A Benefit Piano Recital for Ballet Wooster

Artists Supporting Artists, A Benefit Piano Recital for Ballet Wooster
Michaela Boros, piano & Peter Douglas Piano
Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 7:30pm
Gault Recital Hall, Scheide Music Center
The College of Wooster
525 East University St., Wooster, OH 44691


Ballet Wooster is pleased to present artists supporting artists, a benefit recital featuring Michaela Boros and Peter Douglas. The concert will take place this Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 7:30 pm in Gault Recital Hall in Scheide Music Center on The College of Wooster Campus. Tickets for the concert are $10, and available at the Wooster Book Company, or at the door beginning at 6:30 pm. 

The program will feature the music of the ballet including Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and Bizet’s Jeux d’enfants, Op. 22, in arrangements of the works into four-hand two-piano format. Each musician will also perform select solo pieces from the ballet repertoire. 

Boros and Douglas are each Wooster natives and former students of Ballet Wooster instructors Brenda Schwinn and Tricia Meyer. Each has gone on to finish piano performance majors; Boros form the College of Wooster and Douglas from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, and are continuing with graduate studies. Michaela and Peter welcome the chance to give back to a program that played a significant role in their artistic lives.

Duo Verano CD Available!

Krista Solars and Peter Douglas announce the official release of their debut classical album "Duo Verano". The CD features works by Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and more! Purchase your copy by clicking on the following link ($15 +$3 shipping):

Please contact us at duoverano@gmail.com for any questions you may have!

Violin-Piano Concerts in August

Krista Solars, violinist and Peter Douglas, pianist present:
Violin-Piano Concert

Tuesday, August 4 at 2:30 PM
OrrVilla Retirement Community, Maple Terrace
333 East Sassafras Street, Orrville, OH 44667

AND

Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 PM
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
527 Beall Ave., Wooster, OH 44691

These concerts will feature works by Bach, Schubert, and selections from Krista and Peter's debut CD which will be available for purchase following each concert. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

Many thanks to all who have donated so far to the CD project. There is still time to donate in you feel moved to do so. Please visit http://www.gofundme.com/93fvcg for more information. If you would like to donate offline (without using a credit card) please contact Peter (see contact tab above).

More information about how to purchase the CD will be posted when the CD is released for those who cannot attend the concerts.

Concert on July 10 in Wooster

Peter Douglas will be offering a two piano concert, "Two Pianos, Four Hands in Recital" with his friend and fellow piano performance graduate from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, Helen Candea. The concert will take place on Friday, July 10 at 7:00pm at Wooster United Methodist Church (243 N. Market St, Wooster, OH 44691). The program will feature works by Brahms, Milhaud, Mozart, and more. It is free and open to the public.

Live-stream for Senior Recital

Please click on the link below to go to the live-stream of my senior piano recital (2/7/15 at 3pm). You will need to create a free account on livestream to be able to view the event (required by the University for privacy reasons).

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/6940027/PDouglasRecital

SENIOR PIANO RECITAL

Peter Douglas in Senior Piano Recital

Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 3:00pm

Gamble Auditorium, Baldwin Wallace University

96 Front Street, Berea, OH 44017

 

Free and open to the public.

This recital will be live-streamed. Look for the link to be posted on this website soon (or on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/514968681978423/?ref_notif_type=plan_user_joined&source=1)

 

Program:

 

Beethoven, Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101

Ginastera, Sonata No. 1, Op. 22 (1st movement)

Schumann, Davidsbündler, Op. 6

 

Hope to see you there!!

Announcing two concerts with Krista Solars, violin:

 

The Rhapsody of Summer: A Summertime Recital

Krista Solars, violin and Peter Douglas, piano

Wednesday, August 13 at 7:00pm

St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

527 Beall Ave, Wooster, OH 44691

 

Works by Vivaldi, Mozart, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky to be performed. Admission is free and it is open to the public. Free-will offering.

 

The Rhapsody of Summer: A Summertime Recital

Krista Solars, violin and Peter Douglas, piano

Sunday, August 17 at 3:00pm

Our Lady of the Elms Convent Chapel

1230 W. Market St, Akron, OH 44313

A reprise of our concert at St. Mary featuring works by Vivaldi, Mozart, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky. Free and open to the public.

Lent 1: Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt

During Lent this year, I have decided to post once a week about a piece of music that reflects this Lenten season.

