APERIO presents

PRESENT NOSTALGIA
HALCYON VISIONS IN AMERICAN MUSIC

Works by Bates, Copland, Del Tredici, Dett,
Harrison, Ives, MacDOWELL & Larsen

Aperio, Music of the Americas' 2023-2024 concert season continues with Present Nostalgia - Halcyon Visions in American Music - a program exploring musical Americana in works by Bates, Copland, Tredici, Dett, Harrison, Ives, MacDowell, Larsen, and Schnyder on Friday, April 5, 7:30 pm at the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH). Members of Aperio’s core ensemble are joined by Houston’s own Trio Menil, grand prize winners of the 2023 Plowman Chamber Music competition for this special performance.

Present Nostalgia begins with a showcase of American solo piano works by Nathaniel Dett, Edward MacDowell, and Charles Ives that blends romantic style with African American lyrical and rhythmic influences. Alternatively rambunctious and mournful, this set is complemented by two celebratory dances, both titled Juba, by Dett and Libby Larsen glimpsing the development of American popular styles steeped in African American musical history.

A set of works for violin and piano continue this stylistic exploration including Mason Bates’ fiddle break-down showpiece Ford’s Farm, David Del Tredici’s expressive Farewell, Aaron Copland’s minstrel-inspired Ukelele Serenade, and the elegant, lyrical beauty of Lou Harrison’s Hommage à Fragonard. 

Two significant trios for violin, cello, and piano by Daniel Schnyder and Charles Ives anchor the program. With influences wildly ranging from American hymnody to contemporary funk, these works showcase a heady blend of nostalgic influences and forward-looking compositional techniques.

PROGRAM
BATES Ford’s Farm for violin and piano
COPLAND Ukelele Serenade for violin and piano
DETT Barcarolle and Juba from In the Bottoms for piano solo
HARRISON Hommage à Fragonard from Varied Trio for violin and piano
IVES Piano Trio for violin, cello, and piano
MACDOWELL An Old Love Story for solo piano
LARSEN Juba for cello, and piano
SCHNYDER Piano Trio for violin, cello, and piano
TREDICI Farewell for violin and piano

PERFORMERS

Timothy Peters violin
Daniel Saenz cello
Michael Zuraw piano & artistic director

Trio Menil guest ensemble
Jeongwon Claire An violin
David Dietz cello
Jonathan Mak piano

Photo: Lynn Lane