CU duo to perform works by Ives, Stravinsky, Brahms and Ravel

Assisted by pianist Blaise Bryski, violinist Kia-Hui Tan, assistant professor of music, will presents sonatas by Brahms and Ives, Stravinsky's Divertimento, and Ravel's Tzigane on Monday, March 26, at 8 p.m. in Barnes Hall.

The duo opens with Stravinsky's Divertimento, which actually is an orchestral suite from his ballet The Fairy's Kiss, with themes drawn from the music of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky's countryman. Stravinsky met violinist Samuel Dushkin in 1931, which led to a close collaboration and a series of works utilizing Dushkin as both co-arranger and performer. They transcribed the Divertimento for violin and piano in 1932.

Brahms composed his Second Violin Sonata (A major) in 1886 while on holiday at the Lake of Thun in Switzerland. It is known as the "Thun" Sonata for where it was written and also as the "Prize Song" because it is very similar to the opening phrase of the "Prize Song" from Wagner's Die Meistersinger.

Following intermission, the program continues with Ives' Second Sonata. In the early years of the 20th century, Charles Ives was well known in the business community for his acumen, innovations and creative thinking as head of a remarkably successful insurance firm. The genius of his musical composition was not recognized until much later when he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1949. Written in 1903, the Sonata No. 2 is a reflection of all of Ives' American influences, as the titles of the movements indicate: "Autumn," "In the Barn" and "The Revival."

The concert closes with Ravel's Tzigane, composed in 1924 for Hungarian violinist Jelly d'Aranyi (Joachim's grandniece), whose playing of traditional gypsy music Ravel much admired. In this fearsomely virtuosic score, gypsy clichés take on unsuspected implications and new stature through Ravel's complex harmonies, iridescent textures and sophisticated rhythms.

Originally from Singapore, Tan graduated with valedictory honors from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she is a candidate for the doctor of musical arts degree.

Described in The Strad as a "violinist whose virtuosity was astonishing," Tan has won many prizes in violin, chamber music and new music.

Prior to her recent appointment at Cornell, she served as visiting assistant professor of violin/viola at the University of Toledo, adjunct music theory faculty at the Cleveland Institute, chamber music coach and staff accompanist for the institute's Preparatory Division, and violin/viola instructor and staff accompanist at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. This past summer, she was a resident faculty-artist at the International Music Festival and School at the University Antonio Nariño in Bogota, Colombia.

Bryski is finishing a doctorate in 18th-century performance practice at Cornell, where he is currently on the piano faculty. He served for many years as accompanist for the UCLA Department of Music and has performed in such varied venues as the Nakamichi Baroque Festival and the Green Umbrella New Music Series.