The Call of the Hunt

ROBERT SCHUMANN: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: “Deep River”
WILLIAM KROLL: Banjo and Fiddle
JOHANNES BRAHMS: “Horn Trio”

In a program we have titled “The Call of the Hunt,” pianist Kevin Class and I explore nature and the Romanticism of its sounds with KSO Principal Horn Jeffery Whaley. Together, the three of us tackle Brahms’ epic “Horn Trio,” a piece with so much depth and power that at moments, it sounds like a full symphony orchestra is performing at the Museum. Indeed, “the call of the hunt” title comes from the gorgeous horn calls in this piece, which are so memorable and evocative. Before we are joined by Jeffery, Kevin Class and I will perform delightful miniatures by William Kroll (Banjo and Fiddle) and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s arrangement of “Deep River.” But to understand Brahms, you need his friend and peer composer Robert Schumann, who leads our program with his popular Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor. A sonata rich with unforgettable chords, imagery, and passion, it is one of my very favorite sonatas precisely for these reasons, and it leads beautifully to the rich harmonies of Brahms. – William Shaub