David Pihl

Ten American legendary and contemporary composers will be the focus of a piano recital fundraiser for the Essex Chamber Music Players featuring pianist David Alan Pihl on Sunday, January 23, at 2 p.m. with a snow date of January 30 at Northern Essex Community College’s Technology Center on the Haverhill campus.

Pihl is an active solo and collaborative pianist in the Northeast and has recorded a number of CD’s for Master Musicians Collective and Parma Recordings. The concert will demonstrate the rich diversity of styles and influences in American music from the early 20th century until the present.

Works ranging from the romanticism of Edward MacDowell and Amy Beach to the energetic rag-time and jazz influences of Eubie Blake and George Gershwin will be included, as will be the more advanced tonalities of Charles Ives’ “Hawthorne” from the Concord Sonata.

A world premiere by Marc Rossi will allow audience members to experience Indian influences in his rhythmic new work, “Invitation to Freedom,” inspired by the teachings of J. Krishnamurti while shorter meditative pieces by Alan Hovhaness, Daniel Pinkham and Elaine Erickson will evoke feelings of calm. Leo Sowerby’s sweeping work, “Shining Big Sea Water” will round out the concert.

General admission is $15, $10 for seniors, $5 for students, and NECC students are free with ID. Tickets in advance may be purchased at MVarts.Info. Proceeds will benefit the Essex Chamber Music Players. Refreshments will be served.

For more info go to www.ecmp.org