Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –An upcoming performance of Duo Karudan on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus will feature a unique recreation of the “Brahms/Schumann Soiree” that occurred in 1894 at the Vienna home of pianist Clara Schumann.
This recreation will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in Cole Concert Hall, Wright Music Building, on the SFA campus. Duo Karudan features the husband-and-wife team of SFA clarinetist Dr. Christopher Ayer, School of Music professor, and Baylor University pianist Dr. Kae Hosoda-Ayer, associate professor of piano and director of collaborative piano.
The Ayers have performed the pieces many times over the years, but never on the same program.
“Since it has been 130 years since the original event, we thought it would be a good time to recreate the recital,” Ayer said. “We’re especially happy that Dr. Jamie Weaver, associate professor of musicology, will be delivering some opening remarks about the historical significance of the original soiree, and she will speak prior to the performance of all three pieces.”
In the fall of 1894, people gathered to hear Robert Schumann’s “Fantasy Pieces” for clarinet and piano, op. 73 and Johannes Brahms’ two sonatas for clarinet and piano, op. 120. The clarinetist was Richard Mühlfeld, and he performed the “Fantasy Pieces” with Clara Schumann at the piano and the two sonatas with Brahms at the piano. Mühlfeld was the clarinetist for whom Brahms wrote his four major works for the instrument: the Trio, op. 114; the Quintet, op. 115; and these Sonatas, op. 120, Ayer explains.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit sfasu.edu/cfa. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.