Faculty duo to perform Debussy's "Ariettes oubliées"

shannon small kramer sma

Dr. Pamela Shannon Dr. Ernest Kramer

Dr. Pamela Shannon and Dr. Ernest Kramer of the Northwest music faculty will present a lecture and recital at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, in Charles Johnson Theater on the Northwest campus.

The program will focus on the song cycle "Ariettes oubliées" ("Forgotten songs") by the French composer Claude Debussy with poetry by Paul Verlaine.

Debussy, like other French composers at the close of the 19^th century, was interested in developing a uniquely French style of music. He found inspiration among Impressionist painters and from the literary movement known as Symbolism, which was popular in France after 1880, and of which Verlaine was a leading exponent.

The Symbolists were concerned with the evocative power of words, and the Impressionists used shimmering colors, light and texture to present nature in a new perspective.

In similar fashion, Debussy developed a musical language in which he chose sounds for their beauty without necessarily employing conventional harmonies.

"Ariettes oubliées" brings together two great French artists working at an important moment in the cultural and artistic history of their country.

The lecture-recital is being sponsored through the Internationalization of Northwest program, an initiative designed to increase awareness and appreciation of other cultures.

Kramer and Shannon frequently appear on stage together both on and off the Northwest campus. On Nov. 17 they will present "The Cliff's Edge," a song cycle by Margaret Garwood, at the 50th national conference of the College Music Society in Salt Lake City.

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone (660) 562-1704
Fax (660) 562-1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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