FALL QUARTER'S FREE NOON CONCERTS

by Dave Jones
September 18, 2009

The Department of Music announced that it will present free concerts every Thursday from Sept. 24 through Dec. 3, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. Starting time for all concerts is 12:05 p.m. Two additional free concerts are scheduled at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Sept. 24 (Thursday)—Davis Summer Symphony. Tim Follin (arranged by Paul Watkins): Akrillic from the Super Nintendo game Plok; Robert Schumann: Allegro affettuoso from the Piano Concerto in A Minor, with ChiaWei Lin, piano; Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in Bb Major. Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Oct. 1 (Thursday)—Tim Feeney, amplified percussion, and Vic Rawlings, prepared cello. Electroacoustic improvisation with self-built and assembled instruments: The cello is prepared with extra resonant strings, metal flashing and other objects, while the drums are amplified and used as a resonator for other percussion instruments in the set. Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Oct. 8 (Thursday)—Laurel Ensemble, with UC Davis faculty-affiliate Ann Lavin, clarinet; Sarah Holzman, flute; Jenny Douglas, viola; Krisanthy Desby, cello; and Lori Lack, piano. Works by Beethoven, Clarke and Martin. Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Oct. 15 (Thursday)—Genevieve Lee, piano. Featuring UC Davis faculty composer Kurt Rohde’s One, 13 reflections for speaking pianist based on Paul Mann’s poems. The piano and pianist are lightly amplified, and assorted “found objects” are used throughout, as well. 115 Music Building.

Oct. 22 (Thursday)—Rebecca Plack, soprano, with Blaise Bryski, piano. Selected Schubert Lieder, selections from Rachmaninov’s six romances, and William Walton’s Three Songs on poems by Edith Sitwell (excerpted from Façade and arranged by the composer for soprano and piano). Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Oct. 29 (Thursday)—Percussion Group Davis and the CSU Percussion Group. Steve Reich’s Drumming (1970–71). Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Nov. 5 (Thursday)—Lena and Robert Andaya, cellos. Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Nov. 10 (Tuesday)—Meridian Arts Ensemble, artist-in-residence. Faculty from the Manhattan School of Music comprise this sextet: five brass players and a percussionist, playing everything from J.S. Bach to Frank Zappa. Works by graduate student composers Hendel Almétus, Ben Irwin, Garrett Shatzer and Ching-Yi Wang, and undergraduate student Paul Watkins’ Brazen Overtures. 115 Music Building.

Nov. 12 (Thursday)—Marilyn Nonken, piano. 115 Music Building.

Nov. 19 (Thursday)—Passamezzo Moderno and Duo Solace. Early 17th-century music from Germany and Italy. Passamezzo members include UC Davis faculty-affiliate David Granger, dulcian and bassoon; Jonathan Davis, harpsichord and organ; and Edwin Huizinga and Adriane Post, violins; with Duo Solace members Linda Tsatsanis, soprano, and John Lenti, flute. Rumsey Rancheria Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center.

Dec. 1 (Tuesday)—Student Chamber Ensembles. 115 Music Building.

Dec. 3 (Thursday)—UC Davis Baroque Ensemble. 115 Music Building.