Gustavus pianist Esther Wang will present a faculty piano recital Sunday, March 11, featuring the 2004 composition by J. Mark Scearce titled The 99 Beautiful Names of God. Wang’s recital will be performed in Jussi Bjorling Recital Hall on the Gustavus Adolphus College campus in St. Peter, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Scearce describes The 99 Beautiful Names of God as much a meditation on the names as a musical healing, prompted by the war in Iraq, terrorist threats around the world, the increased maligning of a religion and the challenge of serving art and academia simultaneously. The development of each musical segment rose from readings in both Christian and Islamic traditions of the various names. The music was the response to those readings.
Esther Wang, in her third year as associate professor of music at Gustavus, opens her recital with Frederic Chopin’s Sonata in B-flat Minor, Op. 35, followed by Scearce’s 99 Names. Following intermission, she will return to the stage to present Arnold Schoenberg’s Six Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19. The recital concludes with Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 76 by Johannes Brahms.
Wang earned her bachelor of music at Baylor University and went on to receive graduate degrees in music at the University of Cincinnati. She has appeared in numerous concert series and has served on music faculities at the University of Texas, UW Oshkosh and Platteville, St. Olaf College and Baylor. In addition to her current work at Gustavus, she is on the faculty at the Interlochen Arts Summer Camp and has worked with the Lutheran Summer Music program.
Dr. Wang’s recital is free and open to the public. A reception is planned following the performance.