SPECIAL PROJECTS

Professional Clinics 2008-2009 (please email for detailed information)

Conquering Performance Anxiety

Creating a Music Career

In the Practice Room

Messiaen Centennial Celebration-2008

Program I: ENTERING THE WORLD OF MESSIAEN

50 minutes lecture-recital

One of the most sensual and exotic composers of the 20^th century, Olivier Messiaen created a new sound world to express his mystical Catholic faith.  Hsu discusses the synthesis of  nature, the French lineage, synesthesia and the visual arts, and other disparate elements in Messiaen’s works.  The two featured pieces are Messiaen’s Premiere Communion de la Vierge and Regard de l’Eglise d’amour from Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jesus.  This lecture-recital enables the non-scholar to develop a personal relationship with Messiaen’s musical art.

Program II: THE FRENCH CONNECTION

50 minutes solo and chamber music

Guest violinist Judith Ingolfsson in Messiaen’s Theme & Variations

French music has evolved quite dramatically over the last few centuries, and yet they share certain aesthetics.  A love for rich harmonies, for nature, and for poetic renderings draw together this program of Couperin, Debussy, and Messiaen. 

Program III: FAITH IN THE MUSIC OF MESSIAEN

50 minutes lecture-recital

French composer Olivier Messiaen expressed his devout Catholic faith through his musical art.  Among his numerous sacred works is the masterpiece Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jesus, or “Twenty Contemplations on the Baby Jesus”, written in 1944.   Hsu explains basic compositional devices that represent the theological ideas behind this grand work, and performs Premiere Communion de la Vierge and Regard de l’Eglise d’amour.

Program IV: VISIONS DE L’AMEN

50 minutes piano duo

Guest pianist David Korevaar

“Visions de l’Amen” is one of the most striking 20^th century works for piano duo.   The idea of “Amen” comes from Ernest Hello’s definition: “expressions of the creative art, obedient acceptance, spiritual desire, and eternal consummation”.  Messiaen evokes the majesty and power of the eternal world with sounds of gamelan, jewels, and birdsong.