The Music of Gingher-Wang Piano Duo - Concert in the Library

19th Century Dueling Duets: Alliance or Rivalry?

In 2019, the Gingher-Wang duo had the privilege of performing for the Decatur Area Arts Council’s Mid-Day Concert Series, introducing piano duet fantasies by Carl Czerny to the public. Inspired by a previous fruitful collaboration, we have decided to pursue a new program of exciting works, which highlights popular genres in classical music from the 19th century. Our lecture recital highlights the significance of four unknown piano duet works by Carl Czerny, who played an important role in piano history, as student of Beethoven and teacher of Liszt. Czerny is well-known for composing thousands of etudes and exercises for students. Interestingly, his didactic works only account for 10% of his output as a composer. With 861 opus numbers, he is one of the most prolific composers in Western music history, yet most of his compositions remain undiscovered and have never been recorded. Through performance and discussion, the audience will hear world-premiere performances of unknown duet pieces. In an exploration of piano genres of the early 19th century we will draw fascinating comparisons to works by Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt. We will discuss compositional styles and teamwork in piano duet playing.

We believe in the power of music to bring people together and impact lives in positive ways. By connecting with the general public and underrepresented groups in the Decatur area (including senior homes, the public library and facilities catering to individuals with disabilities), we have many opportunities to introduce classical music to audience members that do not always have the opportunity to experience live concert programs. Many residents, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, are often restricted in their ability to attend public concerts. Bringing music directly to public spaces increases accessibility, allowing all demographics to enjoy music in the comfort of convenient spaces.

Engaging with the community through multiple public recitals offers the opportunity to build awareness and appreciation for classical music. We have been fortunate to be a part of the Decatur community and Millikin University. We hope to continue promoting the piano and classical music to the community and the broader audience members.

“This program is partially supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Decatur Area Arts Council.”