20240122_TraverSura Duo by Florida State University College of Music

The TraverSura Duo Presents Nathalie Simper, flute Miles Sutton, piano

IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HOLOCAUST In remembrance of composers whose lives were affected or taken by the Holocaust, The TraverSura Duo presents a recital of flute and piano music composed by Jewish composers to honor their contribution to the flute repertoire. A masterclass in music of “vitality and significance,” this program features an exploration of traditional Pre-WWII harmonic boundaries that shed light on the conflict and political unrest while offering fleeting glimpses of serenity, ordinary life, and the desire to leave a musical legacy to be remembered.

Table of Contents

The Program

The Composers

The Music

More Resources

The Performers

The Program Sonata for flute and harp

Sem Dresden (1881-1957)

I. Modérément animé, sans rigueur de rythme II. Très vif et léger III. Modéré et expressif, rubato

Three Scenes from Jewish Life

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) transcribed for alto flute by Nathalie Simper

I. Prayer II. Supplication III. Jewish Song

Deux Mélodies Hébraïques, Op. 22

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) transcribed for alto flute by Nathalie Simper

I. Kaddisch II. L’Enigme Eternelle

Sonata for flute and piano

Dick Kattenburg (1919-1944)

I. Introduzione II. Intermezzo III. Fughetta

Sonata for flute and piano

Leo Smit (1900-1943)

II. Lento

Pièce pour flûte et piano

Dick Kattenburg (1919-1944)

The Composers (1919-1944) The preservation of Dutch composer

Dick Kattenburg’s music is a testament to the resilience of life beyond the living. Kattenburg was violinist, music theorist, and self-taught composer. He corresponded by letter with Dutch composer Leo Smit, who was one of Sem Dresden’s pupils, for mentorship and training due to the dangers of meeting. During a 1944 movie theater raid in Utrecht, Kattenburg and his family were arrested and eventually transported to Auschwitz where he was killed at 24 years old. Although Kattenburg composed thirty pieces between 1936 and 1944, his Sonata for flute and piano was thought to be the only surviving work because it was given to its dedicatee, flutist Ima Spanjaard-van Esso, whom he loved. Having never studied the piece, she donated it to the founder (Eleonore Pameijer) of the Leo Smit Foundation in Amsterdam who later sent a recording of the sonata to Esso. Upon hearing the piece Esso cried, “Now I understand, it was a love letter.” The Leo Smit Foundation began programming the sonata more frequently in the early 2000s, when Kattenburg’s niece heard of these concerts and found the rest of his works in a box in the attic. His compositions are a beacon of the creativity, artistry, and humanity that was lost during the Holocaust.

(1900-1943)

Leo Smit was born in Amsterdam to a wealthy Portuguese Jewish family. He studied piano and composition at the Amsterdam Conservatory, with Sem Dresden being his first composition teacher. He was successful early on, receiving commissions and awards for his compositions while living in France, and also composing music for the film Jonge Harten (Young Hearts). Composers like Maurice Ravel, Darius Milhaud, and Erwin Schulhoff took notice of Smit’s compositions and in social circles. By 1937 Smit and his wife relocated to Amsterdam and WWII broke out shortly after. Smit’s compositions during this period were primarily educational or for personal use, reflecting the restrictions imposed on Jews. He also began incorporating Jewish elements to his music. In 1943 Smit and his wife were deported to Germany and placed in the Sobibór extermination camp, where they were immediately killed.

Sem Dresden was a Dutch

composer, violinist, pianist and conductor. A champion of new music, many aspects of Dresden’s career focused on performing new music and advocating for music education to include modern music by Dutch composers. He was the director of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague until 1941 when the Nazi Regime forcibly removed him from the position. During the occupation period, Dresden found safety at De Pauwhof house in Wassenaar. The home’s owners dedicated themselves to offering refuge for politically persecuted intellectuals and artists, and Dresden was able to continue composing until he was reinstated at the conservatory in 1945. He became a mentor and teacher to other notable Dutch composers, including Leo Smit. (1881-1957)

(1875-1937)

Maurice Ravel was a compositional giant in France as well as international scenes during his lifetime. Considered “only teachable on his own terms” as a student at the Paris Conservatory, he was expelled and forged his own path as a composer. He received awards and recognition for his compositions pre- and postWWI. Although Ravel had few formal pupils, many recognized composers attribute him as an influence in their own works. Sem Dresden listed Ravel’s music as a source of inspiration, Leo Smit learned from and socialized with Ravel, and Dick Kattenburg considered Ravel’s music as one of his own teacher’s biggest influences. Swiss-born American composer

