The music department has been putting on annual faculty recitals for the past 30 years. This fall, Jonathan Kramer, cellist and teaching associate professor in the music department, will be performing with Thomas Koch, pianist and adjunct assistant professor in the music department. The musicians will play everything from 18th-century Johann Sebastian Bach to The Beatles. The faculty recital will be held in Stewart Theatre on Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m.
Koch has been playing the piano since the age of 5. The pianist received degrees in piano performance and music education from Oberlin Conservatory and earned a doctorate in musicology from Rutgers University. Koch and Kramer have played together twice before at Association of Retired Faculty luncheons.
“When I came here to State, I did a lot of accompanying,” Koch said. “I work mainly as an accompanist. I enjoy the collaboration of working with people like Dr. Kramer.”
Kramer acquired advanced degrees from Duke University as well as the Graduate School of the Union Institute, where he obtained a doctorate in ethnomusicology and performance studies in 1994 with a dissertation on traditional Korean music. The cellist has performed as a principal of the Tucson Symphony and was a member of the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras, in addition to the North Carolina Symphony.
The recital will also feature two guest musicians. Rich Holly, the new executive director of Arts NC State, will be playing drums. Tommy Holden, head of the Department of Health and Exercise Studies, will be playing electric bass. The variety of instruments boosts the recital’s diversity.
“Putting together a program like this is a kind of luck,” Kramer said. “It’s all rather subjective and intuitive. There’s no rhyme or reason; it’s a feeling of seeing what fits best together.”
The recital follows a traditional platform of showcasing music from a wide variety of origins and time periods. Kramer and Koch have been selecting and practicing pieces for the recital since the beginning of the semester. The two are playing some new pieces and some recycled ones, from their previous collaborations. The program is a mix of diverse styles, producing a set that all types of listeners would enjoy.
“Each piece has something that speaks to you differently, and when you play, it makes you feel a certain way,” Koch said. “We’re playing a Jewish piece that gives me a certain feeling of reverence, and then I could play another piece that has a dance feel, and then we end with The Beatles.”
German composer Bach is a favorite between both Koch and Kramer. The duo will be playing his music as it highlights both the piano and cello alike.
“A cellist feels a special relationship to Bach,” Kramer said. “Bach was the first composer to write music for the instrument. Bach’s works were originally composed for the viola de gamba, but the cello has now taken over.”
The classical pieces selected show what the cello is capable of, embracing the rich sound of the instrument.
Koch is also a fan of Bach, even though he recognizes that learning Bach on the piano is not an easy task. The pianist enjoys playing mainly German classical music, but also appreciates playing from the pop variety as well.
Both musicians hope that students will gain knowledge and interest about classical music by attending the recital. Additionally, Koch hopes that students take an interest in the music department here at NC State. The department offers many classes that students are most likely unaware of, such as popular music, music technology courses and a history of rock course. Although music is not offered as a major here at NC State, it is definitely something to get involved in regardless of one’s primary discipline.
“Those who are in music courses are getting something they can’t get from engineering or another academic discipline,” Koch said.
The two professors continue to do what they love — a rare feat in today’s society. The recital will help showcase the school of music as well as demonstrate many styles of music. In the end, the recital offers Koch and Kramer a chance to immerse themselves in a world free of grading and faculty meetings and into the passionate, soulful world that is music.
