Frequency presents Bach Refractions on May 13, 2017! Free admission!

We can't wait for Bach Refractions, the final concert of our inaugural season! Come join us on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 7:30pm in Brechemin Auditorium at the University of Washington School of Music. Admission is free! More info below:

UW concert listing: Frequency presents Bach Refractions

Program notes (excerpted):

Welcome to Bach Refractions! Refraction occurs when a wave of light or sound passes from one medium to another. When the wave passes through the second medium, it deviates from the straight path it would have otherwise taken. Tonight, Frequency takes a look at Bach from different angles. You’ll hear works by Bach in their original instrumentation, arrangements of Bach, and works by other composers who were inspired by Bach.

Bach wrote the iconic Goldberg Variations for keyboard. Tonight, we’ll perform selections from Dmitry Sitkovetsky’s transcription for string trio. Two Bach Preludes, one from a solo violin partita and one from a solo cello suite, are presented tonight, along with works that they directly influenced. Legendary Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe wrote a set of six solo violin sonatas (inspired by Bach’s six works for solo violin). In the first movement of his second sonata, Ysaÿe shows his obsession with Bach, quoting the master, while weaving in the Dies irae chant from the traditional Requiem mass. Melia Watras wrote her Prelude as an homage to her beloved former teacher, Atar Arad, and to Bach’s Prelude from his Third Cello Suite.

Also among the Bach-inspired pieces is Paul Hindemith’s Passacaglia, from his Viola Sonata, Op. 11, No. 5. The work is influenced by Bach’s famed Chaconne for solo violin, with notable similarities in form and structure. And it wouldn’t be a Frequency concert without something new on it, so tonight you’ll hear the world premiere of a creative arrangement by Melia of several themes from Bach’s solo cello and violin works.