"Throughout the night, audience members were enlightened with a unique concert experience where they viewed paintings, watched short videos and enjoyed live music."

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Devna Bose, The Daily Mississippian

Sonic Explorations, a chamber music series I launched in 2013 at the University of Mississippi, has themed concerts that focus on a genre, region, or set of composers, exploring the sound world of that theme. Central to concert events is the use of multi-media—projected film, art and poetry—with unique lighting designs and innovative stage positioning.

My series highlights the talents of the music faculty and musicians from within the region.

Concert 1—The British with Jos Milton, tenor, Michael Rowlett, clarinet,

Anthony Gilbert, viola, David Carlisle, percussion

Nutt Auditorium, October 29, 2013

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Program:

Gerald Finzi, Five Bagatelles, Op. 23 for Clarinet and Piano

Gerald Finzi, A Young Man’s Exhortation, Op. 14 for Tenor and Piano
Rebecca Clarke, Sonata for Viola and Piano
Rebecca Clarke, I’ll Bid My Heart Be Still (Old Scottish Border Melody) for Viola and Piano
John Lennon and Paul McCartney, arr. David Carlisle, “Eleanor Rigby”

for Tenor, Alto, Clarinet, Viola, Percussion, Piano/Toy Piano

Concert 2—The Romantics with Andre Dyachenko, clarinet, Caroline Kinsey, horn,

Diane Zelickman Cohen, violin, Ruth Valente Burgess, cello

Nutt Auditorium, March 29, 2014

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Program:

Clara Schumann, Three Romances, Op. 22 for Violin and Piano

Johannes Brahms, Sonata, Op. 120, No. 2 in E Flat Major for Clarinet and Piano

Robert Schumann, Adagio and Allegro in A Flat Major, Op. 70 for Horn and Piano

Clara Schumann, "Notturno" from Soirées Musicale, Op. 6 for Solo Piano 

with a video projection of quotes from Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann

Johannes Brahms, Trio in A Minor, Op. 114 for Clarinet, Cello and Piano

Concert 3—From the Heart with Micah Everett, trombone, Daniel Gilbert, violin, Michelle Pellay-Walker, viola, John Schuesselin, trumpet, David Spencer, trumpet

Nutt Auditorium, February 2, 2016

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Program:

Eric Ewazen, A Song from the Heart for Trumpet and Piano

Marshall Fine, Berceuse from Sonata No. 3 for Viola and Piano, Op. 65

Marshall Fine, Piano Sonata #2, Op. 112 with projections of paintings by June Fine
Eric Ewazen, Pastorale for Trumpet, Trombone and Piano
Eric Ewazen, Trio for Trumpet, Violin and Piano

Marshall Fine, Pink Sounds of a Memphis Evening, Op. 124 for Solo Piano

Video Projections from the Greater Memphis Chamber Soundtrack Project, featuring:

Marshall Fine, Doggie Duo, Op. 115 for Viola and Cello

Marshall Fine, Spider Silk, Op. 119 for Violin and Piano

Concert 4—French Connections with Michael Rowlett, clarinet, John Schuesselin, trumpet,

Susan Gaston, cello, Jos Milton, tenor, Wade Irvin, bassoon, Selim Giray, violin

Nutt Auditorium, May 3, 2017

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Program:

Maurice Ravel, arr. Jacques Charlot, Ma Mère L'Oye, Mvts. I, IV, V for Solo Piano
Erik Satie, Gnossiennes, No. 1 for solo piano with a video projection of Paris 1900, a slideshow by Guillaume Edouard
Francis Poulenc, Tel jour telle nuit for Tenor and Piano
Maurice Ravel, arr. Michael Rowlett, Pavane pour une infante défunte for Violin, Clarinet and Piano

Excerpt of Entr'acte (1924), a film directed by Rene Clair

Francis Poulenc, arr. Darin Kelly, L'Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant 

for Narrator, Violin, Cello, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet and Piano,

with projected words and illustrations by Jean de Brunhoff