Piedmont Chamber Music Festival – Pop

For PCMF 2019’s closing concert, the one-of-a-kind talents for which our guest artists are known are on full display, while our program cheekily explores the meanings of “pop” music. The concert begins with a string quartet from the “pop” of the genre, Joseph Haydn, who first elevated the instrumentation into the refined art form we now know and love. Hindemith’s emotionally soaring Viola Sonata is among the most popular works for viola and piano, and rightfully so. As a fitting conclusion, cellist Clancy Newman and violinist Charles Yang present the unique ways they have found as individuals to combine their classical training and popular mainstream influences, and the festival ends with a bang as Paul Schoenfield’s Cafe Music throws every popular music tradition, including jazz and klezmer, into the kitchen sink — with rousing results.

Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 76 No. 6
Formosa Quartet

Paul Hindemith: Viola Sonata, Op. 11 No. 4
Nicholas Cords, viola
Juliana Han, piano

INTERMISSION

Pop-Unpopped and other selections
Clancy Newman, cello
Charles Yang, violin

Paul Schoenfield: Cafe Music
Charles Yang, violin
Clancy Newman, cello
Juliana Han, piano