Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Baritone David Howard and pianist Andrew Parr, both members of the SFA music faculty, will present Franz Schubert's "Die Winterreise (Winter Journey)" in a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 29, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
Based on 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller, the song cycle follows a heartbroken lover as he leaves the town where his beloved lives and falls further and further into desolation. It is a "great psychological study," Howard said.
Schubert completed the work in October 1827, only months before his death at age 30, explained Dr. Jamie Weaver, SFA assistant professor of music. "'Die Winterreise' achieves unprecedented heights in the union of music and text and in the musical equality of singer and accompanist," she continued.
At the beginning of the recital, Weaver will give an introductory talk about the work. English subtitles will be projected during the performance.
Howard, who is an assistant professor of music at SFA, is also the associate director of choral activities at the university where he conducts the Choral Union and Women's Choir and teaches applied voice. He was recently appointed as chorusmaster for the Opera East Texas in Longview.
Howard maintains an active solo performance schedule with frequent oratorio and cantata presentations by churches, university choirs, community choirs and schools. He has also appeared in various opera productions. As a recitalist, he specializes in lieder, English art song, and the music of Bach.
Recently, he sang the baritone solos in SFA School of Music's production of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" and in Vaughan Williams' "Dona nobis pacem" with the Eastern Michigan University choirs and orchestra.
Howard earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in vocal performance at the University of Central Oklahoma and his Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from Michigan State University.
Parr, who joined the SFA faculty in 1983, has performed extensively in solo, chamber and concerto settings. Highlights include a performance of Aaron Copland's "Piano Concerto" with the Belgrade Philharmonic in the former Yugoslavia, Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 4" with the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, Chopin's "Concerto No. 2 in F minor" with the San Antonio Symphony and the Orchestra of the Pines, Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3 in C" with the Orchestra of the Pines and Longview Symphony, and Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy" with the Orchestra of the Pines.
Parr began studying piano at the age of 5. He furthered his education at Kent State University, at the Hochschule fur Musik and Darstellende Kunst in Vienna as a Fulbright Scholar, and at Yale University where he earned his master's and doctoral degrees.
Tickets to the recital are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.