Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES • SPRING 2017 • sai-national.org 22 REVIEWS CHANGE OF KEYS Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Bartok; Carol Leone, Piano, MSR Classics T he CD title Change of Keys is a reference to the type of piano keyboards used for the performances on this disc. On this collection of standard keyboard masterworks, pianist Carol Leone performs on a Steinway 'D' fitted with three keyboards, each with different key widths. The earliest work by Haydn is performed on the widest keyboard while the narrowest is used for the later repertoire. This accommodates the larger hand span demanded by the modern repertoire. Pianist Carol Leone embraces the concept of different sized keyboards as a solution for giving pianists greater flexibility. She is herself the world's leading expert and advocate for ergonomic keyboards. The disc is in chronological order, beginning with the Haydn Piano Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI: 50. The piece is easily performed on the conventional piano keyboard with an octave span of 6.5 inches. The Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 follows. Here the DS6.0 with a 6 inch octave span keyboard is used. The Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 by Frederic Chopin was written in 1823. For this work, a slightly smaller keyboard is used with a span of 5.54 for the octave. Chopin was said to have had an especially flexible hand. Due to its difficulty, it has reportedly been the cause of injury to many pianists. The next three works include the Liebeslied: Widmung by Schumann-Liszt, L'isle Joyeuse by Claude Debussy, as well as the final work on the program, the Piano Sonata, BB 88, SZ.80 by Bartok. Here the hand is constantly required to be fully outstretched. Pianist Carol Leone is an active performer, appearing throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. She has several CD recordings and has been a top prize winner in competitions including the National Beethoven Sonata competition. She is currently a piano professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she is chair of the piano department. Each performance is carefully crafted with great clarity of articulation. Ms. Leone has found a way to meet the artistic demands of the repertoire with her varying keyboard sizes and she does so with a high quality, sensitive rendering of each selection. Her extensive program notes add to the overall appreciation. — Kim McCormick GREAT DISTANCE: A COLLECTION OF CHINESE AND AMERICAN ART SONG Juliet Petrus, Soprano, and Lydia Qiu, Piano MSR Classics S oprano Juliet Petrus is accompanied by pianist Lydia Qiu, and together they present an interesting and diverse program of American and Chinese Art Song repertoire. Ms. Petrus is one of only a few western interpreters of Chinese music, and it was her desire to bring this repertoire to western audiences while at the same time, sharing western art songs with Chinese audiences. She has sung traditional western repertoire with several orchestras in the United States, and is a frequent recitalist in Chicago. She is also founding member of the Collaborative Arts institute of Chicago and serves as its Assistant Director of Education and Programs. Pianist Lydia Qiu was born in Chengdu, China and worked at the Beijing Central Conservatory as an accompanist. In 1996 she moved to the U.S., receiving degrees from Capital University, the College-Conservatory in Cincinnati, and the University of Michigan. She currently works for the University of Michigan, serving as a vocal coach and staff accompanist. She continues to return to China to give recitals, lectures, and classes on vocal literature. The CD begins with several songs by Huang Zi (1904-1938). Born in China, he came to the U.S. where he studied composition at Yale. His contribution to new music is considerable and his compositions are numerous and well respected. The second composer on the CD is Xiao Youmei (1884-1940). Born in Guangdong, he later studied in Germany where he became a pupil of Richard Strauss. Like Huang Zi, he made considerable contributions to new music in China, composing many vocal and instrumental works. This is followed with music by the composer Qing Zhu (1893-1959). Like Xiao Youmei, Qing Zhu studied in Germany returning to China where he became a teacher and composed numerous works. Also included on the recording are works by American composer John Alden Carpenter, which are set to Chinese text. Additionally there are works by two more Chinese composers: Ding Shande (1911-1995) and Luo Maishuo (b.1986). These are followed by several songs by another American composer, John Duke (1899-1984) and several more Chinese folk songs complete the CD. The disc will introduce listeners to new and underperformed works in what is an interesting and eclectic collection of beautiful art songs. Beta Alpha initiate Kim McCormick is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of South Florida and faculty advisor for Delta Chi Chapter. She holds a DMA from the University of North Texas and is a Yamaha Artist.

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