Lent 1: Adam's Fall

In the Revised Common Lectionary readings for Lent 1-Year A (today), Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 is the old testament reading. This reading talks about the "fall" of Adam and Eve: eating the forbidden fruit:

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, `You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Lent/ALent1_RCL.html

Here are two recordings of two interpretations of a choral tune inspired by this reading:
Buxtehude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2A73vq0JDo
Bach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezxzd8iCY6c

Both of these recordings are chorale preludes for organ. The choral theme (melody from a SATB hymn) is stated in long-tones while other textures go around. The Buxtehude states the choral theme in the top voice in long-tones (sometimes ornamented) while the other voices are creating harmonic and supportive contrapuntal textures. The theme become more ornamented as the piece progresses. Bach also states the choral theme in the top voice but it is harder to distinguish because the tones are not as long and there is a plethora of chromaticism. The interesting thing to notice in this example is the "falling" of the texture especially in the pedal line.

The following is the text to the choral for which these preludes were composed from:

Through Adam’s fall human nature

and character is completely corrupted,

the same poison has been inherited by us,

so that we would not be able to recover health

without comfort from God, who has redeemed us
from the great harm
that was done when the serpent overcame Eve
and led her to bring God’s wrath upon herself.

Since the time when the serpent brought Eve
to abandon God's word, which she despised,
through her death
was brought on all of us,
so that there was necessity
that God should give to us his dear son,
the throne of grace,
in whom we might live.

Just as another's guilt has brought us
shame in Adam,
so another's grace in Christ has brought us
all reconciliation;
and just as for me through Adams fall
everything perished eternally in death,
so God through Christ's death
has renewed what was ruined.

He therefore gave his son to us,
while we were still his enemies.
For our sake he hung on the cross,
was put to death and went to heaven.
By this means we have been redeemed from death and suffering.
If we place our trust in this stronghold,
the Father's word,
why should anyone have any horror of death?

He is the way, the light, the gate,
the truth and the life,
the father's counsel and eternal Word,
that he has given to us as protection,
so that with bold confidence
we may believe firmly in him
and for this reason no force nor might
will snatch us from his hand.

Mankind is godless and cursed,
his salvation is still distant,
he looks for comfort from men
and not from God the Lord;
for if anyone who sets a different goal
without this comforter,
the Devil’s might and cunning
can very soon terrify him.

Who hopes in God and places his trust in him
will never be put to shame.
For if anyone who builds on this rock,
even if something occurs here
that seems like misfortune,
I have never seen anyone fall
who relies on God's comfort,
he helps all those who believe.

I pray, o Lord, from the depths of my heart
that you may not take from me
your holy word from out of my mouth;
so will I not be put to shame by
my sin and guilt, since in your grace
I place all my trust.
Whoever relies firmly on this alone
will never look on death.

For my feet your holy word
is a blazing lantern,
a light that shows me the way forward;
as this morning Star
rises upon us we understand
the great gifts
that God's spirit has certainly promised to us,
and in these we have our hope.

English Translation by Francis Browne (November 2005)

Contributed by Francis Browne (November 2005)
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale045-Eng3.htm

As you listen to the two pieces I suggest you read the texts in order to realize the composers' intentions.

New YouTube Videos

Happy New Year, dear friends and family! I wanted to make you aware of two new videos that have been uploaded to YouTube. They are selections from my junior recital presented in October at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, OH. Hoping to get the Bach up sometime soon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcRYfCG9-0U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzPlTCEqnHw


More information on performances in 2014 will be coming!

Concerts at Brookdale

I will be presenting two recitals at Brookdale Place of Wooster this summer (where my grandparents Harold and Hazeljean Douglas are residents).

Sunday, June 9, 6pm: Piano Recital at the Brookdale Place of Wooster, Assisted Living

 

Wednesday, June 26, 2pm: Piano Recital at Brookdale Place of Wooster, Caring Bridge

 

 

Address is:

Brookdale Place of Wooster

1615 Cleveland Road

Wooster, OH 44691

Repertoire for Summer 2013:

Bach Partita in C minor, BWV 826
Schubert Sonata in A minor, D. 784
Chopin Etude in F major, Op. 10, No. 8
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
Chamber Music TBD

Happy First of June!! This summer looks like a fun one! I will be going to Duxbury Music Festival in July 18-August 3 in Duxbury, MA. Please keep an eye out for performances and CDs that will be coming out this summer.

Peace.

Music

Today, in a question for a press release about my concert at OrrVilla on Monday, August 6 at 7pm, I was asked: "Why do you perform?". Here is my response:

I perform because I believe music is a God-given ministry between the performer and the world to explain what it is to feel and experience life. Music is a language that is uniquely interpreted by every performer and heard differently by every listener. Music is my life and my life is my music.

