West Stockbridge — In May, the West Stockbridge Chamber Players had planned to give a concert at the Old Town Hall that would have included the premiere performance of a piece by local composer Eric Shimelonis. But, as the best laid plans of mice and men are subject to the whims and caprices of aerosolized virions, “Kathy and Bob,” we learned, “got COVID the week before,” according to West Stockbridge Historical Society spokesman Bob Salerno. The two are in good health, and the premiere will now be given on Sunday, October 29, as part of a new program that includes a piece for solo clarinet by Israeli composer Eva Wasserman-Margolis and a string trio written in 1945 by Czech composer Gideon Klein shortly before he was murdered in the Holocaust.
“Kathy and Bob” are a couple of local clarinetists, Catherine and William Hudgins, both of whom play for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Hudgins holding the principal chair. They are joined on October 29 by violinist Sheila Fiekowsky, cellist Adam Esbensen, and violist Stephanie Fong, all BSO players.
The warm-up act on Sunday is W. A. Mozart at his genial best. His Divertimento No. 5, K. 439b is as cheerful and uplifting as anything he wrote—a sure crowd-pleaser and the perfect introduction to Eric Shimelonis’ “For the Love of Music: An Invocation Dedicated to Stuart Kuller.” In May, I asked Eric to describe the piece, which will be the second world premiere the Chamber Players have given of his music. Here is his response:
“‘For the Love of Music’ … is an invocation dedicated to violinist and music lover, friend, and neighbor Stuart Kuller. This short piece is built on chords that seek to convey the exaltedness and immortality of music … We lost Stuart Kuller only some months ago, and this concert is part memorial for him. Stuart had a joyful energy and wonderful sense of humor, and in writing a piece to remember him, I knew that it needed some of his personality … as if to say ‘don’t mourn—celebrate!’ The pieces quoted are among Stuart’s favorites; and although the piece is dedicated to Stuart, I also intend it to speak to all music lovers.”
Catherine Hudgins has consistently seen to it that the West Stockbridge Chamber Players introduce audiences to rare and lesser-known clarinet repertoire performed at the highest level. And on this program, she offers “The Generation of Hope,” a work for unaccompanied clarinet composed in 1994 by Israeli clarinetist, educator, conductor, and composer Eva Wasserman-Margolis. Based on the Chassidic solidarity anthem “Am Yisrael Chai” (“The People of Israel Live On”), Margolis’ piece is dedicated to the 22 victims of a Tel Aviv suicide bombing on October 19, 1994. But it can be taken more generally as an affirmation of the continuity of the Jewish people. If you listen here to a performance from Dr. Mark J. Cramer, you are bound to agree that the piece is highly expressive, engaging, and action packed.
Gideon Klein’s String Trio follows Wasserman-Margolis. Completed in 1944 at the Terezin concentration camp shortly before the composer’s death, the piece is full of mischief, adventure, and wit. The first movement, especially, demonstrates Klein’s complete control over his distinctive harmonic language, and that makes you trust him through the remainder of the piece.
Bohuslav Martinů’s Serenade for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Two Clarinets closes Sunday’s program with music that is wildly colorful and unapologetically fun. Perfectly matching the smile on the composer’s face, this piece seems powered by pure mischief.
Hear the West Stockbridge Chamber Players perform a program of Mozart, Wasserman-Margolis, Klein, Shimelonis, and Martinů on Sunday, October 29, 4 p.m., at the Old Town Hall, Main Street, West Stockbridge. Tickets, $35, are available here.
Revenue from West Stockbridge Chamber Players benefit concerts supports restoration efforts on the Old Town Hall.
