Faculty recital goes classic

Southeast Missouri State University faculty members Dr. Timothy Schmidt and Matt Yount have paired up for the third time as they prepare for a recital at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 in the Robert F. and Gertrude L. Shuck Music Recital Hall.

Schmidt began planning this recital last spring and began rehearsing with Yount toward the end of last semester.

The recital is loosely categorized as from the classical realm with different styles within that category. There will be four different sets within this recital that capture different styles and artists. The opening set is from the baroque period by English composer Henry Purcell.

A German set entitled "An die ferne Geliebte" by Beethoven is the second set of the recital during which there are six songs that run together seamlessly. The title of this set literally translates to "to the distant beloved."

"The whole concept is 'I am separated from my beloved for one reason or another and I am imploring the wind and the stream and the birds and the air,'" Schmidt said. "'Take my greetings to my beloved, and, if you happen to see her, rush back and tell me how she is doing.'"

The third set is from the late 19th century in the late romantic period. There are three Russian songs by Tchaikovsky that Schmidt will perform in Russian.

"It's probably some of the music that would be closest, if it were done with an orchestra instead of piano, to what most people would think of as a movie film score. That really pathos-filled, emotional tugging at your heartstrings," Schmidt said.

The final set is three French songs that span from the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Although Schmidt had music students in mind while planning this recital last spring, he did not neglect non-musicians.

"I am also looking for music that is going to be accessible enough to a non-musician that even if they don't have formal training in music they're going to come into this and think 'Wow, this is really beautiful music. It speaks to me in one way or another, and I don't necessarily have to understand German or French in order to enjoy this music,'" Schmidt said.