Music: Sun Apr 4

 

Is there classical piano music for Easter? Depends on the parameters. Easy enough to find arrangements and transcriptions of music connected to the holiday, in which familiar melodies trigger associations to the original words or titles. Two of this morning's selections---the Centering and Parting Music--are in fact transcriptions of religious works by J. S. Bach. For the Gathering Music and Interlude, however, I've chosen music of a more secular variety, which emphasizes the theme of regeneration after death. The third movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 12 is in fact a funeral march. It is followed by a flowing movement marked "Allegro," which seems to suggest hope and rebirth to many listeners. On a smaller scale, Beethoven's teacher Haydn evokes a solemn procession in the slow movement of his Keyboard Sonata in D Major, which links without pause into the festive energy of the Finale. Elsewhere, the CUUC Choir provides us with not one, but two (!) selections this blessed day. Read on for programming details, and stay tuned for spoken introduction to each work.

 

Gathering Music: Adam Kent, piano
Sonata No. 12 in Ab Major, Op. 26

            III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe

            IV. Allegro

                        Ludwig van Beethoven

 

Centering Music:
Sheep May Safely Graze

                        J.S. Bach, arr. by Egon Petri

 

Anthem: CUUC Choir directed by Lisa N. Meyer

"Gaudeamus Hodie"

                        Earlene Rentz

Musical Meditation:
"Set Me As a Seal"
                                    René Clausen

 

Interlude:
Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI:37

            II. Largo e sostenuto

            III. Finale: Presto ma non troppo

                                      Franz Joseph Haydn

 

Parting Music:
Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring

            J. S. Bach, arr. by Harold Bauer