Music for the people

But playing Bolcom's down-to-earth work isn't so easy, performers say

Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 12, 2007 at midnight

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Few composers come across as disarmingly as William Bolcom, but don't let his easygoing manner and long-held fondness for ragtime music fool you. The Michigan-based composer can write fiendish music.

"It took us a month to learn the first three pages of his Duo Fantasy," says violinist Philip Ficsor, who will play that piece and two other Bolcom works with his American Double partner, pianist Constantine Finehouse, tonight at Augustana Lutheran Church. That said, Ficsor (pronounced FEET-chore) stresses that the music is quite accessible.

"He writes in a way that people can relate to him," the violinist says of Bolcom, who turns 70 next year. "He wants to be understood."

In a separate conversation, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer agreed that he can make life difficult for performers - without meaning to do so.

"If you've got something complex to say, you have to say it. You don't want to get (players) bored."

He then recalled with a laugh a comment from fiddling superstar Itzhak Perlman, after playing one of Bolcom's sonatas. "Itzhak said: 'Would you write me a sonata? But make it easier.' "

Judging from his music in all genres (including, most prominently in the past decade, opera), here is a truly American composer. His wide range of styles includes jazz, classic ragtime and dense modernism.

Such will become evident at tonight's concert by American Double, which has recorded all of Bolcom's music for violin and piano.

"What I love about his music is that Bill comes across as a human being," said Ficsor, who's based at Westmont College, in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Back in the '70s, Bolcom first made a splash by recording songs from turn-of-the-century America with his wife, singer Joan Morris (the two will celebrate the American cabaret Wednesday as part of their weeklong residence at Colorado College, in Colorado Springs). He also recorded some piano rags, a musical style that occasionally shows up in his music.

"I go for what I love," Bolcom noted. "I've always had a foot in jazz - it's all a part of my musical language." He recalled with fondness, and a touch of awe, a jam session he once enjoyed with the late jazz fiddler Joe Venuti.

Bolcom's instrument is piano, but he remains partial to the violin. "I love it, even though I could never play it," he confessed. "I've been fascinated with (the violin's) history, with those who've played it and written for it."

Tonight, American Double will play Bolcom's Duo Fantasy (highlighted by a ragtime episode), the Sonata No. 4 and an arrangement of one of his most-played pieces, the delightful rag Graceful Ghost.

"The program is a nice cross- section," said violinist Ficsor. "The Fourth (Sonata) has neo- classical elements, while the Duo Fantasy is a looking-back piece. And we had to include the good old Graceful Ghost."

Playing Bolcom's music has proved a continuing pleasure for Ficsor and Finehouse.

"Every time we come back to it, we find something new," he said.

The Bolcom works on tonight's program are sandwiched by a sonata movement of Brahms and Franck's beloved A-major Sonata. Don't look for any stylistic connections, Ficsor cautioned. "We've always wanted to play the Franck, so we added it on as sort of a dessert. We want our audiences to enjoy themselves."

• Of note: The duo plays violin sonatas by Brahms, Franck and William Bolcom. Bolcom and his wife, singer Joan Morris, will be in residence at Colorado College, in Colorado Springs, next week. Information: 1-719-389-6606

Marc Shulgold is the music and dance writer. Shulgoldm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954- 5296

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