP. 121

arr. Barnaby Kerekes

I. Denn es gehet dem Menschen

II. Ich wandte mich und sahe an alle

III. O Tod, wie bitter bist du

IV. Wenn ich mit Menschen und mit Engelszungen redete

INTERMISSION

Joaquín Turina (1882-1949)

LA ORACIÓN DEL TORERO (1925) FOR STRING QUARTET

Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)

LA REVÛE DE CUISINE (1927)

Jazz Suite and Ballet for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, violin, cello & piano

I. Prologue

II. Tango

III. Charleston

IV. Finale

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Billy Ray Hunter, trumpet; Peter Kolkay, bassoon; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Anna Maberry, Violin; Philip Payton, violin; Maria Sampen, violin; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Weston Sprott, trombone; and Anna Stoytcheva, piano.

Tonight’s performance and the World Premiere of Last Chants by composer, James M. Stephenson, has been made possible by the generosity of John Jamison and Kathy Wildermuth.

Musicians are always asked to name their favorite piece of music. It is impossible to answer correctly or even truthfully. The musician is supposed to answer by naming whatever piece he or she is currently playing. Tonight, none of the performers will have to fib even a little. The Brahms G Major Sextet stands as a favorite world-wide among string players, and more so among audiences.

Joining this venerated work on the program is a piece that has not yet been played or heard by anyone. Each season, WWCMF commissions a composer to pen a new work to receive its premiere at the opening Festival Series performance. The 2015 Festival Series kicks off with the World Premiere of the Last Chants for Piano, Violin, Viola and Clarinet by composer James Stephenson. Will the Brahms be unseated? There is only one way to find out. Join the celebration as we open the 2015 Festival Series in style!

James M. Stephenson (1969-)

LAST CHANTS FOR PIANO, VIOLIN, VIOLA AND CLARINET (2015)

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

SONATA FOR CELLO AND PIANO (1915)

I. Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto
II. Sérénade: Modérément animé
III. Final: Animé, léger et nerveux

Intermission

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

STRING SEXTET IN G MAJOR, OP. 36

I. Allegro non troppo 
II. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo 
III. Poco Adagio 
IV. Poco Allegro

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Stephen Miahky, violin; Laura Renz, viola; David Requiro, cello; Maria Sampen, violin; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Meta Weiss, cello; and Wei-Han Wu, piano.