Bolcom: Serenata Notturna for Oboe & Strings, Laura Griffiths, oboe Bolcom: Three Rags for String Quartet R. Strauss: Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings This program features music that is at once modern, elegant, and beautiful. 2009-2010 Featured Composer William Bolcom is one of American’s most dynamic, prolific musical geniuses whose huge and varied oeuvre defies categorization. Bolcom is deeply rooted in the American tradition of rags and ragtime, but his voice includes a variety of influences from the rich traditions of the 20th century. Richard Strauss’ heart-wrenching and elegiac Metamorphosen, a modern string orchestra masterpiece, powerfully demonstrates music’s ability to capture a moment in time – in this case, the bombing of the Munich opera house. - InCMajor