Paul Barnes, professor of piano, will join the string quartet Brooklyn Rider in a concert to celebrate the release of their international CD recording, “Annunciation.” The performance is 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in Kimball Recital Hall.
The concert is amongst Glenn Korff School of Music events this week (Sept. 30 to Oct. 6). Tickets are $36 (half price for students) and are available at the Lied Center Box Office, online or by calling 402-472-4747. A post-concert CD signing reception will follow in the Lied Commons.
Barnes commissioned composer Philip Glass to write the piano quintet “Annunciation,” which premiered at the Lied Center in April 2018. It is based on a Greek Orthodox byzantine communion hymn.
“It’s interesting because I now have the perspective of the effect that my many performances of the quintet have had on so many different audiences,” Barnes said. “It’s a gem of a piece that really brings joy to so many different people around the world. And the fact that it began with the support of organizations here in Lincoln and the fact that we get to have the official CD release performance here in Lincoln is really special to me.”
In addition to “Annunciation,” Barnes will also join Brooklyn Rider second violinist Colin Jacobsen on Glass’s “Pendulum for Violin and Piano” (2010). Brooklyn Rider will open the concert with Glass’s “Quartet Satz” (2017). The second half of the concert will include Ludwig van Beethoven’s “String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132.”
Barnes said concert-goers will notice a harmonic theme in the program.
“The very first piece that they’re going to open the concert with is Philip’s new ‘Quartet Satz.’ It has that same progression that he begins the Quintet with, which I call the ‘love progression,’” he said. “Glass first used this progression in his opera ‘Orphee,’ one of the very first things that I transcribed. So there’s going to be a wonderful harmonic connection. It’s just stunningly beautiful.”
Barnes was thrilled to record the CD with Brooklyn Rider in January and is excited to perform with them in Lincoln.
“Just their quality of musicianship,” Barnes said. “I remember sitting down at the first rehearsal we did before the recording last January. I couldn’t believe how phenomenal it sounded right from the beginning.”
The CD will be available on iTunes on Oct. 11 and will be available on Amazon on Oct. 18.
Other School of Music events this week are:
Flyover Performance, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, Westbrook Music Building
“Time and Space,” Wind Ensemble Performance, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, Kimball Recital Hall
Visiting Artist: Karen McLaughlin Large with Amanda Arrington, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4, Westbrook Music Building
Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m. Oct. 6, Kimball Recital Hall
Learn more about these and other Glenn Korff School of Music events.
