NTU Chamber Group 2008 Annual Recital

NTU Chamber group historically hosts an annual recital of remembrance & Thanksgiving to serve the community. The annual recital provided an opportunity for the students to perform in public. It provided a platform for the musicians to learn from each other and the event also served as a social gathering for the parents and the teachers. Besides annual recital, the group performed in churches, in Chinese festivals and homes of the group members and friends. Sometimes, the group was invited to perform in supporting the recitals from the other musical groups.

Last year, the annual recital was moved earlier to June as a way to refresh the memories of Dr. Ming Wu and my father. We were grateful that Irvine First Presbyterian Church provided the Sanctuary for our annual recital. 

In the recital, the group performed Mozart piano quartet K-478, 1st movement. Woodwinds (flute, clarinet and bass clarinet) were added to double the string section. The scores were previously prepared by Ming. The video clips in this blog was edited from the recorded DVD.

Pastor Chung gave a short sermon message after the first Part.


In this recital, the youth string group performed three classical pieces:

  1. Salut D’amour by Edward Elgar
  2. Minute and Dances of the Blessed Spirits by Christoph Gluck
  3. Cannon in D by Johann Pachelbel

Most of the players are/were Ester’s students. Talented young musicians gave solo performance in this recital. Sarah Chang won several first-place awards in local piano competitions. Samuel Chen is the concert master in a local youth symphony.

Ms. Ester Chen conducted the group. Most of the players are/were her students. Greg Hung recorded the concert and prepared the DVDs for distribution. I edited the video to present this clip of Salut D’amour. In my daughter’s wedding on December 20, 2008 I performed this classical piece as a special music.

Elgar finished the piece in July 1888, when he was engaged to be married to Caroline Alice Roberts, and he called it “Liebesgruss” (‘Love’s Greeting’) because of Miss Roberts’ fluency in German. When he returned home to London on 22 September from a holiday at the house of his friend Dr. Charles Buck, in Settle he presented her with it as his engagement present. (Quote from Wikipedia).

This classical piece had been performed in different arrangements — violin and piano, piano solo, cello and piano, trios,  and small orchestra. Wikipedia listed a few:

Below are the 2008 annual recital remarks and the program:
_______________________________________________________________

We are grateful for our parents, teachers and friends who supported, helped and guided us in every step of our lives, especially our music education. It is one of the best investment and heritage they gave us.

“If I have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants” – Isaac Newton. Without their fathers, even Mozart and Beethoven wouldn’t have become unfading musicians as they are. Similarly, all our talents and skills come from our parents and teachers.

For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). It is from the Love of GOD, that all our Loved Ones bestowed their love to us and supported us all the way through our lives.

_______________________________

Recital of Remembrance & Thanksgiving

Prelude: Sarah & Luke Chang

Piano Solo: Arabesque No.I (Claude Debussy) — Yuche Lin

Clarinet Solo: Andante Cantabile K545 (W. A. Mozart) — Justin Kao
Accompanist: Sarah Chang

Violin Solo: Partita No. 2 in D minor Ciaccona (J.S. Bach) — Yuche Lin

String Ensemble: Spring Breezes (Taiwan Folk Song, Arranged by Richard Meyer)

Luke Chang, Yuche Lin, Yu-An Chang – Violin; Nelson Ho,  Gregory Kao – Cello; Sarah Chang – Piano

Piano Solo: Toccata (Kabalesvsky) — Sarah Chang

Remark: Effy Huang

Chamber Music: Quartet, G minor Kochel Nr. 478, 1st Mov. Allegro (W. A. Mozart)
— Dr. John Hung, Dr. Wen-Ching Hsieh, Dr. Rick Wu, Mrs. Grace Wu, Mrs. Esther Chen, Dr. Yu-An Chang, Mrs. Alice Hsu, Ms. Effy Huang

Music Saw:
1. Over the Rainbow (Harold Arlen)
2. I Love to Tell the Story (William Fischer)
— Dr. Peter Hong

Message: 生命的價值(The Value of Life)

Rev. T.F. Chuang 莊澤豐牧師;
翻譯:  Elder Taylor Wang 王俊生長老

Vocal Solo:
1. Singing I Go (William J. Kirkpatrick)
2. Nearer, My GOD to THEE (Lowell Mason)
3. Gianni Schicchi; O mio babbino caro (G. Puccini)
4. Signore, ascolta! From Turandof (Giacomo Puccini)
— Mrs. Li-Tsang Lin (美鈴); Accompanist: Dr. John Hung

Violin Solo: Zigeunerweizen Op 20 (Pablo de Sarasate) — Samuel Chen; Accompanist: Esther Chen

String Ensemble:
1. Salut D’amour (Edward Elgar)
2. Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Christoph Willibald Gluck)
3. Cannon in D (Johann Pachelbel)
— Junior String Group

Concluding Remark: Jesus Bids Us Shine (Edwin O. Excell); Yu-An Chang & Everyone

Closing Prayer

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