Program Notes

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Bach's music represents not only his devotion to his own religion and belief in music's greater purposes, but also his dedication to his students' learning. His numerous works contain complex, polyphonic melodic lines, and he is known as the master of counterpoint. The six Cello Suites, of which today we hear selections from Suite 1 and 3, were discovered nearly two hundred years after their composition, by the cellist Pablo Casals.

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
The Father of both the Symphony and the Concerto, Haydn set the standards for classical and romantic composers with his clean, charming harmonies and the beginnings of virtuosic orchestral performance. His Cello Concerto in C is a staple for collegiate cello players worldwide and is one of the earliest opportunities for the cello to shine as a solo instrument in front of an orchestra.

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)
Boccherini, an often-forgotten Italian composer, is a champion of the modern cellist. His soaring lyrical and technical passages challenge the performer but delight the listener. Boccherini is also celebrated for his extensive string chamber music repertoire, including over 100 string quintets featuring the cello.

Henriette Bosmans (1895-1952)
Heavily affected by both her gender and World War II, Bosmans, who had Jewish heritage, was restricted from appearing as an artist during the war. Her composing and performing years were strained, preventing her career from reaching its full potential. However, her works have experienced a revival in the 21st century. The second piece of Impressions, "Nuit Calme," is influenced by the impressionist style.

Dolan Huwyler
Set Sail The Duke's Carriage is dedicated to Scott Black and John Austin Haas.

Program notes by Emily Montoya.