Press Releases |
| OCTOBER 2 FACULTY RECITAL IS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY EVENT
ENTITLED 'SHALL WE DANCE "'
Lincoln, Neb.'Associate Professor of Clarinet Diane Cawein Barger's October 2 faculty recital is a multi-disciplinary event entitled 'Shall We Dance "' and will feature both music for clarinet and music relating to dance in some way, along with performances by five UNL dance students.  (L-R) Associate Professor of Clarinet Diane Barger performs with UNL dancers Traci Christensen, Sarah Kesse and Kira Boerkircher 'I'm excited about it,' said Barger, who is performing her first solo faculty recital on campus in more than a year. 'This is a nice way to get back into it. It's not just a clarinet recital. It's more entertaining.' The program begins with 'Dante Dances' for clarinet and piano by Dan Welcher. All five UNL dancers will perform during this piece, which explores a journey through the various circles of Dante's Inferno using various dance forms. Next, is 'Dance Music' for E-flat clarinet and piano by Daniel Dorff. The story of the piece involves a mouse who meets various dance partners along the way and winds up 'dancing himself to death,' and he ascends to heaven. Levine said the dancers will not be in costume as mice for this piece, but they will stay true to the story, including an ascension at the end of the piece.  Associate Professor of Clarinet Diane Barger performs with UNL dance sophomore Molly McConkey. 'Arlequin' for solo clarinet by Louis Cahuzac will feature Barger and a solo dance by Levine. The piece is about one of the principal stock characters in the Italian commedia dell'arte (comedy of art), Harlequin. The program concludes with 'Duet-Concertino' for clarinet, bassoon and piano by Richard Strauss. While there are no dancers in this piece, it is a tone poem loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's story, 'The Swineherd.' Strauss's story involves a princess who is alarmed by the grotesque cavortings of a dancing bear. Eventually, she dances with the bear, who turns into a prince. The clarinet is the princess, and the bassoon is the dancing bear. The multi-disciplinary program promises to be a unique experience for the audience. 'I thought it would be fun for the audience and a way to celebrate Susan being here,' Barger said. Levine began as Assistant Professor of Dance this fall after serving as a lecturer last year. 'There is nothing better than to dance with live music,' Levine said. 'It's a gift to be able to do this.' Dance students performed at the UNL Drum Ensemble Concert last April. The five dancers performing in this recital are excited about the opportunity to participate in the concert. 'They are psyched about any opportunity to perform,' Levine said.  (L-R) Associate Professor of Clarinet Diane Barger performs with UNL dancers Lars Hollingsed, Sarah Kesse, Kira Boerkircher and Traci Christensen. Clinton, a critically acclaimed pianist, has garnered numerous prizes at such prestigious international competitions as the 1991 Joanna Hodges Piano Competition. He joins with pianist Nicole Narboni to form the highly successful Clinton/Narboni Duo. Clinton has served on the faculties of Salisbury University, the Aspen Institute, Missouri Southern State College and the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in Prague, Czech Republic. Levine came to Nebraska from New York City via New England. She served as the lone dance faculty person at Fitchburg State College outside Boston, where she brought her modern dance aesthetic to students who had been largely focused on competitive dance. With theater and music colleagues she brought a fully choreographed musical version of Jack London's 'The Call of the Wild' to the Edinburgh Festival-Fringe. Micklich is also a member of the Moran Woodwind Quintet and principal bassoonist with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his appointment at UNL in 2001. he had been on the faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University of Missouri-Columbia, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Michigan State University. |
