Totentanz (English: Dance of the Dead): Paraphrase on Dies irae, S.126, is the name of a work for solo piano and orchestra by Franz Liszt notable for being based on the Gregorian plainchant melody Dies irae as well as for stylistic innovations. It was first planned in 1838, completed and published in 1849, and revised in 1853 and 1859.
The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, flutes are edge-blown aerophones. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist or flutist.
Miao, Emily and Tony
Petite Suite for Two Flutes and Piano by Claude Debussy .
Claude Debussy's "Petite Suite" was originally composed for piano four hands between 1886 and 1889, and later orchestrated by Henri Büsser. While it is not specifically written for two flutes and piano, it has been adapted for various instrumentations, including two flutes and piano, due to its charming and accessible melodies.
A jazz pianist is a musician who plays the piano in the jazz genre. Jazz pianists use the instrument to create complex harmonies, rhythms, and melodies that are central to jazz music. They often improvise, meaning they create music spontaneously rather than playing from written scores. This improvisational element is key to jazz and allows pianists to express their creativity and interact with other musicians in dynamic and innovative ways.
Cameron DeLuca
Cameron DeLuca
Lei Lei and Dr. Boya Li
Astor Piazzolla’s "Libertango" is one of his most famous compositions, originally written in 1974. It marks a shift from traditional tango to nuevo tango, blending tango with jazz and classical music elements. The title itself, combining "libertad" (freedom) and "tango," reflects Piazzolla's liberation of the genre from its traditional roots.
Although the saxophone came into its own with jazz in the 20th century, the instrument was designed for classical music. Its inventor, Adolphe Sax, wanted to make it an instrument of the symphony orchestra. "Vocalise" is a song by Sergei Rachmaninoff, composed and published in 1915 as the last of his 14 Songs or 14 Romances, Op. 34. Written for high voice (soprano or tenor) with piano accompaniment, it contains no words, but is sung using only one vowel of the singer's choosing (see also vocalise). It was dedicated to soprano singer Antonina Nezhdanova. It is performed in various instrumental arrangements more frequently than in the original vocal version.
A saxophone quartet is a musical ensemble composed of four saxophones, typically soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. Different saxophone family members are employed to provide a larger range and a variety of tone colours. Other arrangements of instruments also exist, but are rarer. A piece of music composed for such an ensemble can also itself be referred to as a saxophone quartet.
Studio's Saxophone Faculty, Chen Wang, is not only a dedicated teacher in the studio but also a highly influential and active performer. He is the principal saxophonist of the Seattle Wind Symphony, one of the finest wind bands in the Seattle area, and the co-founder of the Pattern Saxophone Ensemble.
VID_20240718_124306_552.mp4The Adagio from Johann Sebastian Bach's Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001, is a beautiful and profound piece of music. It is the first movement of this solo violin sonata, and it showcases Bach's ability to blend intricate counterpoint with expressive, lyrical lines.
Sean Sasaki and Chelsea Zhang
Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 18 in G major, K. 301, was composed in 1778 during his time in Mannheim and Paris. This sonata is part of a set of six violin sonatas, K. 301-306, which represent a pivotal period in Mozart's development of the violin and piano sonata form. Unlike some of his earlier violin sonatas, where the keyboard part dominated, these later works give more equal importance to both instruments, allowing the violin and piano to engage in more dialogic interaction.
Boya Li, Piano
Dr. Li is an acclaimed pianist and educator. She won First Prizes at the 2019 Denver International Piano Competition and the 2020 Mississippi MTNA Young Artist competition. Ms. Li has performed in numerous recitals and over 20 chamber music events. She teaches at the University of Southern Mississippi and holds advanced degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Northern Colorado.
Chelsea Zhang, Piano
Chelsea Zhang's Solo Recital at the University of Washington School of Music featured works by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, and Claude Debussy. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance with outstanding technique and musical expressiveness.
Miao Liu, Chen Wang and Tony Sun
Lowell Liebermann's Trio for Flute, Alto Saxophone, and Piano, Op. 87, is a captivating piece that showcases the unique blend of these three instruments. Composed in 2002, the trio is noted for its lyrical beauty, rhythmic vitality, and the intricate interplay between the instruments. Our faculty performed this piece and won first prize at the American Grand Prix. They have been invited to perform it at the Carnegie Hall Winter Concert in December 2024.
Devin LaMarr, Cello
Bach Suite no. 5 in C minor, Prelude played by our cello faculty Devin LaMarr. Cellist Devin LaMarr, dedicated to music education and performance, earned full scholarships for her Master's at Carnegie Mellon and Bachelor's at Lynn University. Her notable teachers include Jonah Kim and Walter Gray, and she has participated in masterclasses with Mark Kosower and Brannon Cho. Devin debuted with the Kourdisma Quartet at the Lyric Chamber Music Society in 2022 and won the Pittsburgh Concert Society Major Artist Auditions in 2023, featuring on NPR. She also won the Navaroli Young Musicians competition and was a finalist in the Big Arts Classical Music Scholarship competition in Florida.