My Journey to and through Schumann’s
Cello Concerto
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Hemisphere Room
5th Floor, Hale Library
Dr. David Littrell
University Distinguished Professor, Music
Kansas State University
Biographical Sketch:
Dr. David Littrell is a University Distinguished Professor of Music
at Kansas State University where he conducts the University Orchestra
and teaches or plays the cello, baroque cello, five-string cello
piccolo, double bass, viola da gamba, and electric cello. As a
reflection of his interest in the music education of young people,
he is the Director of String Fling, an annual event at Kansas State
that attracts 750 string students from Kansas. He also conducts
the Gold Orchestra, which includes 58 Manhattan area string students
in grades 5-10. The Gold Orchestra toured England in 1997, Seattle
and British Columbia in 1999, and performed at Carnegie Hall in
2001. They will perform at KMEA in 2004 and at the ASTA National
Orchestra Festival in Dallas in March 2004.
He served six years as Editor of the Books and Music Reviews section
of the American String Teacher, and he was Editor of ASTA’s
two-volume String Syllabus. He was the Editor and Compiler of GIA
Publications’ two volumes of Teaching Music through Performance
in Orchestra.
Dr. Littrell twice received the Stamey Undergraduate Teaching Award
at Kansas State University. In 1994 the Kansas Chapter of the American
String Teachers Association awarded him the Certificate of Merit.
He is the national President of ASTA WITH NSOA and planned ASTA’s
first stand-alone conference in March 2003.
Dr. Littrell adjudicates solo and orchestra contests and is a clinician
and conductor throughout the United States. Sundays often find
him playing the electric cello or bass guitar in his church music
ensemble.
Abstract:
Many years and innumerable hours in the practice room allow one the
privilege of performing the Schumann Cello Concerto. What does a
performer learn during the decades-long journey in a life devoted
to music performance? What goes through a performer’s mind
when preparing a specific piece for public performance?
Much as an actor manipulates timing and emphasis of the lines
he delivers, a musician stretches or compresses the rhythmic flow
of a musical line, uses subtle accents and shadings, and explores
the colors of the tonal palette to bring a piece of music alive
so that it speaks to the human heart. Dr. Littrell will discuss
the myriad technical issues of playing the cello, and intersperse
playing and speaking as he explores the musical and emotional aspects
of performing this cello concerto by Schumann.