Bassoon professor Hunter to present concert at SFA

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Dr. Cody Hunter, assistant professor in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, will present a faculty concert, “Omnium Gatherum: Music for Bassoon,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, in the Music Recital Hall, Wright Music Building, on the SFA campus.

The program title means “miscellaneous gathering,” referring to the eclectic selection of bassoon works to be performed, according to Hunter.

“Although the publication of the recital pieces span different periods from 1651 to 2021, the purpose of these works is to evoke emotions and images as it relates to our collective sense of humanity,” he said. “Tranquility, beauty, sorrow, anger, joy and ‘quiet happiness’ are just a few to be found on this recital.”

Joining Hunter on the concert will be Miaoqian Liu, piano; Jennifer Dalmas, violin; Evgeni Raychev, cello; and Tate Ashby, keyboard.

Among the works to be performed is Philipp Friedrich Böddecker’s Sonata Sopra “La Monica” for bassoon and continuo, featuring Dalmas, Raychev and Ashby. Published in 1651 at the end of a collection of sacred choral works titled “Sacra Partitura,” the theme is based on a popular song of the time called “The Nun” in which “a girl pleads with her mother to not make her a nun.” In the form of a theme and variations, the bassoon solo becomes increasingly more technical while the violin continues to perform the main theme, Hunter explained.

Also on the program are “Pièce,” by Gabriel Fauré, transcribed for bassoon and piano by Fernand Oubradous, and “Variations on an Arietta by Pergolesi” by Otmar Nussio, both featuring Liu on piano, and “Bright Leaf: Among the Vines” for solo bassoon by Jenni Brandon.

Concert admission is free. Wright Music Building is located at 2210 Alumni Drive. For more information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.