The concert began with a short introduction of the program by David Newsam, a music professor at the College and a professional guitarist. He and his colleagues from the University of New Hampshire performed for about an hour and a half in a program that included a variety of musical styles, ranging from classical to more contemporary Latin American sounds, that blended well as a singular concert.
Margaret Herlehy, a music professor at UNH and the principal oboist of the Hanover Chamber Orchestra, took the stage first. Unexpectedly, Herlehy performed alongside an acoustic guitarist, and the duo commenced with Jacques Ibert's "Entr'acte," an expressive, sultry piece.
The duo performed two movements from "Suite Buenos Aires," composed by Maximo Diego Pujol. The second movement featured a repeating melody that was simultaneously sweet and haunting. At times, the oboe almost took qualities more reminiscent of an alto saxophone, an instrument that is typically associated with powerful solo performances. The melodic second movement was offset by the playfulness of the third movement, which was lively and rhythmic. The lively energy that filled the room at times encouraged audience members to tap their feet along to the upbeat tempo. Herlehy and Newsom demonstrated chemistry on stage throughout the performance between notes, the oboist gave Newsam a slight smile, stealing a moment with her partner.
Herlehy, who has taught at UNH for 17 years, was classically trained but said she was excited to improvise and explore new genres with Newsam, as the two did not limit themselves to classical pieces during their performance.
Next in the concert, Newsam introduced Jenni Cook, a music professor at UNH who also sings soprano. The two have known each other for a long time and have collaborated previously, Cook said.
Cook opened her performance with Joaquin Rodrigo's "Adela En Jerez de la Frontera," which embodied the Spanish and South American repertoire of the program.
An English translation was provided to the audience, but few people were looking down at their laps their engaging performance everyone in the audience was transfixed by the power of Cook's voice.
The long lines of "Nana" (Lullaby) by Manuel de Falla and "Cancion" (Song) by H. Villa-Lobos were almost hypnotic. Each piece was short, no more than two minutes at most, but declarative. Cook struck a balance between being subdued and energetic, infusing the narratives with spirit.
The guitar and voice pairing, above all others, served as a reminder of the somewhat forgotten simplicity and beauty of the acoustic guitar.
Cook reminded her listeners, as her colleagues did also, that the stage was not a division between the audience and the performers. Every person became an active listener and participant.
Cook said she enjoys the "intimacy and proximity" of other musicians and making eye contact during her performances.
She said that chamber is a much more comfortable medium for her than performing in an auditorium with an orchestra and conductor. Cook looks to maintain communication with her audience and relishes in the excitement of live performance, she said.
"I enjoy being a servant to music and being as true as I can to my artistic interpretation of a particular piece," Cook said.
Cook teaches not only voice but also diction and pedagogy classes at UNH.
"I would rate teaching above performing as a job," Cook said. "I really enjoy being able to witness and be in the room with a student when they grasp a concept that's what motivates me."
The last pairing was Newsam and Elizabeth Blood, the staff pianist at UNH. They opened with Claude Bolling's "Invention," which starts off as a traditional Baroque piece but transforms into a compelling blend of jazz and classical.
Newsam surprised the audience by pulling out a hidden mandolin for his rendition of "Bachianas Brasileiras" by Lobos.
"It is amazing how versatile [Newsam] is," Michael Blum '15, one of Newsam's students, said. "He frequently talks about how musicians need to keep themselves motivated and keep evolving by taking on new genres."
Newsam has been giving music lessons at Dartmouth for 20 years to both music and non-music majors.
"Newsam is a really amazing teacher," Blum said. "He is very fluid, interactive and responsive to [students'] needs."
Newsam, Cook and Herlehy have all performed at Dartmouth before, but this was Blood's first time.
"I love seeing new places, like the Rollins Chapel," Blood said. "I enjoy live performances because it is different every time and always interesting."
Blood, she said, enjoys a variety of styles and to collaborate with people who play all types of instruments.
"I started out like any young piano student playing solo stuff, but I also grew up playing the French horn and singing in addition to playing the piano," Blood said. "It gave me a really well-rounded background as a musician and I discovered that I am not someone who seeks out the limelight."
Laurindo Almeida's "Choro e Batuque" ended the performance and received a standing ovation.
The performance's unique combination of an oboe, a piano, an acoustic guitar and a voice found success in Sunday's chamberworks performance.
