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Jesse Robyndronuth Williams |
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Masterful Program —By Charity McCallum (A review of Walter Saul’s recital on October 30, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church) 11/4/09 Dr. Walter Saul has mastered the art of putting together a program. The placement of each work in his recital brought the audience through a delightful musical adventure that was timed perfectly. The pieces themselves were unique and sometimes even obscure, but always pleasant to hear. As a composer, Saul included a couple of his own works on the program, but the recital was not dominated by his music. The ability to bring together a wide variety of musical styles, without making the recital feel disjointed, is something that should be appreciated in and of itself. Finally, the recital had a warm and playful feel, despite nice touches of formality.
The night began with a flawless rendering of Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue and F# Major.” The dulcet melodies were a perfect way to warm the audience, and I found myself leaning forward to hear more.
After a brief introduction where Saul defined the title of one of his musical works, “Palengenesia”, he began the first of his two compositions on the program. A perceptible amount of tension was introduced into the atmosphere by the dissonant opening. Ultimately, however, the piece had a soothing tone because of Saul’s clever use of inversions. The sound created a beautiful musical picture of how our egotistical and sinful natures can be “made new” through the love of God.
The audience received a few minutes to meditate upon the previous pieces before Saul began Haydn’s Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major. Contrary to the somewhat reserved styling of the Bach and the eerie fervor of “Palingenesia,” Saul played Hayden with a youthful abandon. The “Presto” movement in particular sounded positively bluesy. One could immediately understand the reasons for this music’s popularity in its day. Though this was played in commemoration of Haydn’s death in 1809, one could feel the life that flowed through this talented musician.
The first half of the concert ended with a 21st century composition by David Horace Davies based on the concept of a “Wordless Book” used to help the illiterate to understand Christianity. Davies provided excellent word pictures which Saul performed with a masterful touch. The audience was agitated by the “Black” movement, only to be brought to meditative silence by the lugubrious “Red” section. “White” was awe inspiring in its other-worldliness. Saul’s brilliant use of the sostenuto pedal enriched the experience. Finally, “Green” was as lively and happy as “Black” was hopeless, bringing the work into a state of natural completion.
The second half of the concert began with the performer’s own “Sonata # 5 for Piano.” This romantic, yet lively composition is composed of three very different movements which had me reflecting on the development of children as they transition into adulthood. The first movement was wildly fluctuating. The second, in contrast, provided a time for honest meditation, a moment of incredible stillness for the piercingly pure melody to shine through. Finally, the third seems to bring all into a joyous celebration of what has become new and whole. One could practically feel the smiles lighting up the room as Saul completed this work of love.
From this Saul moved on to a beautifully executed tribute to Felix Mendelssohn’s 200th birth year by playing his “Opus 54: Variations Sérieuses.” The candor of Saul’s passionate performance was matched only by his precision. The aspect of this piece that really stood out was the incredible moodiness and drama Saul captured
Saul ended the recital on a bright note, playing the “Rondeau” by his colleague, Dan Locklair. Musically, this is a fascinating piece, as it is comprised of only B-Flats, C’s and F’s – a fact that Saul mentioned in his performance notes (possibly for his compositions students?).
At the end of the evening, it appeared that the audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves—when Saul stood to take his final bow, he was encouraged to play one last piece, which he sweetly dedicated to his new grandson. The unexpectedly jazz-like aura of the piece by Samuel Barber ended the evening on a most pleasant note. To listen to the performance of Palengenesia, click here.
