The UTC Music Department will host a piano recital, featuring guest artist Lynn Rice-See on Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. The performance will take place in the UTC Fine Arts Center, Roland Hayes Concert Hall, 752 Vine St.  It is presented free of charge and is open to the general public. 

The highlights of the afternoon’s concert are Haydn’s “Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI: 49”, Schumann’s “Kreisleriana, Op. 16” and “Schatzwalzer” by Johann Strauss, as transcribed by Ernö Dohnanyi.

Review for Lynn Rice-See

Since her Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1982, Lynn Rice-See has appeared as recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician throughout the world, and holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, The Julliard School, and the University of Southern California. She is currently professor of piano at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and a member of the Keyboard Wellness Seminar at the University of North Texas. In celebration of the Tennessee bicentennial, she and mezzo-soprano Sharon Mabry issued a CD of works by Tennessee composers.  Her newest CD, “Evocación”, includes European piano works from the 20 years prior to World War I. In addition to various publications, her writing includes the book, The Piano Teaching of Walter Hautzig, published by Edwin Mellen Press.

Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI: 49”, is a sonata composed in 1789 for one of his closest friends and admirers, Maria Anna von Genzinger. In a letter to her he wrote, “This sonata is in E-flat, entirely new and forever meant for only your Grace.” It goes on to explain that the first and third movements were completed first, followed by the second movement. This was a particularly happy period for Haydn, because he was finally able to live full-time in Vienna, after his many years as court musician at the isolated country estate of the Esterházy family.  

Robert Schumann’s “Kreisleriana, Op. 16,” will also be performed. In this work, two strong influences in Schumann’s work are revealed: his relationship with Clara Wieck and the literary work of E. T. A. Hoffmann. Schumann’s emotional life was often in upheaval, due to his continuing battle for the hand of Clara Wieck. Her father, the most famous piano tacher in Dresden, was violently opposed to the marriage and Schumann consequently moved to Vienna where he planned to establish himself as a more credible breadwinner for his hoped-for family. In the meantime, Clara was appointed “imperial-royal chamber virtuoso”, both intimidating and exciting for Schumann: his future bride set a very high professional standard to live up to, and at the same time provided a performance conduit for his piano works. Alternatively, E. T. A. Hoffmann was a Romantic German writer, who created a fictional character named Kappellmeister (“conductor” or “Maestro”) Johanness Kreisler. This individual shared many of Schumann’s own personality traits: impetuousness, mercurialness, and instability. 

“Schatzwalzer” is a meringue of a piece that is a concert transcription by the renowned Hungarian composer and pianist Ernö Dohnanyi of a chain of waltzes from the popular operetta Ziegunerbaron (or The Gypsy Baron) by Johann Strauss. This comic entertainment depicts the story of the marriage of a landowner (returned from exile) and a gypsy girl who is revealed as the daughter of a Turkish Pasha and the rightful owner of a hidden treasure. The waltzes display Strauss’s legendary melodic appeal and gift for varying a theme.  

For those with a disability requiring accommodations or require further information regarding this or any other UTC Music Department performance, call the Music office at 425-4601 or, see the Music Department website at http://utc.edu/music.