Paper #4 On Campus Concert

Clint Ashley Spires

MUSIC 101

11/17/09

#4 – On-Campus Concert

I attended the faculty recital of Daniel Beliavsky, pianist, on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 12 pm in Shephard Hall, City College. Mr. Beliavsky’s recital consisted of a large amount of works from composers Scarlatti, Bach, Schubert, Donald Harris, our own Stephen Jablonsky, and the performer himself, Beliavsky. I will touch on just a few of the 17 pieces that Mr. Beliavsky performed.

The recital started off with Sonatas by Scarlatti. The first, Sonata in E Major, K. 380 was written in a major key. It is marked Andante, which is a moderately slow tempo. There is a common theme established at the beginning with various repetitions throughout. There is use of chromatic scales. There are mode changes that occur after very brief pauses. There are trills typical of pieces from the Baroque period.

Italian Concerto, BWV 971, 3rd Movement by Bach was first published in 1753. It is a lively, fun piece. It is written in F Major and the tempo is indicated as Presto. There is a great use of the dynamics forte and pianissimo. There are very intricate fingering patterns using long, almost unbroken, phrases of straight eight notes that switch between the left and right hands. In general, this is a piece that can be said to be happy in nature. This is definitely my favorite piece from the recital.

Impromptu No. 2 in A-flat Major, Op. 142 by Schubert is written in typical minuet form.

It consists of 3 major phrases or sections. The first section is contemplative and sweet with tinges of dramatic forte dynamics throughout. The middle section called Trio consists of lyrical triplets that make use of a full range of the piano keyboard. This section changes mode to D-flat major then to C minor. It then returns to the original theme and key through to the end of the piece.

Piano Sonata by Donald Harris (1957) was most intriguing. It was written in Paris and has a very distinct Parisian feel especially in the 3rd Movement or the scherzo. The scherzo is written in a minor key. It is very fast and lively. The tempo seldom changes and when it does it incorporates a ritardando to slow down but never fully comes to a stop until the end of the movement. It is quite abstract and has determination. It conjures the image of a ball bouncing down a set of stairs or a leaf being blown fervently in the wind.

Mister Beliavsky’s own composition entitled Lullaby is a play, using variations, on Brahms’ original, Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Op. 49, No. 4, published in 1868. It is on the short side, but keeps the audience’s interest with the use of changing modes, tempos and dynamics as well as the use of the ever-recognizable theme that is so familiar to all. It is written in a minor key.

Daniel Beliavsky demonstrated his mastery of the piano in this recital. He illustrated his ability to interpret other works of genius. And he drove it all home with his own original composition incorporating all his abilities wrapped up into one piece of music. This was

a delightful and insightful excursion.