The Journal

Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Audrey Burke Guest pianists Paul Stephens, a private piano teacher from Kirksville (back) and Janice Saffir, a professor of music at Truman State University (front), perform at the Nov. 4 concert of piano duos and duets entitled Pianos! Pianos! Pianos!

The lively sound of a Slavonic dance coming from the dimly-lit Winifred Moore Auditorium was illustrated by two people and four hands on one grand piano moving in a display of synchronization.

The "Pianos, Pianos, Pianos" concert culminated the end of an all-day piano ensemble event Nov. 4 that started with competitions and ended in the concert. The concert featured Janice Saffir, Paul Stephens and Webster faculty members Patricia Weeks and Donna Vince.

The concert showcased works by three Polish composers: Frederic Chopin, Witold Lutoslawski and Moritz Moskowski, in conjunction with a film from the Webster University Film Festival by Krzysztof Kieslowski.

Saffir and Stephens played duets on the same piano. Weeks and Vince played their duo on two separate pianos.

"Jeux d'enfants (Children's Games)," by French composer Georges Bizet was played early on in the concert and was one of the darker pieces featured.

"These must have been some scary games," Stephens said. "Most of the pieces start out in minor, but end cheerfully."

Saffir followed Stephen's description with her own.

"The title of 'Children's Games' does not mean these were written for children to play," Saffir said. "These are somewhat difficult, and I believe Bizet wrote these for people of all ages to listen to and enjoy."

Saffir's explanation of the gentle-sounding piece "Sonate for Piano, Four Hands," by French composer Francis Poulenc, received a chuckle from the audience toward the end of the concert.

"This piece was arranged two ways," Saffir said. "It can be played by four hands or on two pianos. He might have written it this way because the piece for four hands includes a wide range of keys and you're even closer to the other person than normal. If you don't like the other person you're playing with, you're out of luck."

"Valse Brilliante" by Moskowski, the last piece of the concert, brought out all four performers, each playing a duet on the pianos.

Continued...

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