Chamber Music adds Sunday Bluffton series

An oboe concerto, viola and piano sonata and string quartet comprise the Chamber Music Hilton Head's first program this season.

This year, the group has added a Sunday afternoon Bluffton series, based on the ensemble's successful exploratory concert here last season.

Monday evening performances will continue on Hilton Head Island, where All Saints Episcopal Church has been the ensemble's home base for several years. Tickets will be good for either location.

The first shows will take place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton (the "KidsPreConcert," another new program launched this year and geared toward youngsters interested in learning about and interacting with the musicians, begins at 2:45 p.m.) and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head. Tickets are $20, and seating is open.

Details: 843-681-9969,

www.cmhh.org

The Sunday afternoon Bluffton series, new this year, is based on the ensemble's successful exploratory concert there last season. Monday evening performances continue in Hilton Head, where All Saints Episcopal Church has been the ensemble's home base for several years now. Tickets are good for either location, meaning listeners can choose based on closeness, ease of driving and preferred date.

"KidsPreConcert," also new this year, is an opportunity for youngsters of middle school age and older to meet the musicians. Families are welcome to arrive 45 minutes early to the Bluffton performance (Sunday only). The concert itself is then free for the entire family so long as the qualifying youngster attends; there is no need to call ahead.

Hilton Head oboist Lauren Stuligross will be the soloist in Oboe Concerto in C Minor by baroque composer Benedetto Marcello. She will be accompanied by strings and "continuo," the latter to be played on synthesized harpsichord by CMHH guest and Hilton Head music educator, James Berry.

Speaking of unusual instruments, the sonata that follows was intended for arpeggione, a six-stringed instrument fretted and tuned like a guitar but played with a bow. With that instrument largely forgotten, this beautiful sonata is played nowadays by cello or viola, together with piano. Violist Yvonne Johnson and pianist Jean Shamo collaborate in this performance of Schubert's "Arpeggione" Sonata.

The program ends with Beethoven's "Serioso" String Quartet, Op. 95. Interestingly, it is not so serious, long or complex as the title suggests. The four movements are crisp and quite accessible on first hearing, rewarding both to perform and listen to. Performing the piece are CMHH veterans Melissa Barrett and Tristan Lehnert, violins; Yvonne Johnson, viola; and Angela Maleh, cello.

Following its October performances, the ensemble's continues with programs January 31-February 1, March 21-22, and April 25-26. Each will be performed both in Bluffton and Hilton Head, and each will have an associated KidsPreConcert. Season tickets are available now, online atHYPERLINK "http://www.cmhh.org" www.cmhh.org, and they may also be purchased at the October performances. Visit the website phone (843) 681-9969 for additional information.