Pianist May Phang presents Faculty Select Concert Friday

May Phang

DePauw University Professor of Music and pianist May Phang's Faculty Select Series concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, poignantly begins with Beethoven's last piano sonata.

Opus 111 has been reverently described as "sublime" and "transcendental." A turbulent first movement appears to represent life's struggles, while the divine simplicity of the long spun-out second movement seems to indicate a certain peaceful acceptance of or elevation from earthly angst. Pianist Robert Taub described it as "a work of unmatched drama and transcendence...the triumph of order over chaos, of optimism over anguish."

"The other composers I've selected for this concert--Liszt, Messiaen, and Philadelphia-based Curt Cacioppo -- have very distinctly different aesthetic sensibilities," says Phang. "It was, therefore, a curiosity to me to discover, in their sonic expressions of the ethereal and spiritual, many similarities of musical language."

In contrast to the Beethoven sonata, which is makes no reference to any text, image or extra-musical program, the rest of Phang's program comprises works that are overtly programmatic. A selection from Messiaen's "Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus" lovingly depicts the sleeping infant Jesus and then the bright light and comfort he brings, while the Liszt work, "Légende No. 1," composed right after he was ordained a monk, is inspired by the legend of St. Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds. The closing composition, Curt Cacioppo's Ostinato-Fantasia ("Funkinato") is based on the well-known hymn that originated in 1623, "All Creatures of our God and King."

"These pieces depict the struggle between doubt and faith, just as the Beethoven sonata did with conflict and resolution," Phang ventures. "The works are highly contrapuntal and utilize theme and variation form. The Cacioppo piece also contains homages to Beethoven (Op. 111), Liszt (Totentanz), Chopin (Sonata No. 2) and Jerry Lee Lewis."

Curiously enough, that very same Chopin sonata was inspired by Beethoven's Op. 111.

General admission tickets to the Faculty Select series are $10. Tickets for seniors, children and all students are free thanks to season sponsors Judson and Joyce Green.

For more information or to make online purchases, visit www.music.depauw.edu.

The venue's box office will also be open beginning one hour prior to the performance, which will be given in Thompson Recital Hall of the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts, located at 605 S. College Ave.