Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Nine faculty members of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present a Schubertiade at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

According to Dr. Ron Petti, SFA associate professor of music and pianist for the recital, during Franz Schubert's lifetime, social gatherings were frequently held at which Schubert's vocal chamber works were performed for friends, colleagues, artists and musicians. Known as "Schubertiades," they were often championed by Schubert's friend and famous baritone, Johann Michael Vogl, who performed with the composer at the piano.

"The nine of us hope to recreate such a gathering through this recital," explained Petti. "We will perform 10 to 15 of the approximately 600 songs Schubert wrote for voice and piano. We will also present two pieces that include additional instrumentation."

Scott LaGraff will begin the program with a brief overview of Schubert, Schubertiades and the composer's contribution to the development of the German "lied" or song.

German translations for the program have been written by SFA's flute instructor, Christina Guenther-Scott, who is a native German speaker.

Performing vocalists will include soprano Debbie Berry, mezzo-sopranos Deborah Dalton and Nita Hudson, tenors Richard Berry and Bruce Fowler, and baritone Scott LaGraff.

Each of the vocalists will sing two or three numbers, with the exception of Fowler and Debbie Berry who will each sing one extended number, explained Petti.

Charles Gavin, horn, will join Fowler and Petti in presenting "Auf dem Ström," and Christopher Ayer, clarinet, will join Debbie Berry and Petti in performing "Der Hirt auf dem Felsen."

The recital will close with a piece with which many audience members will be familiar, "Erlkönig" or "The Erlking." Selected from the poetry of Johann Goethe, the song calls for four characters: the narrator (sung by Richard Berry), the young boy (sung by Debbie Berry), the father (sung by LaGraff) and the evil Erlking (sung by Fowler).

"It is full of magical allusions and excitement," Petti said. "And it's also very challenging for the pianist."

The recital is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.