SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY (October 5, 2011) – On Saturday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m., for the final concert 
of its 10th season, Chamber Music at St. Andrew’s offers an outstanding free program of “Music For Winds and Strings” at the church located at 5277 State Route 42 in South Fallsburg, NY. Reservations are required; call: 845-292-8967 or pcfriedman27@gmail.com.
Featuring Steven D. Hartman, Clarinet; Gerard Reuter, Oboe and Oboe d’Amore; Laura Frautschi, Violin’; Richard Rood, Violin; Sarah Adams, Viola; Eugene J. Moye, Jr., Cello.
And playing the music of: Johann Sebastian Bach – Concerto in A Major for oboe d’amore and strings; Rebecca Clarke – Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale for viola and clarinet; Benjamin Britten – Phantasy Quartet for oboe and strings; Johannes Brahms – Quintet for clarinet and string quartet.
The Brahms “Quintet” is one of four last chamber music works written specially for clarinet, the result of Brahms’ admiration for a great clarinetist of his time, Richard Mühlfeld. The Britten “Phantasy” is a short but surprisingly complete work for such an early one, and was written in 1934 for the best-known oboist of that time, Leon Goosens.
A large portion of Rebecca Clarke’s (1886-1979) music features the viola, as she was a professional performer for many years. Much of her output was written for herself and the all-female chamber ensembles she played in. Her works were strongly influenced by 20th century classical music. Clarke also knew many leading composers of the day, including Bloch and Ravel, with whom her work has been compared.
Clarinetist Steven D. Hartman (photo above) is Associate Principal Clarinet of both the New York City Ballet and New York City Opera Orchestras. In addition, he is Principal Clarinet of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Opera Orchestra of New York and the New York Scandia Symphony. He is frequently heard as soloist with the Washington Square Music Festival. He will be joined by oboist Gerard Reuter who has appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, including the Jupiter Symphony, Philharmonia Virtuosi, Riverside Symphony the National Chamber Orchestra in Washington, DC, the Soviet Émigré’s Orchestra and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, of which he was a founding member. A dedicated chamber music performer, he is a member of the Dorian Wind Quintet and was a founding member of the ensemble.
Also on the program is cellist Eugene J. Moye, Jr., the Principal Cello of American Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Opera Orchestra of New York, and Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra; violinist Laura Frautschi, a concertmaster of the New York City Opera Orchestra, and has toured internationally as a concertmaster of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; violinist Richard Rood, currently a leading member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra as well as a first violinist of the New York City Opera and the Associate Concertmaster of the Santa Fe Opera; and violist Sarah Adams who is a member of the New York Chamber Ensemble and the resident ensemble at the Cape May Chamber Music Festival.
Chamber Music at St. Andrew’s offers two free chamber concerts each season, performed by outstanding musicians that enrich, inspire and bring pleasure to Sullivan County audiences. All are invited to come and bring their families and neighbors. The series depends on the generosity of the community, and tax-deductible contributions are urgently needed. Checks should be made out to: St. Andrew’s Mission and sent to Ms. Cynthia Johnston, Treasurer, St. Andrew’s Mission, PO Box 55, Woodbourne NY 12788.
This series is made possible in part with funds from the 2011 Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts, administered in Sullivan County by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance through the Town of Fallsburg; and the Sullivan County Arts and an Arts & Heritage grant funded by the Sullivan County Legislature as well as by the generosity of local businesses and individuals, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Mission.
