CSC hosts Beethoven sonata festival
CHADRON – A concert series underway at Chadron State College is giving local audiences, and anyone with an internet connection this fall, the opportunity to hear all 32 of the piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music.
The 14 concert series, created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, began in September and continues through March. Three of the pianists performing are from CSC: Associate Professor Dr. Brooks Hafey, Accompanist Bobby Pace, and Dean of Liberal Arts Dr. Jim Margetts.
Musicians from Wayne State College, Hastings College, Black Hills State University, University of South Dakota, University of Nebraska-Kearney, and the University of Texas are also scheduled to perform. The concerts take place in the Chicoine Atrium at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center and the fall recitals will be available for viewing at CSC Live.
Hafey said he began planning for the festival two years ago in anticipation of the 250th anniversary commemoration. Though composed two centuries ago, Beethoven’s music is still studied and performed, and communicates emotions that continue to entertain and enrich people’s lives today, Hafey said.
A unique feature of the festival is the video program notes that Pace creates for each concert. The videos, which can be requested from Pace, include information about the historical background, musical influences, and forms of each piece on the program.
“I want to make it easier to understand the music,” said Pace, who is using his background in teaching music theory and history and personal experience as a pianist to create the videos. “I aim to make these concerts informational and enjoyable to all people, not just musicians.”
Originally used to refer to any piece of instrumental music, sonata, eventually came to mean any large scale work for solo instruments, usually with three movements, Pace said. The form remains in use by contemporary composers, who draw on traditions from the classical era.
Several of Beethoven’s sonatas, such as “Moonlight,” “Appassionata,” and “Pathetique” are familiar to contemporary audiences, Hafey said. His personal favorites are the composer’s later works.
“Massive amounts of time go into preparing these recitals,” said Pace, who had not previously played any of the five sonatas in his two concerts.
The shutdown this spring caused by the COVID-19 pandemic helped free time to learn the pieces, he added.
The concerts have received positive responses from community members who have enjoyed the high quality of the music and performances, and appreciate the ability to watch via a live stream, said Hafey.
On Oct. 30, Dr. Nathan Buckner from the University of Nebraska-Kearney will play at 3 p.m.
As a supplement to the sonata series, Hafey will perform sets of Bagatelles by Beethoven, including the well-known “Fur Elise” on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
The 2020 portion of the festival concludes on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. with Dr. Alessandra Feris from the University of South Dakota performing three of Beethoven’s last sonatas.
Category: Campus Events, Campus News, Music