October 24, 2005 – Sylvia Bierschenk

Musicians present 'Quartet for the End of Time'

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Members of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, in Cole Concert Hall.

The work was begun in 1940 while Messiaen was interned in a German prison camp and discovered among his fellow prisoners a clarinetist, a violinist and a violincellist. He wrote a short trio for the musicians and later added seven more movements to the interlude and a piano to the ensemble.

The work, which was inspired by a passage in the Book of Revelation, was performed for the first time in front of 5,000 fellow prisoners on January 15, 1941.

The SFA performance will be presented by SFA assistant professors Christopher Ayer, clarinet, and Jennifer Dalmas, violin; cellist Evgeni Raychev, adjunct faculty; and pianist Kae Hosoda-Ayer, instructor in the Music Preparatory Division.

Before the musicians perform, Dr. Robert Mann, SFA professor of music, will speak briefly about the piece, explaining its compositional structure, history and importance.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.