Classical music filled Heiner Theater on Wednesday, November 6, as a rare trio consisting of flute, harp and bassoon performed several selections from 20th Century classical composers.
Pat Nelson, WCC Music Faculty and WWU instructor for bassoon, was joined by Mehrdad Gholami, WWU Assistant Professor of Flute and Jill Whitman, WWU Instructor of Harp for a performance of selected music.
Each performer introduced themselves and spoke a little about their instrument before performing a solo piece.
Gholami discussed the differences between the flute and other woodwind instruments. He also introduced the differences between trill and vibrato that are integral for the piece he performed.
“Winter Spirits,” by composer Katherine Hoover, is a haunting and earthy piece inspired by Hopi culture and their traditional flute. Hoover wrote this piece to be open to the interpretation of the performer and it was obvious that Gholami has made it his own.
Nelson then took the stage with her bassoon. The piece she chose for her solo is part of a series of cantos composed by Samuel Adler. Adler’s “Sacred Serenade” is a bassoon solo based on Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring.” Nelson joked that bassoonists fear the piece because it reaches the upper range of the bassoon and high notes are challenging on the bassoon.
From Nelson’s first notes the influence of “Rite of Spring” came through as well as her obvious love of the piece.
Whitman, the final soloist, came out and introduced her pedal harp. She explained that the harp’s 47 strings were made of silk wrapped steel, sheep gut, or nylon, depending on their location. The seven pedals were responsible for making the different sharps and flats, much like the black keys on a piano and each pedal had three positions.
Whitman chose a composition by innovative composer and harpist, Carlos Salzedo. “Song in the Night” begins with ethereal notes and then changed tempo, showcasing many of the techniques developed by Salzedo, including drumming on the soundboard. The piece ends on a series of gradually fading glissandos.
For their final piece the trio came together on stage to perform “Pastorales de Noël” by André Jolivet. It is one of only a handful of compositions specifically written for the combination of flute, harp and bassoon. Its four movements, titled Star, The Three Wise Men, Child, and Dance of the Shepherds, reflect the different aspects of the Christmas story.
Nelson, Gholami and Whitman concluded their concert by answering questions from the audience.
Overall, the recital offered a great opportunity to hear beautiful music and learn more about these performers and their instruments. The music department concludes Fall Quarter with student performances throughout the final week of the quarter.