Ernest Bloch was an active composer, conductor, violinist, pianist, and professor throughout Europe before becoming a US citizen in 1924. Born to Jewish parents, Bloch’s music demonstrated his strong ties to his religious heritage throughout his life. He was a decorated professor and director, workinging at the Mannes School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Berkeley, Music Academy of the West Summer Conservatory, and the University of California. Bloch also found passion in photography and his thousands of prints and negatives can be found in the Ernest Bloch Archive at the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona - Tucson. (1880-1959)

The Music Sonata for flute and harp by Sem Dresden Sonata for flute and harp was composed in 1918 during Dresden’s studies in Berlin. His pre-WWII works feature a blend of impressionism and neoclassicism inspired by composers like Ravel and Debussy, with Renaissance and modern Dutch influences. Each movement explores fluidity in time, tonality, and expression. Although primarily a composer of choral music, Dresden’s flute sonata is a prime example of early 20th century flute virtuosity.

Three Scenes from Jewish Life by Ernest Bloch Composed in 1924, From Jewish Life was originally composed for cello and piano and dedicated to New York Philharmonic’s solo cellist Hans Kindler. During this time, Bloch composed several works with Hebraic inspirations and influences. When asked about incorporating Jewish music influences into his works, Bloch remarked that expressing his Jewish identity in music was “the only in which I can produce music of vitality and significance.” From Jewish Life invokes intense sadness and introspection in three scenes: prayer, supplication, and a Jewish song.

Deux Mélodies Hébraïques by Maurice Ravel

Originally composed for voice piano in 1914, this piece was premiered at the Salle Malakoff in Paris. The first movement, Kaddisch is a funeral prayer song in Aramaic. The second movement, L’Enigme Eternelle, or Eternal Enigma, is sung in Yiddish. This is a loose translation of the vocal texts:

I. Kaddisch

II. L’Enigme Eternelle

Thy glory, O king of kings, be exalted,

World you question us:

O thou who is to renew the world and raise the dead

Tra la Tra la la la la

Thy reign, Adonai, be proclaimed by us the Son of Israel,

Tra la Tra la la la la

this day by hand, forever. Let us all say: Amen.

We answer: Tra la la la la la la la la

Let him be loved, let him be cherished,

Tra la la la la

Let him be praised, glorify thy radiant name. Blessed be he, sanctify him; Let him be worshipped,

If we can't answer you:

Thy name that hovers over the heavens,

Tra la la la Tra la la la

Over our praises, over our hymns, over all our blessings May the gracious heaven grant us

World you question us:

A quiet life, peace, happiness.

Tra la la la la la la

Let us all say: Amen.

Tra la la la la la la

Flute Sonata and Pièce by Dick Kattenburg

An avid jazz lover, Kattenburg infused Flute Sonata (1937) and Pièce (1939) with jazzy elements and catchy tunes. Although his short life was colored by loss and tragedy, many of his works are lighter in harmony,

melody,

and

character.

The

Sonata

features

three

memorable tunes and was written for Kattenburg’s crush, flutist Ima Sanjaard-van

Esso.

This

along

with

Pièce

are

indicative

Kattenburg’s hope and optimism for change and a better world.

Self portrait found in a manuscript

Sonata for flute and piano by Leo Smit Smit’s Sonata for flute and piano

(1943)

was

his

final

composition before his death. It was regularly studied and played by surviving peers and their pupils. Flutist Eleonore Pameijer recorded the sonata in 1994 as part of her work with the Leo Smit Foundation. In 2014, Pameijer played the “Lento”

movement

the

unveiling of two monuments at the last residence of Smit and his wife Lientje. Smit’s compositions pre-WWII were criticized for being too easy and without any real substance, but the “Lento” from the Flute Sonata reflects the evolution of Smit’s style due to hardship and persecution. This movement’s striking melody soars over the rolling piano accompaniment and showcases the depth of Smit’s emotional turmoil during the final year of his shortened life.

More Resources Learn about the music and lives of Dresden, Kattenburg, and Smit:

THE LEO SMIT FOUNDATION

Read about how The Leo Smit Foundation preserves music by composers persecuted in World War II:

FORBIDDEN MUSIC REGAINED PROJECT

Purchase and study scores by persecuted Dutch Composers:

DONEMUS MUSIC

Discover the continued legacy of Ernest Bloch:

ERNEST BLOCH SOCIETY

Watch the full story of the attic discovery that brought Dick Kattenburg’s compositions out of hiding:

KATTENBURG’S BLUES

Check out flute music by diverse composers at Flute Center and get a discount with code SIMPERMUSIC

FLUTE CENTER SHEET MUSIC

View Nathalie Simper’s blog:

SIMPER MUSIC STUDIO BLOG

View Miles Sutton’s website:

MILES SUTTON PIANO Follow Nathalie and Miles on Instagram:

Simper Music Studio

Miles Andrew Sutton

The Performers The TraverSura Duo Connected by common interests and musical perspectives, the TraverSura Duo consists of Nathalie Simper, flute and Miles Andrew Sutton, piano. Nathalie and Miles met during their time at Stetson University, where they collaborated in various projects, eventually parting ways after graduating in 2015. During a conversation after the 2020 Pandemic, Miles pointed out the lack of performance opportunities for recitals with diverse repertoire. This eventually began a project to create their own opportunities to perform music close to their hearts, beliefs, cultures, and traditions.

