Pictured above is visiting assistant professor of violin Andrew Bergevin performing in his faculty recital on Saturday Jan. 27 in the Doty Recital Hall. Bergevin played one solo piece, a violin duet with violinist Timna Mayer and a piano and violin collaboration with adjunct professor of music Jeong-Eun Lee. (Catherine White/ Arts & Entertainment Editor)
There are manifold events on-campus to showcase the raw talents of Geneseo students, but not many show the expert capability of the faculty and staff. Luckily, faculty recitals are a way to do just that.
The recital of visiting assistant professor of violin Andrew Bergevin on Saturday Jan. 27 was a perfect example of not only Bergevin’s talent, but also an exhibition of an immense musical collaboration.
The recital consisted of three pieces, and during each Bergevin played the violin. To start, Bergevin played alongside violinist Timna Mayer in Kristapor Najarian’s “A Tale for Two Violins.” The song has many Middle Eastern musical influences, specifically from Armenian and Turkish customs, according to the recital program.
Najarian’s piece includes six movements: “Introduction/Over the Plateau,” “Kef/Festivities,” “Rendezvous,” “Capture,” “Misty Morning/Lament” and “Escape.” The two musicians played fervently together, pausing from time to time between rests and looking at each other to remain on rhythm.
Undeclared major freshman Jenna Meldrum, who attended the recital, enjoyed seeing faculty have the chance to perform.
“It’s cool to see [Bergevin] and other professors together,” she said. “The first duet was awesome because usually I don’t see a lot of violin duets. It was really beautiful.”
The last piece before the intermission was Eugène Ysaÿe’s “Sonata no. 4 in E minor for solo violin, Op. 27/4,” performed by Bergevin. The three movements in the piece were titled, “Allemande. Lento maestoso,” “Sarabande. Quasi lento,” and “Finale. Presto ma non troppo.”
The distinguished professor played his solo passionately, as he moved his body with each stroke of his bow. The piece was most memorable during the beginning and end of the second movement, when Bervegin’s plucks on the instrument’s strings echoed through the Doty Recital Hall.
Lastly, Bergevin was joined by adjunct professor of music Jeong-Eun Lee on the piano for Gabriel Fauré’s “Sonata no. 2 in E minor for violin and piano, Op. 108.” This piece was created at the end of Fauré’s life while he was almost entirely deaf, which makes it an “outpouring of the most vibrant inner feeling,” according to the recital program.
The three movements of the piece include “Allegro non troppo,” “Andante” and “Finale: allegro non troppo.” This piece, although not one of the most popular from Faurė, was a perfect way to end an afternoon filled with talented musicians.
Chemistry major freshman Paul Padgett attended the recital as a requirement for his introductory music course, but still appreciated the performance nonetheless.
“I also came because I really like music … I thought it was great,” he said. “I don’t know a whole lot about music, but it sounds good and I can feel the vibes.”
Overall, Bergevin’s faculty recital illustrated how the violin can communicate so well with other instruments and how musicians can speak to each other through sounds, no matter what musical piece they are playing.u