Anna Gutzler, music education
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Anna is a senior music education major on piano at West Chester University. Anna’s passion for piano started when she began lessons at five years old. From there, her love for music flourished as she began participating in band, choir, and orchestra throughout grade school. During her time in the Wells School of music studying with Dr. Craig and Dr. Cranmer, she found a deeper passion for collaborative piano, accompanying various junior and senior recitals. She also has been drum major for the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching band for 3 years, keyboardist for wind ensemble, and alto in concert choir. Outside of performing, she is a sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, a women’s music fraternity, and a member of the American Choral Directors Association. After graduation, she plans to teach choir and continue performing as a piano accompanist.
Gracie Tennant, music education
Gracie is a music education major on trombone in her senior year at West Chester University Gracie began playing the trombone at the age of nine and immediately fell in love with the instrument. Through elementary, middle and high school, her passion for music grew as she participated in band, orchestra, and other extra ensembles, attending various festivals along the way. In her time studying under Dr. Cherry at the Wells School of Music, she has been involved in many ensembles including Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Winds, Brass Ensemble, and Trombone Ensemble. Aside from trombone performance, Gracie is also a current drum major for the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band, a sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, a women’s music fraternity, a member of Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society, and a member of WCU NAfME-C. After graduating from WCU, she plans to teach elementary music, private lessons, and continue to perform as much as she can.
PROGRAM NOTES
MOUVEMENTSPERPÉTUELS, FRANCIS POULENC (1918)
This piece is a collection of three movements, premiered by Poulenc’s teacher in 1918 and dedicated to the artist Victor Hugo. Poulenc compared this suite to taking a brisk stroll by the Seine. The opening movement is known for its care-free and charming melody, with polymodality peppering the movement. The second movement puts the listener in a hypnotic and dreamlike state, with the melody smoothly floating over the crawling chromatic ostinato in the bass. The final movement brings the mood back to a cheery state, with harmonies in the middle section that clearly nod to Debussy. Each movement concludes with a “question mark” ending, far from the harmonies that the listener is expecting.
TROMBONECONCERTINO, OP. 4, FERDINAND DAVID (1837)
David’s Concertino for Trombone and Orchestra, Op. 4, composed in 1837, is a piece structured in three continuous movements. The piece begins and ends with allegro movements based on the same thematic material with a slower funeral march in between. The second movement was later played at his own funeral. It is a prime example of midnineteenth century romanticism in Germany, featuring bold rhythmic elements alongside beautiful lyrical passages. This piece was dedicated to Karl Traugott Queisser who was a good friend of David and played in the Gewandhaus Orchestra.
INTHEBOTTOMS, NATHANIEL DETT (1913)
Dett was born in Canada, but moved to America in 1893. In 1903, he studied at the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College. While he was at Oberlin, he began listening to music by Dvorak Because of Dvorak’s folk music influences, his string quartets reminded Dett of spirituals that his grandmother would sing. From that point on, Dett was inspired to write music using themes from black folk melodies. This character suite is an example of Dett’s use of spiritual melodies, with the inclusion of syncopated rhythmic patterns, gapped or altered scales, and catchy, singable melodic fragments The movement “Juba” is known as his most famous composition, beloved for its folk-dance origins and bouncy mood.
I would like to dedicate this piece to Dr. Vincent Craig. Before his passing, I was able to study parts of this suite with him. I remember him dancing around his studio, getting me to play the Juba Dance with more bounciness and playful phrasing. Every time I had a lesson with Dr. Craig, he was full of energy and passion, constantly moving throughout the studio and pushing me to think about the music in ways I never considered. I can hear him singing the melodies and adding his own lyrics, encouraging me to shape lines more thoughtfully. It feels strange to do this recital without him here, but I am forever grateful for his influence on me. I wouldn’t be the person or player I am today without his guidance.
ROMANCE, AXEL JØRGENSEN (1916)
Axel Jørgensen’s Romance beautifully showcases the lyrical capabilities of the trombone. This piece combines trombone with a sensitive piano accompaniment, creating an intimate and expressive dialogue between the two. Jørgensen’s piece was written in 1916 and premiered the same year by Anton Hansen in Copenhagen. It was one of only two major solo works Jørgensen composed for trombone, so it was incredibly well received due to the lyricism of the solo and piano parts.
Janacek created this piece with inspiration from Moravian folk music, imitating the sound of the cimbalom (hammered dulcimer), fiddles, and small melodic fragments The Andante movement has a 5-note dreamy melody, with ambiguous harmony in the left-hand ostinato pattern. The middle sections opens into cascading runs and a chorale melody, before the dreamlike melody returns. The final movement imitates the fiddle, with an improvisational style and fragments of melodies strung together. The inspiration from Moravian folk music can be heard in the left hand drones and accompaniment style, sounding similar to the cimbalom. Throughout the piece, Janacek’s music shows immediate emotion and intimacy, with rapid changes in mood and texture.
SONATAFORTROMBONEANDPIANO, ERIC EWAZEN (1993)
Eric Ewazen, born in Cleveland, Ohio, is an American composer, teacher, and pianist who is well-known for his solo brass works. His music is distinct in its heroic and film-like style that is featured in many of his sonatas including Sonata for Trombone and Piano. This piece was commissioned by and is dedicated to Michael Powell, tenor trombonist for the American Brass Quintet and Juilliard faculty member. It premiered at the 1993 Aspen Music Festival One of Ewazen’s main inspirations for composing this work was to explore the many facets of the trombone’s expression.