Friends (and soon to be friends!) -

I am so excited to return to Groupmuse and grateful to the team for continuing to grow this amazing community virtually!

This is my first online groupmuse, and I'm delighted to be joined by violinist Jayson Resto and pianist/composer Mathew Rakers.

The program features selected works for two violins by two 20th-century giants: Sergei Prokofiev and Bela Bartok. Bartok's series of violin duos are all derived from Eastern European folk music, and explore a vast array of harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary. Next are two movements from Prokofiev's Sonata for Two Violins- a hauntingly beautiful opening Andante, followed by a fiery Allegro in which the two violins chase and challenge each other relentlessly. Jessie Montgomery's introspective and wandering "Rhapsody No. 1 for Solo Violin" follows, a piece that explores both the expansive resonance and intimate colors of the solo violin. Mathew Rakers joins for Shostakovich's "Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano" and closes out the evening with a solo piano improvisation!

See you soon,
-Jesus

Streaming live @ the San Diego Music and Art Company
Audio Engineering by James Page of Moonquake Records