The TraverSura Duo has performed in their home state of Florida since 2022. Their recital programs “Colores Latinos'' and “Women of Our Time'' were presented at the most recent Florida

Flute

Association

Conventions.

The

Duo

dedicates

their

programs

underrepresented flute composers and their works, both in history and the present. Their most recent recital program “In Remembrance of the Holocaust'' honors composers with Jewish heritage and the humanity embedded in their contributions to classical music. The word “traversura” is a combination of two words: “traverso” meaning flute, and “travesura” which means mischief.

Nathalie Simper Guatemalan-American flutist Nathalie Simper is the owner of The Simper Music Studio in Knoxville, TN and the Adjunct Professor of Flute at Maryville College. As a Classical Musicianeer, Nathalie is the project manager and coach with KE Creative, a digital education company committed to training musicians to become self-sufficient and successful studio owners and entrepreneurs. She also has performed with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra,

Johnson

City

Orchestra,

Marble

City

Opera

Orchestra, Knoxville Opera Orchestra, and Symphony of the Mountains. With over a decade of private teaching, Nathalie’s The Simper Music Studio provides flute lessons, masterclasses, recitals, and community outreach opportunities to students and band programs in the greater Knoxville area. She has been a guest lecturer and artist at institutions including Tennessee Tech University, Stetson University, the University of Tennessee Knoxville,

Carson-Newman

University,

The

Florida

State

University, The University of Florida, The University of North Florida, and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. In 2015, Nathalie worked with Monya Gilbert as the executive research assistant for Geoffrey Gilbert: Gentleman of the Flute, a documentary which honors the life and legacy of legendary British flautist Geoffrey Gilbert, who continues to influence the Florida flute community. As a grand-student of Mr. Gilbert, she continues his pedagogical legacy in her approach to turn musical discipline into confident living for herself and her students. Recently, Nathalie has been an advocate for diversity and representation in the classical music industry. Her workshop “Research Tools for the Modern Music Student” teaches classical music students to find music through educational institutions, networking, and social media resources. Her work with the flute-piano duo The TraverSura Duo aims to highlight flute and piano pieces by underrepresented composers in order to diversify repertoire being passed down to future generations of classical flutists. She earned a Master and Bachelor of Music from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Stetson University, studying with her late teachers Dr. Jean Ohlsson West, Susan McQuinn, and Mary Ellen Potter. Nathalie is a music maker, cake baker, and loves her husband Alex and their fur children Chewy, Grimm, and Teef.

Miles Andrew Sutton Praised for having "... demonstrated his talents through expressive and authentic interpretations in music... [he] possesses highly sensitive ears that allow him to communicate his music in diverse tone colors..." (Yoon-Wha Roh, pianist)

Miles Andrew Sutton has concertized in major venues and cities including the Stern Auditorium of Carnegie Hall, The Betsy Art Gallery of Miami, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Spokane Public Radio, and various music series throughout the city of Seattle. As a collaborative pianist, Miles has worked regularly with professional organizations such as the Chicago Master Singers, Thompson Street Opera Company, The Villages Philharmonic Chorale, and the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Centre. In the world of higher education, he worked at the University of Iowa as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist where he played for student recitals, master classes, guest artist recitals, and was a rehearsal pianist for productions in both the School of Music and Theatre Department. Sutton served as a Teaching Assistant at Washington State University while earning his Master’s degree and was the Treble Choir accompanist, the Concert Choir accompanist, collaborator for student recitals, and instructor of class piano. Born in Orlando, Florida, Sutton began his musical training at age 15 with teacher Jon Sarta. Miles chose to continue his education at Stetson University where he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree with an Outside Field in French, in the studio of Steinway Artist Dr. Michael Rickman. He received his Master of Arts in Music, in both Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano under the careful guidance of Dr. Yoon-Wha Roh. Sutton participated in the Miami Classical Music Festival and the Borromeo Music Festival where he was a featured soloist and had the opportunity to work with Alexandre Moutouzkine, Anton Nel, Daniel Shapiro, Angela Cheng, and Jean-Lois Haguenauer. He continues to grow under the mentorship of Miko Kominami, pianist and founding member of the Murasaki Duo and Maria McGarry, pianist and professor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. © NATHALIE IZABEL SIMPER 2024