Free Musical Club of Westfield Concert Wednesday, March 13, 7:30

The public is invited to attend a free concert given by The Musical Club of Westfield on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 7:30pm. This concert is offered in year-long series of events sponsored by the Musical Club and will be held at the First Baptist Church of Westfield located at 170 Elm Street in Westfield, NJ.
The concert will open with Epitaphe de Jean Harlow by composer Charles Koechlin performed by Chris Dellarso, alto saxophone, Barbara Lockley, flute and Mary Beth McFall, piano. Koechlin was a French composer, teacher and writer. This piece was written in 1937 after the death of Hollywood actress Jean Harlow. Koechlin was enormously prolific, and eclectic in inspiration (nature, the mysterious orient, French folksong, Bach chorale, Hellenistic culture, astronomy, Hollywood movies, etc.) and musical technique. However, the expressive core of his language remained distinct from his contemporaries. The trio will continue the program with Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Grand Fantasia. From 1948 until the early sixties, Arnold composed prolifically, and became known as one of the most sought-after composers of the time, alongside Benjamin Britten and William Walton. This piece written as a piece of escapism at the time of the Battle of Britain. Malcolm takes the listener on a European tour, with stops in Italy, Hungary and Austria.
The concert will continue with mezzo-soprano Drude Crane and guest artists, the NJ Intergenerational Orchestra String Quartet, with members Zoe D’Amico and Graham Cohen, violins, Rodger Sweet, viola and Megan Sweet, cello. They will perform Four Sonnets by Luis de Camoëns by composer Jean Berger, 1. "Although the ancient poets", 2." Where can eyes like mine look", 3. "All of my life", and 4. "O lovely eyes".
The program will conclude with pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti who will perform Images Book II: "Cloches à travers les feuilles", "Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut" and :Poissons d'or" by composer Claude Debussy; and "L'Isle Joyeuse" also by Debussy.
There will be a reception with light refreshments immediately after the concert where audience members will have the opportunity to meet the performers. The Musical Club of Westfield is a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster and encourage good music, provide performance opportunities for local musicians and support young musicians from Union county with college scholarships. It also sponsors the Junior Musical Club for students in grades 8 to 12 from the surrounding communities. Additional information about the club can be found by visiting musicalclubofwestfield.org.