Wellesley’s Music Department held its Fall Faculty Concert on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in Jewett Auditorium with the theme “In Between.” Faculty performers met this theme with pieces that explored resonance and dissonance, leading and following and uncertainty and security, which showcased the rich variety of influences within the department.
The program opened with the first movement from Claude Bolling’s “Toot Suite,” featuring Kanako Nishikawa on piano, Tom Duprey on trumpet, Leo Lynch-McDonnell on bass and Bob Savine on drums. The piece opened with contrasting lines from the piano and trumpet, establishing a call-and-response structure for piano and trumpet to trade lines. A repeated “A” section provides structure to the jazz- and swing-inspired improvisation.
The quartet was followed by a set of three art songs by Renaissance composer John Dowland, featuring soprano Deborah Selig and Catherine Liddell on lute. The performance was staged intimately, both performers seated with a small table and flower vase between them. The songs were selected to tell a personal story of betrayal in love, despair, regaining confidence and seeking joy in new love. Both performers strongly captured the emotion and unique character of each piece. The use of the lute to accompany voice was a welcome complement, closely matching Selig’s range and mirroring the dynamic changes and emotion throughout each song.
A standout selection showcasing the concert’s themes of duality and connection was Paul Hindemith’s “Sonata for Oboe and Piano,” with Kyoko Hida-Battaglia on oboe and Eliko Akahori on piano. The first movement’s fast tempo and lively character contrast with the piano’s carrying unresolved tension underneath. The second movement lingers longer on certain phrases, changing tempo frequently and ending unresolved. While the oboe led and set the tone for the piece, the piano propelled and guided the oboe in subtle ways that completely changed its character.
The namesake piece of the concert, Emi Nishida’s dynamic piano composition “In Between,” highlighted the compositional abilities of the Music Department. The piece floated between moments of security and questioning, carrying dissonant lines of tension that are never fully resolved. It avoided assignment to any key or time signature, changing rhythm unpredictably. The piece suddenly ended on a single chord, resolving the frantic searching in a moment of pause or hope.
The Fall Faculty Concert provided a glimpse into the variety of musical influences and inspiration within the Music Department, showcasing collaboration between performers to highlight musical duality. The concert reflected the strong dedication Wellesley’s music faculty have to their discipline and to educating students. You can catch upcoming events in the Wellesley College Concert Series by visiting www.wellesley.edu/music.
