Arts

Senior Recitals Continue

Bleak clouds and chilly weather captured the atmosphere outside on Sunday afternoon, but inside Graces Hall, the Timken Room radiated with the talent of two Phillips Academy student musicians. This joint senior recital featured Jennifer Jhun and Homan Lee, both violinists, as they commemorated their musical careers on Academy Hill. Jhun dominated the fist half of the recital. Since coming to Andover, she has been a member of the Academy Chamber and Symphony Orchestra, an instructor in the Andover-Lawrence String Program, and co-president of the Academy Chamber Music Society. This Sunday, she demonstrated to the campus how much she has grown musically. In her two solos, Juhn performed Pablo de Sarasate’s for violin and piano, Op. 20 and Pable de Kreisler’s “Praeludium and Allegro.” Though both were good, the first was admittedly the audience’s favorite. The deep and dramatic melody which contrasted with the lively and feisty ending made the song an interesting blend of both heavy and doleful sounds. In both pieces, Jhun exhibited excellent bow control in the wide ranges of both tempo and dynamics. Though her harmonics could have been perfected, Jhun’s exceptional staccato and pizzicato made up for this small flaw. The cadenzas at the end of each piano line were captivating in every aspect. One audience member whispered “So good—that was so good!” as Juhn set down her bow. Indeed, it was. Her other piece too, Pablo de Kreisler’s “Praeludium and Allegro,” pleased many with its striking, simple melody. After a brief intermission, Homan Lee, co-concertmaster of the Academy Symphony Orchestra, performed. His first piece, Johannes Brahm’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108, provided excellent contrast to Jhun’s dark music. The last movement, “Presto agitato,” splendidly capped off the piece. As Lee continued his half of the show, it was obvious this first piece, though splendid, was merely his warm-up. As Lee performed Manuel de Falla’s “Danse Espagnole