Things to do in Sacramento

In this current economic climate there is nothing more appealing to an arts patron like the word "free".

With a little legwork and a flexible schedule a whole concert season can be accessed for free in the Sacramento region.

And one of the destinations to keep in mind for free music is UC Davis which always offers a robust schedule of free concerts during concert season.

At UC Davis, the Fall schedule for 2009 includes such artists as cellists Lena and Robert Andaya, the adventurous New York-based Meridian Arts Ensemble, and soprano Rebecca Plack.

Many of the concerts are free noon concerts, and most are held in the Music Building at UC Davis. A select few will also be held in the Grand Lobby of the Mondavi Center.

For more infornmation, or to join the events mailing list, contact the Department of Music at (530) 752-7896 or musicmail@ucdavis.edu.

Thu., Sep. 24, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Noon Concert: Davis Summer Symphony. Tim Follin (arr. by Paul Watkins): "Akrillic" from the Super Nintendo Game "Plok"; Robert Schumann: Allegro affettuoso from the Piano Concerto in A Minor, with ChiaWei Lin, piano; Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in Bb Major.

Thu., Oct. 1, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Noon Concert: Tim Feeney, amplified percussion, and Vic Rawlings, prepared cello. Electroacoustic improvisation with self-built and assembled instruments: The cello is prepared with extra resonant strings, metal flashing, and other objects, while the drums are amplified and used as a resonator for other percussion instruments in the set.

Thu., Oct. 8, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Noon Concert: Laurel Ensemble (UC Davis faculty-affiliate Ann Lavin, clarinet; Sarah Holzman, flute; Jenny Douglas, viola; Krisanthy Desby, cello; Lori Lack, piano). Works by Beethoven, Clarke, and Martinů.

Thu., Oct. 15, 12:05 p.m., Room 115, Music Building
Noon Concert: Genevieve Lee, piano. Featuring UC Davis faculty composer Kurt Rohde's "One," 13 reflections for speaking pianist based on poems of Paul Mann. The piano and pianist are lightly amplified, and assorted "found objects" are used throughout, as well.

Thu., Oct. 22, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Noon Concert: Rebecca Plack, soprano, with Blaise Bryski, piano.
Selected Schubert Lieder, selections from Rachmaninov's six romances, and William Walton's "Three Songs" on poems by Edith Sitwell (excerpts from "Façade" and arranged by the composer for soprano and piano).

Thu., Oct. 29, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Noon Concert: Percussion Group Davis & CSU Percussion Group. Steve Reich's Drumming (1970-71).

Thu., Nov. 5, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Noon Concert: Lena and Robert Andaya, cellos.

Tue., Nov. 10, 12:05 p.m., Room 115, Music Building
Noon Concert: Meridian Arts Ensemble, artist-in-residence, a faculty brass ensemble at the Manhattan School of Music that plays everything from J.S. Bach to Frank Zappa. Works by graduate student composers Hendel Almétus, Ben Irwin, Garrett Shatzer, Ching-Yi Wang, and Brazen Overtures by undergraduate student Paul Watkins.

Thu., Nov. 12, 12:05 p.m., Room 115, Music Building
Noon Concert: Marilyn Nonken, piano.

Thu., Nov. 19, 12:05 p.m., Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center
Noon Concert: Passamezzo Moderno and Duo Solace.
Early 17th-century music from Germany and Italy. Passamezzo members include UC Davis faculty-affiliate David Granger, dulcian and bassoon; Jonathan Davis, harpsichord and organ; and Edwin Huizinga and Adriane Post, violins; with Duo Solace members Linda Tsatsanis, soprano, and John Lenti, flute.

Tue., Dec. 1, 12:05 p.m., Room 115, Music Building
Noon Concert: Student Chamber Ensembles.

Thu., Dec. 3, 12:05 p.m., Room 115, Music Building
Noon Concert: UC Davis Baroque Ensemble. Phebe Craig and Michael Sand, directors