About This Activity
Composer Amy Beach’s Variations on Balkan Themes (1904) is a powerful synthesis of folk inspiration and personal expression. Drawing on melodies from a Boston missionary’s collection of Balkan songs, Beach transformed these sources into a virtuosic, captivating piano work that bridges two distinctive cultural and musical contexts. In this interactive session, pianist Clare Longendyke offers listeners an inside look at the piece through live excerpts and discussion. She explores the origins of the folk material, Beach’s innovative harmonic and rhythmic language, and the broader questions of cultural exchange and identity that shaped the work. Open to musicians and non-musicians alike, this workshop invites participants to listen deeply, engage thoughtfully, and discover how Beach’s imagination redefined the possibilities of American music at the turn of the twentieth century. Pianist Clare Longendyke is a soloist, chamber musician, and fearless advocate for new music, who brings daring repertoire and thoughtful storytelling to the concert stage. Her performances are marked by imaginative programming, charismatic stage presence, and a gift for weaving together contemporary works and classical favorites. In 2024, Clare released her debut solo album, …of dreams unveiled, featuring music by Claude Debussy, Amy Williams, and Anthony R. Green. The album reached #2 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart and was praised as “a work of remarkable pianistic invention” (The WholeNote) and “delightfully daring” (EarRelevant). A passionate collaborator with living composers, Clare has commissioned more than 30 new works and premiered over 250 pieces in the past decade. Whether from the stage or in conversation, Clare invites audiences into the heart of her artistry—one that builds bridges between tradition and transformation and brings the concert experience vividly to life.
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