They've known each other for about 10 years, having traveled in the same circles, playing the same instruments and as they found out recently share the same musical energy.
But that musical energy wouldn't come into play, so to speak, until Talman Welle of Magnolia invited Ann Cummings of Beacon Hill to play with him on a multi-date classical piano recital that will feature some unusual, piano-pounding pieces. At the heart of it is the virtuoso show piece "Rudepoema" (1921-1926) by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. The piece is frenetic and tense and while practicing in his Magnolia home, Welle seems at war with the baby grand. But then the piece eases into subtle and sweet interludes enshrouded in tender melody.
"This kind of music just lights me up," Welle said.
Cummings will bring Bartokk, MacDowell, Skrjabin, Barber and Muczynski to the show and with it unique visual twists. For Skrjabin's piece, Cummings will play in the dark.
"The music is very mysterious," she said. She wants listeners to not be distracted by her playing and to let the darkness play upon their collective imagination.
Welle and Cummings will share the keyboard on a piece entitled "Five Pieces" by Hungarian-born composer György Sándor Ligeti. It is quite something to see their four hands share the keys, playing as a unit-something that came easy for them.
"What we both have found fascinating is that we have a similar energy and we feed off of that," Welle said.
"Yeah we do," Cummings added with a smile.
The performance dates are 4 p.m., Nov. 7 at Northwest Pianos 13310 Bel-Red Road in Bellevue (free); 12 p.m., Nov. 11 at Sherman Clay Pianos, 1624 Fourth Ave., Seattle (free); 8 p.m., Nov. 13 at the Good Shepherd Center at 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle, $10 for students, $15 general; and 7 p.m., Nov. 20 at Island Music Center, 10598 N.E. Valley Road, Bainbridge Island, donations are welcome.[[In-content Ad]]
