Faculty Artist Series: Mark Gallagher, Clarinet

Pealer Recital Hall, PAC

FSU’s Department of Music Presents Dr. Mark Gallagher in Faculty Artist Series Concert

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music will present clarinetist Dr. Mark Gallagher in a Faculty Artist Series concert on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. He will be accompanied by pianist Dr. Jay DeWire. The concert is free and open to the public. This event will also be livestreamed; click the “Join Stream” button on this page a few minutes before the recital is scheduled to begin, or any time during the recital, to view the live performance.

The program will consist of “Allegro,” “Adagio cantabile” and “Rondo, Allegretto non troppo” from “Sonata No. 3 in E-flat Major for Clarinet and Piano” by Francois Devienne; “Variations for Clarinet and Piano on a Theme From ‘Silvanna,’ Op. 33” by Carl Maria von Weber; “Sonatina for Solo Clarinet, Op. 27” by Miklos Rozsa; and “Allegro appassionato,” “Andante un poco Adagio,” “Allegretto grazioso” and “Vivace” from “Sonata No. 1 in F Minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 1” by Johannes Brahms.

Although Devienne’s principal instruments were the flute and the bassoon, he became familiar with the clarinet early in his career. Fascinated by the romanticism of his time, Devienne saw ample opportunities for expression through the clarinet’s impressive spectrum of range and dynamic. His sonatas for the clarinet, originally titled “Sonates pour clarinette et accompagnement de basse,” are adapted from his own flute sonatas, Opp. 58 and 68. The clarinet sonatas display Devienne’s great ease of writing as well as his uniquely creative melodic lines. They encompass all forms and styles available in his time, ranging from the older, more structured Baroque style of sonata to the more flexible and improvisatory form of theme and variations and represent the unrivaled charm and elegance of classical sonatas for the clarinet.

Weber’s compositions for clarinet, bassoon and horn occupy an important place in the musical repertoire. His compositions for the clarinet, which include two concertos, a concertino, a quintet, a duo concertante and “Variations for Clarinet and Piano on a Theme” (1811) from his mature opera “Silvana” (1810), are regularly performed today. “Silvana” had a major impact on subsequent German composers, including Marschner, Meyerbeer and Wagner.

“Sonatina for Solo Clarinet” (1957) is an expressive, vibrant piece of music that demonstrates the versatility and expressive qualities of the clarinet. Rozsa was an incredibly versatile composer – for his film scores he won three Academy Awards and was nominated 16 times for Best Original Score. Rozsa’s experience of growing up in Hungary and hearing lots of beautiful unaccompanied folk music inspired him to explore writing several unaccompanied solos for different instruments. The “Sonatina for Solo Clarinet” is comprised of two movements. The first is a theme and variations movement that is full of beautiful passages of intense lyricism and lively rhythmic sections. The second is a fiery, dancing, virtuosic and playful movement that propels to a thrilling conclusion.

In 1894 at age 61, Brahms wrote a pair of clarinet-piano sonatas. They were published together in 1895 as opus 120. The two clarinet sonatas of opus 120 were the last chamber pieces Brahms wrote before his death. They are considered two of the masterpieces in the clarinet repertoire. A model of classical form, “Sonata No. 1 in F Minor” is in four movements, the piano and clarinet presented in dialog as equals. The prevailing mood of the first movement is melancholic, the second a quiet, reflective lyricism and the third, grace. A vivace in rondo form in F major ends the work.

For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music at 301-687-4109.

Music, Performance, Recital