William H. Pommer Concerts and Symposium
The grandson of Caroline Pommer, who built Deutschheim’s Pommer-Gentner House in 1840, William H. Pommer was a classically trained musician, who studied in Vienna and Leipzig before returning to St. Louis as a composer and performer. His legacy in music education extends from the St. Louis public school system to Columbia College and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Well known in Missouri during his lifetime, many of Pommer’s compositions were published and performed. Deutschheim’s William H. Pommer Concerts provided an opportunity for today’s audiences to experience his music and that of other German Americans and the German composers who inspired them.
William H. Pommer as a music student in Europe and in later life as a music professor at the University of Missouri.
Musical selections from the 2017 Pommer Concert:
Introduction by Cynthia Browne- Introduction by Janice Wenger
- Twelve Variations on Ah vous dirai-je Maman
- The Pianoforte— an introduction by Janice Wenger
- Sonata in B flat Major KV 378 I, Allegro
- Sonata in B flat Major KV 378 II, Andantino sonstenuto e cantibile
- Sonata in B flat Major KV 378 III, Rondeau Allegro
- The Pianoforte by Janice Wenger
- Sonata in G Major KV 379 II, Thema and Variations
- The Difference in Violins by Leslie Perna
- Sonata in A Major, K 526 I, Molto Ellegro
- Sonata in A Major, K 526 II, Andante
- Sonata in A Major, K 526 III, Presto
Musical selections from the 2015 Pommer Concerts:
Brüderlein fein, from Der Bauer als Millionär
by Ferdinand Raimund and Josef Drechsler, words by Raimund
Lisa Feurzeig, soprano
Peter Laki, tenor
John Schuster-Craig, piano- Ich bin ein Wesen leichter Art, from Die gefesselte Fantasie
by Wenzel Müller, words by Ferdinand Raymond
Lisa Feurzeig, soprano
John Schuster-Craig, piano - Ja, das Schreiben und das Lesen, from Der Zigeunerbaron (1885)
by Johann Strauss II, words by Ignaz Schnitzer
Peter Laki, tenor
John Schuster-Craig, piano - In den Bergen ist mein Heimatland, from from Die Csárdásfürstin (1915)
by Imre (Emmerich) Kálmán, words by Leo Stein and Bela Jenbach Csárdás
Sarah Sheldon, soprano
Dale Morehouse, piano - Selections from Alma, wo wohnst Du? (1909)
- Alma
Kelly Birch, mezzo-soprano - Kater Lied
Garrett Torbert, tenor - Alma, from Alma, Where Do You Live? (1910)
Kelly Birch, mezzo-soprano
- Alma
- My Hero, from The Chocolate Soldier (1908)
by Oscar Straus / Stanislaus Stange
Sarah Sheldon, soprano - Song of Love, by Sigmund Romberg
Sarah Sheldon, soprano
Garrett Torbert, tenor - Music for Violin and Piano, by Rudolf Friml
Ukolebavka (Lullaby), op. 58
Mazurka, op. 73, no. 2
Yu-Fang Chen, violin
Dale Morehouse, piano - Will You Remember? by Sigmund Romberg
Kelly Birch, mezzo-soprano - Golden Days, by Sigmund Romberg
Alfredo Beltran, baritone
Garrett Torbert, tenor
Musical selections from the 2014 Pommer Concerts:
- Allen-a-Dale, Op 11, No 2Earl Coleman, baritone, accompanied by Janice Wenger
- Eight Songs, Op 22, By the Wayside
- Eight Songs, Op 22, Christmas Lyrics
- Eight Songs, Op 22, Die Nachtigall
- Eight Songs, Op 22, She Is False
- Eight Songs, Op 22, The Half-Ring Moon
- Eight Songs, Op 22, The Year’s at the Spring“Eight Songs” performances feature Kathryn Stieler, soprano, Min Jin, tenor, and Earl Coleman, baritone, accompanied by Janice Wenger
- GondolieraPablo Mahave-Veglia, cello, and Janice Wenger, piano
- Valse, Op 24, No 3Janice Wenger, piano
- Suite No 1
Janice Wenger, piano