Robert Schultz—Visions of Dunbar

In my last blog entry I focused on ways in which we can preserve our waterways, and protect our clean water, highlighting the piece “Mountain Stream” by Bonnie McLarty.  Another of my favorite pieces in the Mother Earth project also features a beautiful waterway:  the delightful Dunbar Creek that runs through the Laurel Highlands, just an hour or so east of Pittsburgh where I live.  Robert Schultz, who nurtures a passion for fly fishing in this region, wrote a spectacular piece that portrays the journey of water—ever onward and forward, never passing the same place twice.   The piece explores the peaceful eddies, as well as the rambunctious rapids and waterfalls that can be found along the length of Dunbar Creek.  We see sparkling splashes, smooth-flowing areas, calm lulls, and places where the water is crushing, pulsing, and crashing over rocks in its path. 

I, for one, would love to see Dunbar Creek—and all streams and rivers everywhere—to be protected against toxic contamination, irresponsible waste-water dumping from fracking, pollution from plastics and other garbage.  We need to protect the beauty of these wild places, and we also need to protect the cleanliness of our drinking water.  See my last blog post for links to more information about this issue, and what we can do to help solve it.

Visions of Dunbar was first premiered and recorded by pianist Tina Faigen on the 2006 album of Schultz’s original compositions and transcriptions.  The album bears as its title the name of this same piece, Visions of Dunbar, and can be purchased on all major platforms.

Pittsburghers are lucky enough to be the first to hear several of Schultz’s brand new works in an upcoming concert on April 20, 2019.  This program will feature the World Premiere of three new Schultz works with performances by pianist Tina Faigen, as well as soprano Anna Singer, clarinetist Mary Beth Malek, cellist Paula Tuttle, and pianist Walter Morales.
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Additionally, the program is presented as a Music for Food event by Chatham University so all donations will benefit this musician-led initiative for local hunger relief. 
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Schultz, Faigen & Friends 2019
Saturday April 20, 3:00 PM
James Laughlin Music Bldg.
Chatham University
 
8 Songs for Soprano and Piano Op. 50 (poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay)
Anna Singer, soprano / Tina Faigen, piano
 
Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello, Op. 52
Tina Faigen, piano / Mary Beth Malek, clarinet / Paula Tuttle, cello
 
Finale for 1 Piano - 4 Hands, Op. 47
Tina Faigen and Walter Morales, piano

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And for Pittsburghers reading this post, you can also hear Schultz's Visions of Dunbar at my Mother Earth CD release concert and party (details below).

Mother Earth CD release concert and party / Becky Billock, piano
Sunday, April 28, 2019
2:30 p.m.
Levy Hall, Rodef Shalom
4905 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Pittsburgh, PA 
Advance tickets:  $10 general / $5 student
At the door: $15 / $5

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