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Walter Saul, Composer |
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2010 Performances of Walter Saul works
4/7/2010 KVPR-FM 89.3, Fresno , California Songs of Requited Love, by Daphne Saul , soprano, Walter Saul, piano, via CD, aired around 9:40am 4/4/2010 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California “Processional” by Three Organ Pieces by Walter Saul, organ 4/2/2010 Valley Baptist Church , Burbank , California Recognize Him by Chancel Choir, Kelly Whitworth, director
4/1/2010 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California “Elegy” by Three Organ Pieces by Walter Saul, organ 4/1/2010 Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California Nocturne for my Mother by Walter Saul, piano 3/20/2010 Pacific Artists Series, Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California De Profundis by Joanne Hersey, tuba, and Walter Saul, piano 2/25/2010 Pacific Artists Series, Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California Three Family Portraits by Jane Shelly, flute, and Walter Saul, piano 2/20/2010 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California Palingenesia by Walter Saul, piano, and “Psalm 121” from Five Biblical Songs, and “Forever is my Love” from More Songs of Love by Daphne Saul , soprano, and Walter Saul, piano, for the S. T. A. R. S. luncheon 2/20/2010 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California “How do I Love Thee?” from Songs of Love and A Sonnet for Daphne by Daphne Saul , soprano, and Walter Saul, piano, Sonata #5 for Piano by Walter Saul, piano, for the Second Half Club 1/17/2010 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California “Holy Spirit” from Aldersgate Songs by the congregation 1/3/2010 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California Nocturne for my Mother by Walter Saul, piano 2009 Performances of Walter Saul works 12/8/2009 Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California Vital Christmas Tree Information and world première of A Sonnet for Daphne by Daphne Saul , soprano, and Walter Saul, piano. Palingenesia and Sonata #5 for Piano, by Walter Saul, piano, for the Fresno Pacific University Council of Senior Professionals 12/3/2009 Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California Palingenesia by Walter Saul, piano, for Advent Service “Coming of the King” 11/23/2009 Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California Palingenesia and Sonata #5 for Piano by Walter Saul, piano for Greg Camp’s Jesus and the Christian Community class 11/22/2009 Camelback Bible Church , Phoenix , Arizona Sonata #4 for Piano by Walter Cosand, piano, in the Biblical Concert Series 11/8/2009 The American Church , Paris , France Sonata #4 for Piano by Walter Cosand, piano, in the Atelier Concert Series 10/30/2009 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California World première of Palingenesia and Sonata #5 for Piano by Walter Saul, piano 10/25/2009 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California Palingenesia and Sonata #5 for Piano, Adagio doloroso, by Walter Saul, piano, for Sunday services 9/27/2009 Fresno Piano, Fresno , California World première of Sonata #5 for Piano by Arlene Steffen, piano 9/27/2009 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California “Holy Spirit” from Aldersgate Songs by the congregation 8/30/2009 First Presbyterian Church , Fresno , California “Psalm 121” from Five Biblical Songs by Daphne Saul , soprano, and Walter Saul, piano. Also Prelude in F From Alpha to Omega by Walter Saul, piano 8/26/2009 Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California He Who Began a Good Work in You by Walter Saul, organist 8/7/2009 5121 NW 17th Circle , Camas , Washington World première of Palingenesia by Walter Saul, piano (no program) 7/12/2009 Sunnyside Centenary United Methodist Church , Portland , Oregon World première of Three Lullabies and A Sonnet for Daphne by Daphne Saul , soprano, and Walter Saul, piano. Also world première of Sonata #5 for Piano, III. Allegretto semplice, during afternoon recital 7/12/2009 Sunnyside Centenary United Methodist Church , Portland , Oregon Create in me a Clean Heart and The Stone Which the Builders Rejected by the Chancel Choir, Cliff Fairley, director, during the worship service 6/23/2009 Fresno Pacific Summer Music Camp, Fresno , California Sonata #5 for Piano, II. Adagio doloroso, by Arlene Steffen, piano 5/30/2009 San Francisco Girls Chorus Building, San Francisco , California Sonata #5 for Piano, III. Allegretto, by Walter Saul, piano, at the West Coast Alumni Composers Forum, Walden School 5/1/2009 Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California Exaltations by Christa Scott and Deanna DenHartog, flutes, during Fresno Pacific University Music Department Student Recital 4/29/2009 Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fresno , California Parousia by Pacific Bronze, the handbell choir of Fresno Pacific University 4/24/2009 Katzin Concert Hall, Arizona State University, Tempe , Arizona Sonata #4 for Piano by Lindsay Courtney, piano, at the Joseph and Ida Katzkin Memorial Contemporary Solo Keyboard Music Competition 4/14/2009 Sunnyside High School , Fresno , California From Alpha to Omega: Prelude & Fugue X by the Community Wind Ensemble, Patricia DeBenedetto, director 4/9/2009 Fresno Pacific University , Fresno , California Nocturne from Gethsemane by Victoria Reina, violin, and Walter Saul, piano, and Good Friday by Walter Saul, piano, during Maundy Thursday College Hour 4/8/2009 KVPR-FM 89.3, Fresno , California Songs of Requited Love, by Daphne Saul , soprano, Walter Saul, piano, via CD, aired around 9:40am 4/1/2009 Carnegie Hall, New York , New York New York première of From Alpha to Omega: Prelude & Fugue X by the Community Wind Ensemble, Patricia DeBenedetto, director 3/27/2009 Immanuel High School Chapel, Reedley , California My Soul Longs for Thee by Christa Scott, flute, (during her Senior Project for Fresno Pacific University music major) |
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