Program:

Kenji Bunch, String Circle (2005)
Johannes Brahms, String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111

Artists:

Ken Hamao and Yoonhee Lee, violins,
Samuel Kelder and Cara Pogossian, violas
Joseph Gotoff, cello

About the program:

Tonight's program pairs two captivating chamber works spanning different eras yet sharing a profound expressivity and masterful string writing. Kenji Bunch's "String Circle" (2005) showcases the American composer's distinctive voice that seamlessly blends classical techniques with vernacular American styles. This vibrant work for string quartet draws inspiration from fiddle traditions, bluegrass, and jazz, creating an energetic dialogue between formal classical structures and improvisation-influenced passages, all while exploring the full sonic possibilities of string instruments through innovative techniques and textures. Johannes Brahms' Viola Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111 (1890), originally intended as his final chamber work before retirement, exemplifies the composer's mature style with its rich, autumnal qualities and distinctive addition of a second viola that enhances the middle register's warmth. The quintet moves from the soaring, expansive opening with its energetic cello theme through the reflective Adagio, a graceful intermezzo-like third movement, and concludes with a spirited finale infused with Hungarian folk elements—displaying Brahms' consummate craftsmanship in balancing structural sophistication with emotional depth.