Experience the sounds of Russia in Tarentum on Sunday.
The Academy Chamber Ensemble will present “Russian Holiday” at Central Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m.
The program will feature one of Joseph Haydn’s “Russian” String Quartets, Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet #1 and some holiday music.
This is the sixth season for this series.
“It is a concert that takes place during the holiday season, but it’s not primarily based on holiday music,” said Dave Rankin of Harrison, a lifelong member of the church who is handling publicity for the concert.
The series is led by Warren Davidson, a Slippery Rock University music instructor who conducts the school’s orchestra. He will play the violin. Joining him are Leah Givelber on violin, David Sinclair on viola and Paige Riggs on cello.
The programs in the growing series focus on the classical chamber music tradition, but sometimes include contemporary works, Rankin said.
“We believe that the arts play an important role in our culture and in our lives, and that the church is a place where they may be embraced, enabling us to more fully understand the personality and enjoy the presence of God,” Rankin said.
The Tchaikovsky String Quartet is the biggest piece on the program, Davidson said.
“It is full of lush harmonies, driving rhythms and memorable tunes,” Davidson said. “As with the Borodin ‘Nocturne,’ the lovely, slow second movement of Tchaikovsky’s quartet, the ‘Andante Cantabile’ is often played all by itself. One of the melodies in the piece was taken from a folk song Tchaikovsky heard when he was visiting his sister — it was sung by a peasant who was painting the house.”
Davidson noted that Haydn, an Austrian, never set foot in Russia and didn’t adapt any Russian folk music for use in his compositions. His set of string quartets, six of them published together in 1782, are called the “Russian Quartets” because he dedicated them to Grand Duke Paul of Russia.
“The fifth quartet of this set, which we will play on Sunday, is charming and witty,” Davidson said. “The light-hearted nature of this piece makes a nice contrast to all the fervid emotional expression of the Russian composers.”
They also will perform Russian Christmas carols “The Star” and “Christmas Bells.”
The Central Presbyterian Church is located at 305 Allegheny St. in Tarentum.
