Musique Surya makes debut in Jakarta today<\/p>\n
By Y. Bintang Prakarsa<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A new chamber ensemble is making its debut this
\nThursday, April 27, at 7.30 p.m. at Erasmus Huis. Musique Surya
\nis presently made up of Ade Simanjuntak-Simbolon (piano), Lynn
\nDavidoff (flute), and Sharon Eng (viola).<\/p>\n
\"Musique Surya was founded because we wanted to play chamber
\nmusic together,\" said Davidoff, spokesperson for the group. \"We
\nchose the name because we wanted a word that was used in
\nIndonesia...and also we liked its meaning.\" (Surya means sun.)
\nThe ensemble is in fact a trio, so why not call it a trio?<\/p>\n
\"Because we hope to invite other people to play with us in the
\nfuture.\"<\/p>\n
The program will highlight a rarely heard repertoire with a
\nlot of diversity. The first piece is a Baroque trio sonata, in
\nwhich two high instruments are accompanied by a bass part, while
\nanother instrument (usually keyboard - in this case piano) adds
\nchords to fill in the gaps.<\/p>\n
The composer is Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of Ghent (now in
\nBelgium) who lived around the turn of the eighteenth century.<\/p>\n
There is also the Andante and Scherzo for flute and piano by
\nLouis Ganne, a pupil of Cisar Franck, and the Five Pieces for
\nFlute, Violin and Piano by Cisar Cui (1835-1918). Ganne composed
\nthe Andante and Scherzo for the 1901 competitive examination held
\nby the Paris Conservatoire. This work has two movements, and each
\nis aimed at testing the technical ability of musicians.<\/p>\n
Cui's was, by profession, a professor of fortification who
\nretired as a Lieutenant General in the Russian army.<\/p>\n
Cui is at his best in miniature pieces, and the Five Pieces
\nfor Flute, Violin and Piano is a good representation of the
\ncomposer's style. \"Each of the five pieces,\" said Davidoff, \"is a
\nminiature of lightness, grace and charm and exemplifies
\nCui's lyrical talent.\"<\/p>\n
More fascinating, perhaps, are Charles Koechlin, Ernest Bloch,
\nand Bohuslav Martinu in their use of various styles, especially
\nthe piquant musical language of the twentieth century.<\/p>\n
The French composer Koechlin, for instance, drew inspiration
\nfrom medieval polyphony through twentieth century bitonality and
\natonality.<\/p>\n
He composed many works for unusual groupings of instruments.
\nThe concert will feature his Epitaphe de Jean Harlow, originally
\nfor flute, alto saxophone and piano.<\/p>\n
According to Davidoff, \"It...contains some breathtakingly
\nbeautiful harmonies and melodic lines in a definitely 20th
\ncentury French style.\"<\/p>\n
Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) was born in Switzerland and later
\nmoved to the United States. He was of Jewish descent, and his
\nmusic is much influenced by Jewish liturgy and religious themes.
\nHe has contributed much to the viola repertoire, and his
\nMeditation and Processional exploits the viola's deep and mellow
\ntones, evoking the saturnine image of a funeral procession.<\/p>\n
The Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959) studied music
\nin Prague and Paris, and his music reflects strong Czech (folk
\nmelodies) and French (concern for clarity and form) influences,
\nalong with baroque and classical styles. The work for the concert
\nis an authorized version with viola of a Trio that was originally
\ncomposed for flute, cello and piano. Davidoff said, \"Though
\nlyrical, the Trio is full of rhythmic energy and imagination,\" as
\nwell as \"a wide -- sometimes dissonant -- harmonic range.\"<\/p>\n
Now, if these interesting works are unknown to most, the
\nmusicians are by no means neophytes when it comes to performing
\nand teaching.<\/p>\n
Ade Simanjuntak-Simbolon is an accompanist and chamber
\nmusician who studied in Indonesia, Russia, and the USA (Wisconsin
\nConservatory of Music and the University of Wisconsin). Besides
\nteaching at the YPM Music School, she has made many appearances
\nin concerts both in Indonesia and abroad.<\/p>\n
The Canadian-American Lynn Davidoff holds a Master's Degree in
\nFlute Performance from Michigan State University. Davidoff, who
\nwas twice a winner of the National Competitive Festival of Music
\nin Canada, led a busy life as a teacher, performer, and concert
\nproducer in Canada and USA before becoming a teacher of
\ninstrumental music at the Jakarta International School.<\/p>\n
A graduate of the Juilliard School (B.M., M.M., performance),
\nAmerican violist Sharon Eng has performed both at home and
\nabroad, including with Herbert von Karajan's International Youth
\nOrchestra in Berlin and at the New York City Opera. Having an
\ninterest in the twentieth century, she has premiered solo works
\nat various occasions in the USA. She is now director of the H.S.
\nString Orchestra Program at Jakarta International School.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/musique-surya-makes-debut-in-jakarta-today-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}