The 100th anniversary of the premiere of Arnold Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire" is a milestone event in the musical world. In recognition of the centenary of the premiere performance of this monumental work, the SUNY Fredonia School of Music will present the Baltimore-based Lunar Ensemble for two nights of performances in Rosch Recital Hall.
On Monday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m., the ensemble will perform Schoenberg’s "Pierrot Lunaire" in its entirety, with a pre-concert talk with music professor Gordon Root at 7 p.m., also in Rosch Recital Hall.
On Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m., Lunar Ensemble will present an evening of new works, including "Harlequin Redux" by Fredonia faculty member Sean Doyle.
Tickets are $7 general/$3 student per concert, or a mini-series (both concerts) may be purchased for $10 general/$5 student. Visit the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office in person (Williams Center, SUNY Fredonia campus), or contact them by phone at 716-673-3501 or online at www.fredonia.edu/tickets.
“The upcoming performances by the Lunar Ensemble will be an excellent way to celebrate this landmark composition,” commented music faculty member Sean Doyle. “Hearing their masterful performance of the work will give both first-time listeners and ‘old fans’ an insightful and enjoyable experience of the unique, magical sound world of Schoenberg’s masterpiece. Presented alongside Pierrot Lunaire are seven premiere performances of works written for the Lunar Ensemble for this specific occasion. Although varied in style and approach, these works are united in their spirit of homage to Pierrot Lunaire, demonstrating its significant influence on contemporary music to this day. Speaking personally, it was an honor for me to contribute a new work to be performed as part of this festival - to have musicians of the caliber and sensitivity of the Lunar Ensemble perform my piece, Harlequin Redux, is a real privilege! These concerts will truly be a special, memorable event in our cultural community - they are not to be missed!”
The Lunar Ensemble is a Baltimore-based Pierrot ensemble that is committed to promoting fresh, hot-off-the-press music written for the Pierrot instrumentation (flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello, with/without voice and percussion) by living composers through performance, outreach and education. Founded in 2009, and now in its third season, the Lunar Ensemble established The Pierrot Centenary Project as a celebration of the centenary of the premiere of Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire. The Pierrot Centenary Project unites all fifty poems of Giraud’s Pierrot Lunaire set to music by Schoenberg and young composers over a two-day educational marathon. In addition to their residency at SUNY Fredonia, the Lunar Ensemble will take the Pierrot Centenary Project to the Peabody Conservatory and Tulane University.
The ensemble is made up of fine musicians affiliated with the prestigious Peabody Institute of the John Hopkins University. They have performed at various festivals such as the LAUNCH Music festival in Lancaster, Pa., and the ArtScape Festival in Baltimore, Md., and in various venues in Baltimore, including the An Die Musik Hall, the Brown Center, the Enoch Pratt Free Library and Shriver Hall.
