Institutional Spotlight 2025
A Special Concert Series Featuring Students of
Regents International School Pattaya
22nd March 2025 | 13.00 hrs
program
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, BWV 187
Johann Sebastian Bach
Arranged by Hess
Yuqiao Chen
Tarantelle
Moritz Moszkowski
Nithit Kulapin
Sonata In F Minor
Op. 2, No. 1, 1st Movement
Ludwig van Beethoven
Benyapa Kulapin
Ungarischer Tanz No. 5
Johannes Brahms
Ruda Lee
Nocturne in G Minor Op. 37, No. 1
Frédéric Chopin
Xinshi Zhang
Rise Up
Huize Sun
Huize Sun
O Polichinelo
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Prelude 1, No. 8 La fille aux cheveux de lin
Claude Debussy
Sophonvitch Munkhongpornpaiboon
Mikrokosmos No. 153
Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm No. 6
Bartók Béla Viktor János
Chonlapat Amornlertpinyo
Sonata No. 2, I. Grave, Doppio movimento
Frédéric Chopin
Yuqiao Chen
Grave - Doppio movimento
Scherzo
Marche Funèbre: Lento
Finale: Presto
Frédéric Chopin
Yuqiao Chen
PROGRAM NOTES
Johann Sebastian Bach – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (from Cantata BWV 147)
Bach composed this piece in 1723 as part of a larger church cantata while working in Leipzig. Despite facing criticism from local authorities who deemed his music too complex for church services, Bach continued composing. This piece, characterized by its flowing and idyllic nature, became one of his most popular works. It has since been widely transcribed for piano, with Myra Hess’s version being the most renowned. Its timeless and soothing quality has ensured its lasting popularity. (Yuqiao Chen Y12)
Moritz Moszkowski – Tarantelle in D Minor
This lively and virtuosic piece captures the energetic spirit of the traditional Italian tarantella dance. The audience should listen for the rapid sixteenth-note passages, the playful interaction between both hands, and the perpetual motion that drives the piece forward. What makes this piece unique is its brilliant combination of technical challenge and expressive musicality, creating an exhilarating and captivating sound. Inspired by the legend of the tarantella, a dance believed to cure a tarantula’s bite, the music evokes a sense of urgency, excitement, and celebration, making it a thrilling experience for both the performer and the listener. (Asia Nithit Kulapin Y8)
Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata In F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1, 1st Movement
This sonata showcases advanced techniques like rapid passagework, intricate fingerwork, and wide leaps, demanding precision and agility. The piece features dynamic contrasts, sudden tempo shifts, and unexpected harmonic progressions, creating dramatic tension and expressive depth. These technical challenges highlight Beethoven's innovative style and foreshadow his later, more complex works. (August Benyapa Kulapin Y10)
Johannes Brahms – Ungarischer Tanz No. 5 (Hungarian Dance No. 5)
A well-known and popular piece, originally composed for piano four hands, and later arranged for orchestra, and is part of Brahms's larger set of 21 Hungarian Dances. In its violin arrangement, the piece captures the exhilarating charm of Hungarian folk style, with virtuosic flourishes, expressive rubato, and dynamic contrasts that keep listeners on the edge of their seats. The playful alternation between dramatic, slow phrases and rapid, energetic passages makes it a thrilling showcase for violinists, demanding both technical brilliance and expressive phrasing. (Ruda Lee Y7)
Thomas Huize Sun – Rise Up
A self-composed piece by our student composer Thomas Huize Sun. It is a piano piece that blends both happiness and sadness, creating an emotional journey for the listener. Through its melodies, it expresses a sense of struggle and resilience, moving between moments of melancholy and hope. The contrasting emotions give the piece depth, making it both reflective and uplifting, as if telling a story of perseverance and triumph. (Huize Sun Y10)
Frédéric Chopin – Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 42
Written in 1840 while Chopin was in Paris, this waltz reflects his introverted nature and preference for intimate performances over grand concert halls. Unlike the virtuosic style of his contemporary Liszt, Chopin’s waltz is intricate and elegant rather than flashy. Though lively and quick, it was not meant for actual dancing but rather for stage performances, showcasing refined musical detail over exuberant display. (Yuqiao Chen Y12)
Heitor Villa-Lobos – O Polichinelo
Written as part of A Prole do Bebê No. 1, a suite depicting children’s toys. This piece represents Pulcinella, a lively puppet from Italian commedia dell’arte. The energetic rhythms and sharp contrasts create a mischievous and playful character. The syncopation and percussive elements reflect Villa-Lobos’ Brazilian musical influences, making the piece both technically demanding and rhythmically exciting. The audience should listen for: strong accents and quick changes in dynamics, off beat rhythm and unexpected accents, and contrasts. (Sophonvitch (TJ) Munkhongpornpaiboon Y10)
Claude Debussy – La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair)
One of Claude Debussy’s Préludes, Book 1, composed in 1910. Inspired by French Symbolist poetry, the piece paints a serene, dreamlike portrait of a golden-haired girl. Its flowing melody and delicate harmonies create an atmosphere of nostalgia and tranquility. Debussy’s use of whole-tone scales and modal harmonies gives the piece its signature impressionistic sound, evoking a soft and distant beauty. The audience should listen for: the flowing melody of the right hand which is supported by the rich harmonies of the left hand. Pay attention to the subtle changes in dynamics such as crescendos and diminuendos. (Sophonvitch (TJ) Munkhongpornpaiboon Y10)
Bartók Béla Viktor János – Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm No. 6
Blends Bulgarian folk rhythms with modern harmonies. It includes asymmetrical tempos, folk-inspired melodies, and dissonant harmonies. Unique for its complex rhythms and unusual time signatures, the piece reflects Bartók’s research into Eastern European folk music, capturing the energy of Bulgarian dance. (Chonlapat Amornlertpinyo (Tonhom) Y10)
Frédéric Chopin – Nocturne in G Minor, Op. 37 No. 1
Written in 1839 while the composer was living on an island off the coast of Spain. It opens with a soft, melancholy melody that reflects his grief and longing for his homeland. The piece moves into a hymn-like section in G major, offering a moment of hope, before the main theme returns, more elaborate and expressive. Unlike his earlier, more ornamented nocturnes, this one is richer and more dramatic, ending with a quiet reminder that the past cannot return. (Cindy Zhang Y12)
Frédéric Chopin – Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 35
Composed in 1839, this sonata is best known for its third movement, the iconic “funeral march”. The four-movement work contrasts drama, playfulness, and mystery. The first is intense and turbulent, the second a lively scherzo, and the third a solemn march, often performed at funerals. The final movement, a whirlwind of notes, leaves an eerie, unresolved impression. Initially controversial for its structure, it is now one of Chopin’s most celebrated works, showcasing his emotional depth and innovation. (Yuqiao Chen Y12)
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LOCATION
Steinway & Sons Showroom
#1F-04 Gaysorn Center, 1 Floor
999 Phloen Chit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok
For your information and etiquette
- This is a free-seating event.
- Strictly no liquids or food should be brought into the showroom.
- Kindly maintain decorum upon entry and be conscious of your belongings (e.g., bags, rings, watches, cameras) around the instruments.
- During the performance, kindly wait for the conclusion of a piece or an intermission to enter the audience seating area.
- Parking validation has to be done directly with the Gaysorn Concierge.