by Sarah McMillin, Staff Writer
A recital presenting the stories and struggles of women will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 in Stretansky Music Hall.
Associate Professor of Music Corrine Byrne will sing soprano and Lecturer in Music Jaime Namminga will perform on piano. They will also be accompanied for part of the recital by Associate Professor of Music David Steinau and senior Caitlin Barnes.
The theme and title of the recital is “She Became Fire,” a line from a poem by Nikita Gill. Gill’s poetry inspired Australian composer Melissa Dunphy’s set, “Four Songs on Poetry by Nikita Gill,” that Byrne and Namminga will perform.
Byrne was quick to emphasize the feminist themes of the pieces being performed.
“The recital centers around stories of women and the different struggles that all women face, as well as those of these specific female characters,” Byrne said. “Many women and men alike… will relate to the #MeToo stories of trauma and healing presented in Dunphy’s ‘Four Songs on Poetry by Nikita Gill.’”
Byrne further highlighted other works that will be performed during the recital, including Iranian composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s “We The Innumerable,” in which the main character, Roya, lives in fear during the violent 2009 protests in Iran, and German-Jewish composer Kurt Weill’s “Seven Deadly Sins,” in which the main character, Anna, deals with a split personality while struggling to interpret morality.
Both Namminga and Byrne called “Life Story” by British composer Thomas Ades their favorite of all the pieces.
Byrne touched on the themes of the piece, while Namminga commented on the mechanics of performing it.
“It speaks to a non-judgmental and equal look at male and female sexuality, which is an issue reflected in our current society’s battle against condemning and shaming women for showing that side of themselves,” Byrne said. “I think [Ades] brilliantly maintains musical and emotional integrity even with such mathematic [and] complex composition methods.”
“There is such a rhythmic challenge to it, but one has to pull it off without anyone realizing it,” Namminga said. “It is a dark but witty piece and the crowd will enjoy it.”
Byrne noted that this is the first time she and Namminga will perform together.
“Namminga and I both started teaching at Susquehanna at the same time and since then have had the joy of working together in many capacities, but have not yet until now had the opportunity to collaborate and perform together,” Byrne said.
Byrne also praised the opportunity for students to attend recitals like theirs on campus.
“I think these events are wonderful,” Byrne said. “The students are enrolled so many courses and sometimes the academic side of music while a student is in school can be overwhelming.”
“Having concerts like this can [first,] speak to current events and artistically make a difference in the community, [second,] inspire students and excited them to perform and above all else… Remind all of us why we all pursue the arts in the first place.”
“Students benefit so much from watching their professors perform,” Namminga agreed. “It is an opportunity for them to see the things they are taught put into practice on the stage.”
“It also demonstrates the type of discipline – wearing many hats at one time, being able to practice and rehearse efficiently on top of our teaching loads and family commitments – that we expect from our students,” Namminga continued.