by Crystal Wu & Catherine Zachary
In this monthly concert series created by Arts Everywhere and the Department of Music in the fall of 2019, First Fridays gives students and student chamber ensembles an opportunity to perform and share their music with the community. Originally set in the rotunda of Hill Hall on the first Fridays of the month and then going on the road to different spaces across campus, these informal pop-up concerts have allowed students, faculty, staff, and community members to come and go as they listen to live music of all genres and configurations.
In keeping with the efforts made in Fall 2020 to keep the community safe and healthy, First Fridays will continue to premiere online this Spring! Once again, Arts Everywhere and the Department of Music sought and carefully selected proposals for virtual, pre-recorded 15-30 minute programs featuring music by underrepresented voices (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, etc.).
For Spring 2021, we are pleased to announce the following featured performances below! Selected students researched and chose pieces by underrepresented composers who were meaningful to them and will present the pieces along with program notes about the musical works, composers, poets, and historical context.
Please join us on Facebook on the first Friday of each month to listen to and support these talented musicians!
March 5 at 12:00 pm
Songs and Lieder of Robert Owens
Erin Pratt (‘22), mezzo-soprano
- Major: Musicology PhD candidate
With Stephen Feiss, piano
PROGRAM
Three Countee Cullen Songs for High Voice and Piano, Op. 27
1.From the Dark Tower
Three Songs of Emily Jane Brontë, Op. 18 (c. 10 minutes)
- The Old Stoic
- Tell me, tell me
III. Sleep
Drei Lieder von Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Op. 47 (c. 13 minutes)
- Vorfrühling
- Die Beiden
III. Manche freilich…
Border Line, Song Cycle on Poems by Langston Hughes, Op. 24
16. The End
April 9 at 12:00 pm
Celebrating the Music of Florence Price & William Grant Still
Ayman Bejjani (He/Him)
- Major: Music BA, Chemistry Minor
- Year: Junior
- Instrument: Violin
Maria Manning (She/Her)
- Major: Neuroscience BA, Music BM
- Year: First Year
- Instrument: Violin
Tate Jones (He/Him)
- Major: Biology BS and Music BA
- Year: Sophomore
- Instrument: Viola
David Kim (He/Him)
- Major: Music BA, Premed Track
- Year: First Year
- Instrument: Cello
PROGRAM
String Quartet in G Major (1929)—Florence Beatrice Price (1887-1953)
- Allegro
- Andante Moderato
Suite for Violin and Piano (1943)—William Grant Still (1895-1978)
- Mother and Child