Summary of Dissertation Recitals: Three Recitals of Vocal Music

Abstract

Three vocal recitals performed in lieu of a written dissertation.

My three recitals aimed to demonstrate mastery and proficiency of a wide variety of styles and languages within classical vocal literature. The first two recitals were intended to achieve a more in-depth experience for the audience by focusing the recitals around a single composer’s vocal literature. The third recital was intended to present a broader exploration of classical vocal literature through a program of varying composers, languages, and styles. The first recital contained Scandinavian songs written by Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg. The second recital featured an entire program of works by British composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams. It included two of his most famous song sets: The House of Life and Songs of Travel. The final recital featured groups of songs by Robert Schumann, Clara Wieck-Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Henri Duparc, Ottorino Respighi, Hugo Alfvén, Oskar Merikanto, and William Bolcom. All recitals featured selections for solo voice and piano.

December 10, 2017, 6:00 p.m., Greenwood Campus, First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor. Lydia Qiu, piano. Edvard Grieg “To brune Øjne,” “Jeg elsker Dig!,” “Min Tanke er et mægtigt Fjeld,” “Margretes Vuggesang,” “En Svane,” “Med en Vandlilje,” “Prinsessen,” “Det første Møde,” “Jeg giver mit digt til våren,” “Dulgt kjærlighed,” “Lok,” “Våren,” “Langs ei Å,” “Eit syn,” “Ved Rudarne,” “Moderen synger,” “Mens jeg venter,” “Der skreg en Fugl,” Drømme,” “Lys Nat,” “En Drøm.”

Friday, February 9, 2018, 7:30 p.m., Walgreen Drama Center, Stamps Auditorium, University of Michigan. Lydia Qiu, piano. Ralph Vaughan Williams The House of Life: “Love-Sight,” “Silent Noon,” “Love’s Minstrels,” “Heart’s Haven,” “Death in Love,” “Love’s Last Gift”; Songs of Travel: “The Vagabond,” “Let Beauty Awake,” “The Roadside Fire,” “Youth and Love,” “In Dreams,” “The Infinite Shining Heavens,” “Whither Must I Wander,” “Bright is the Ring of Words,” “I Have Trod the Upward and the Downward Slope.”

Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 6:30 p.m., Moore Building, Britton Recital Hall, University of Michigan. Lydia Qiu, piano. Robert Schumann “Widmung”; Clara Schumann “Liebst du um Schönheit”; Robert Schumann “Mein schöner Stern”; Clara Schumann “Der Mond kommt still gegangen”; Johannes Brahms “Meine Liebe ist grün”; Henri Duparc “Phidylé,” “Soupir,” “Chanson Triste,” “Extase,” “Le Galop”; Ottorino Respighi “Notte,” “Stornellatrice,” “Invito alla danza”; Hugo Alfvén “Saa tag mit Hjerte”; Oskar Merikanto “Elämälle”; William Bolcom, Minicabs: “I Feel Good,” “People Change,” “Those,” “Food Song #1,” “Food Song #2,” “I Will Never Forgive You,” “Songette,” “Not Even a Haiku,” “Maxim #1,” “Maxim #2,” “Anyone,” “Finale: Mystery of the Song?”