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March 6th, 2008 | 7:30 pm Baisley Powell Elebash Recital Hall The CUNY Graduate Center 365 5th Avenue, NYC Right Hand Study #1 and Fun in A | Ross Stephens Ross Stephens, guitar I am often fascinated by what composers designate as "Studies" or "Etudes." Some studies sound like their name implies while others are truly great pieces even if they were devoid of any pedagogical purpose. In the guitar repertoire the etude's golden era (in my opinion) was the late Classical Period when the studies were written sometimes entirely based on one sole technique that was stressed. With this in mind Right Hand Study #1 harkens back to this devotion to unique technical emphasis. The Study utilizes the right hand finger pattern (123432) 100% of the duration of this work. Fun In A is a crazy piece. It starts out simply enough as I was attempting to write a highly publishable composition that was easily playable by anyone at the college level. However, over the course of composing the music mandated otherwise. Fun In A is very Symphony and Concerto inspired. In it many of my influences can be heard, including but not limited to Mahler, Van Halen, Bill Evans, and Mauro Giuliani. Ross Stephens is in the DMA Performance program at CUNY where he studies guitar with Oren Fader. Previously, Mr. Stephens taught band and general music for the City of Poughkeepsie School District and guitar at SUNY New Paltz. He obtained his BM and MM degrees from SUNY Potsdam where he was a graduate assistant. Mahler's first symphony has been the only cassette played in his car stereo for the past 8 months. return to PAST CONCERTS