The sounds of 20th and 21st century chamber music rung through the Pottle Music Recital Hall Wednesday Nov. 14 as guest artist Jubal Fulks played with his colleagues, Lauren Varley and Kevin Chance.
The performance was hosted by the Department of Fine and Performing Arts as part of a series of concerts that highlight the music of our era.
Chance, on piano, opened with a piece that was slow and filled the room with anticipation.  Chance played “Gemini: Dream Images” by George Crumb, known for exploring the possibilities of tenors and piano.
Fulks, on violin, soon joined Chance as they performed a duet called “Nocturne” by John Cage.  
“I thought it was so beautiful I should play it immediately,” said Fulks of the piece.
Fulks followed by playing a solo piece, which he described as having “three distinct personality quirks.”  The piece had a large array of styles ranging from calm and peaceful to fast and fierce.
“It’s like no other composition, which to me is the mark of a great composer,” said Fulks.
Varley, on horn, soon joined Fulks in the world premiere of “Binding Song” by Southeastern’s own Philip Schuessler, instructor of theory and composition. The piece was unique in the fact that it combined a horn and a violin. Schuessler commented on the difficulty of finding a way to “interlock” the instruments into one piece.
Schuessler further described the piece as “a collection of different sound worlds.”
To end the night, Fulks, Varley and Chance joined together to perform “Trio” by Gyorgy Ligeti, combining the violin, horn and piano.
Fulks is an assistant professor of violin at the University of Alabama and is an award winning, critically acclaimed artist and master teacher specializing in contemporary and Baroque repertoire. He has performed across the United States and Europe with various orchestras.
Varley and Chance are also from the University of Alabama.
For more information about upcoming concerts and events, contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at 985-549-2184.