Stephen Goacher and Dr. Elizabeth Wallace, Professors of Music, present the first of several Faculty Recitals on the theme of “Final Thoughts on the Woodwinds”.  This recital to be performed Monday, February 28, 2011 at 8:00pm in Mims Auditorium will feature masterpieces for the clarinet and piano and for the oboe and piano.

The theme “Final Thoughts” reflects on the interesting observation that several of Music’s greatest composers happened to write a chamber music piece for a woodwind instrument at the twilight of their distinguished careers.  As it turned out, these were among the last or the very last of their compositions.  This curiosity was true of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Samuel Barber, Camille Saint-Saens, Alexander Glazounov, and Francis Poulenc.

In addition to being a historical curiosity, the music composed was certainly the most mature of their catalogues, representing a lifetime of skill and refinement.  The music reflects a timeless quality, yet an autumnal mood prevails.   The reason for the choice of a particular reed instrument to voice these final thoughts invites the listener’s imagination.  However the piano parts speak of each composer’s skill as a virtuoso pianist.  Mozart, Brahms and Saint-Saens are legendary pianists, and the piano parts in this Faculty Recital can be considered their personal autograph.

For Monday’s Faculty Recital, Goacher and Wallace will perform Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Opus 120, #2 by Johannes Brahms; The Sonata for Oboe and Piano by Francis Poulenc, 1962; The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Opus 160 by Camille Saint-Saens; and the Canzonetta for Oboe and Orchestra by the American composer Samuel Barber.

Future “Final Thoughts” programs will include final thoughts on clarinet, saxophone, bassoon and oboe.

The recitals are free of charge and open to the public.