Three renowned musicians showcased diversity in music through genres such as classical, bluegrass, and jazz on Wednesday evening
Jessica Welsh, pedagogical assistant professor of piano, Sarah Berry, who teaches cello, and special guest Sara Sasaki, who offers violin and viola lessons to all ages, performed three sets and two individual songs in the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center.
“I feel like representing composers and musicians of color and living composers in particular is extremely important,” Sasaki said.
Welsh said that the purpose was to showcase diversity in American music and to provide the audience with an experience that includes both familiar and challenging musical elements, showcasing the richness of American musical culture through different perspectives and styles.
“I think that’s a beautiful thing about our country and about American culture, that we have so many different perspectives and experiences that we can learn from,” Welsh said
With Welsh, who played the piano, and Sasaki, who played the violin, the performance started with a set by Florence Price, “Three Negro Spirituals,” which includes: “O Holy Lord,” “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian,” and “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”
Welsh and Sasaki introduced their next set, “Road Movies,” by John Adams, which included: “Relaxed Groove,” “Contemplative,” and “40% Swing.”
After performing “Road Movies” and a short break, Sasaki introduced the audience to her solo performance “Midnight on the Water/ Bonaparte’s Retreat” by Mark O’Connor, focusing on the bluegrass and old-time fiddle elements of the recital. She explained the technical concept of “detuning,” which involves adjusting the standard violin tuning to suit specific musical styles.
After Sasaki’s solo performance, she was then joined by Welsh and Berry, who played the cello to perform “Café Music,” by Paul Schoenfield, which includes: “Allegro,” “Rubato-Andante Moderato,” and “Presto.”
After that, Welsh and Sasaki ended their performance with “Hoe-Doen” from Rodeo by Aaron Copland.
Elias Jacob is a freshman majoring in violin performance, and he attended the event because his master class violin teacher told him to. He said his favorite set was “Café Music,” and this performance changed his understanding of music and culture by broadening his musical selection.
“I’m not usually exposed to this kind of American music in a classical form, so I think it broadens the type of music that I listen to,” said Jacob.
