Warm Up with the Chamber Music Society of MN This Weekend

You're invited to a performance by the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota with special guest, pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute (YEH-vuh YOH-koo-bah-vee-choo-tay).

Violinist Ariana Kim is also back in town for Sunday afternoon's concert.

Ieva will perform a gorgeous piece by Czech composer Josef Suk. Suk married Antonin Dvorak's daughter, Otilie, and he was distraught when she died young of a heart condition. The two had a young son, and Suk wrote a piece for their son to help him get to know his mother.

Ieva explains the story:

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As gorgeous as Suk's piece About Mother is, the pieces are rarely performed. Here's Ieva again:

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If you look at the score to About Mother, you might think it looks simple. Ieva says it's actually quite complex:

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Also on the concert, a piece by Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski, in honor of his centenary. Violinist Ariana Kim joins Ieva for a performance of Lutoslawski's Partita for Violin and Piano.

Ariana explains the local connection to this piece, and its construction:

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Ieva says the piano part is difficult, but similar to Mendelssohn:

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Ieva and Ariana chime in on contemporary music, and how to listen to it:

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Hear Ieva and Ariana play in a performance from the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m., at Sundin Hall, Hamline University.

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