Chamber Music Festival

In about a week I will be heading to Long Island Post University for Long Island Post Chamber Music Festival. It will be a great experience with tons of chamber music repertoire. For those interested here is what I was assigned:

Hummel- Septet No. 2 "Military"
Dvorak- Piano Quartet No. 2 in E flat
Farrenc- Piano Quintet No. 1 in A minor
Brahms- Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor
Schubert- Fantasie in F minor for four-hand piano

I will be there from July 7-27. The festival consists of daily chamber music practices/coachings with faculty and weekly instrumental masterclasses. I will attend performance at LIU presented by faculty of the festival and guest artists. I will also enter in the concerto competition with the first movement from Mendelssohn's Second Piano Concerto. I'm so excited!!

Updated Blog Format!

Hope all are enjoying the summer! Please take some time to look my updated blog/website. Also, notice that I have an events and concerts page!!

Lastly, I wanted to apologize for not completing the Lenten Music Journey. Things got to be too much at school and I didn't have enough time to complete the project. I'm looking forward to do a more manageable project next year.

Peace!

Lenten Music Journey Day 17: Chopin Piano Series Day 5

As the last day of the Chopin Piano Series, I thought I would post a piece which is probably one of Chopin's most important and popular works: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR7eUSFsn28

The term ballade comes from French poetry in the mid 19th century and Chopin's four ballades were possibly inspired by poetry by Adam Mickiewicz. Chopin created a new form of music unlike any other when he composed the ballades.

This work has very distinct moods that are so varying: a somber waltz, singing theme, and, of course, the very difficult and fast coda.

Lenten Music Journey Day 16: Chopin Piano Series Day 4

Mazurka in A minor, Op. 7, No. 2, by Chopin is our Day 4 in the Chopin Piano Series (Day 16 in the Lenten series):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z-WVlIMges&feature=related

The mazurka (mazur in Polish) is a traditional polish dance. Chopin predominantly responsible for bringing this dance to the international audience through his composition of over 50 passionate mazurkas; it also paved the way for many composers to compose in a nationalistic sense in honor of their country.

This mazurka really emanates sadness and longing to me.

Lenten Music Journey Day 15: Chopin Piano Series Day 3

Today is Day 3 of the Chopin Piano Series.

Day 15's piece is Chopin's Etude in E major, Op. 10, No. 3 performed by Freddy Kempf (one of my very favorite pianists--look at his bio on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddy_Kempf)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKTfcX8NbaM

Chopin's Etude in E major Op. 10, No. 3 is one of two slower etudes in the Op. 10 set (the other being No. 6 in E flat minor). No. 3 is a study of singing melody with supportive accompaniment. It requires a very even legato touch. The second theme is a lilting happy theme which turns into a stormy cadenza and then back to the beautiful E major theme. I see this etude as Love--the Love that God has for us because he gave up his only son Jesus so that we could be forgiven.

Lenten Music Journey Day 14: Chopin Piano Series Day 2

This day 2 of the Chopin Piano Series.

The piece for Day 14 is Chopin's Fugue in A minor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0RrT6hMOgI

This is the only published Fugue by Chopin. Chopin was known to have really respected the work of J.S. Bach. In fact, some say that his 24 preludes were modeled after Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. I was introduced to this work by a friend that attended Kent State University's Piano Institute when I was in middle or high school (can't remember). I'm so appreciative that she introduced me to this work.

Lenten Music Journey Day 13: Chopin Piano Series Day 1

Today begins five days of piano pieces by Chopin that I believe really reflect the season of Lent.

The piece for Day 13 is Frederic Chopin's Etude in C sharp Minor Op 25, No. 7 performed by Alfred Cortot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54A9A--ED90

Frederic (Fryderyk) Chopin (1810-1849) was perhaps one of the most important composers and pianists of the Romantic period; he is often referred to as the "poet of the piano". Chopin was born and grew up in Poland which is apparent in his mastering of the nationalistic dances of Poland: the mazurka and polonaise. Chopin eventually moved to Paris to avoid the politics in Poland. Chopin flourished in France with well attended and appreciated performances of some of his most popular works. Chopin died of tuberculosis which he had lived with much of his adult life.

Etude literally means study in French but Chopin's etudes not only challenge the performer technically but also musically. This etude comes from his second set of 12 etudes Op. 25 (other popular etudes in this set include the Winter Wind, Ocean, Thirds, and Octave etudes). No. 7 is kind of the odd ball of the set. It is the only etude in both sets that is marked Lento. It begins with a cello-like quasi cadenza in the left hand which requires quiet shape and a lot of expressiveness. Then the etude evolves into a left hand melody with right hand accompaniment most of the time. The left hand has long and taxing passage work. One of the very hard things to get across in this piece is trying to make it cohesive. It ends extremely softly (ppp). I think this piece is a very appropriate work to depict the Crucifixion. It is really quite depressing with intense moments ending in death. Let us reflect on what Christ went through on the cross to save us all.