Struck by the keys, the strings encased in a piano offer complexity to the in- strument that surpasses the capability of others in its ability to form the illusion of an entire ensemble as the player sits at a bench and glides their fingers over its white and black surface.
Arthur Greene, a University of Idaho guest artist, has spent his life studying and mastering this timeless instrument.
The Lionel Hampton School of Music presents this special guest at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Haddock Performance Hall.
Special guests such as Greene are hard to come by. Torrey Lawrence, Director of the Lionel Hampton School of Music, said there are many factors that determine the line-up of about 150 perfor- mances each school year.
“Sometimes faculty have rela-tionships with professionals, sometimes artists reach out to us if they’re in the area.,” Lawrence said. “Maybe they’re working with another or- ganization in the community or region.”
The school considers a variety of factors when determining their guest artist line up and Greene has fit their bill for quite some time.
“We have two very limiting factors,” Lawrence said. “One is money, whether it’s paying people or helping with their travel costs. The other issue is time; we don’t have the nights to fit in everyone who wants to perform here, and that’s unfortunate.”
Rajung Yang, Associate Professor of Piano at the Lionel Hampton School of Music said it is an honor to have the world-renowned pianist perform at UI. She said it has been difficult getting him in the past.
“He was supposed to perform last year, but had a wrist injury,” Yang said. “We’re excited he could make it this time.”
Yang said she was Greene’s student at the University of Michigan, his current employ- ment and platform for teaching. Yang said she remembers how he helped shape her music education and career as an instructor herself.
“One thing I really liked about his teach- ing is that he can play and demonstrate,” Yang said. “That really helped me hear the explanation so I can learn and play. He has a vast repertoire of music.”
Yang said her teaching style parallels that of her mentor. She said he shaped her style both musically and instructionally.
“Sometimes when I teach I think ‘wow that sounds really familiar,’” Yang said.
Greene is a graduate of Juilliard School of Music and has graced venues such as Carn- egie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He has also worked with the San Francisco, Utah, and Philadelphia Orchestras as well as na-tional and international symphonies.
Greene’s performance won’t be a conven- tional or familiar piano repertoire. Greene brings more complexity and storyline and emotion to his piece, Yang said.
“The concert program tonight is some of the most difficult work for piano,” Yang said. “Program-wiseit’sreallyinterestingasitrelates to literature and American history. I think it’s going to be a really nice performance.”
Sophia Dunlap can be reached at [email protected]