In this lecture-recital, I discuss the inner workings of classical music—from the emotion of dissonance and resolution, to the craftsmanship of counterpoint. I also include historical background and questions from the audience alongside my performances of pieces by Smetana, Brahms, Bach, Poulenc, and Beranek, to demonstrate my insights. Recorded August 11, 2021, at the Donald & Carol Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.

[0:25] Welcome
[1:58] The Year 1878: Smetana vs. Dvořák
[7:13] SMETANA: Obkročák from Czech Dances, Vol. II
[10:53] Question from the Audience
[14:33] A Composer's Perspective
[16:45] What Makes Music Work: Scale Degrees & Overtones
[23:10] Aching Beauty of Brahms: Dissonance & Chord Inversions
[26:55] BRAHMS: Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2
[33:33] Is Brahms Beautiful?
[37:05] Guess Your Favorite Composer's Favorite Composer
[39:50] Expressive Bach: An Oxymoron?
[45:50] Counterpoint in Action: Musical Engineering
[51:43] Question from the Audience
[53:56] BACH: Prelude & Fugue in E-flat Major, BWV 876
[59:10] Question from the Audience
[1:00:33] Poulenc's Historical Synthesis
[1:04:27] POULENC: Intermezzo in A-flat Major, FP 118
[1:09:14] Question from the Audience
[1:11:34] Turning a Harp into a Piano
[1:17:55] Closing Remarks
[1:19:01] BERANEK: Romanza for Harp (World Premiere)

Jacob Beranek is a Wisconsin-born, New York-based composer and pianist. His compositions, inspired by a love of melody and craftsmanship, are infused with his interest in historical traditions—musical, religious, or even his Czech heritage. Beranek served as the inaugural Composer-in-Residence of the Midsummer’s Music Festival (2017–2020), and his works have been championed by the GRAMMY®-nominated ALIAS Chamber Ensemble (Nashville, TN), Band of the Castle Guards & Czech Police (Prague, Czechia), Dolce Suono Ensemble (Philadelphia, PA), Euterpe Quintet (Seoul, South Korea), The Gesualdo Six (London, England), Oxford University Wind Orchestra (Oxford, England), and Wisconsin Philharmonic (Waukesha, WI), as well as acclaimed soloists Peter Sheppard Skærved, Mimi Stillman, and Leslie Norton. Maestro Mikel Toms and the Brno Philharmonic (Brno, Czechia) recorded his Pilgrimatic Overture as part of ABLAZE Records’ ninth “Orchestral Masters” album, to be released in 2022. Beranek received his Bachelor of Music in Composition from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, and is currently pursuing his Master of Music from The Juilliard School as a student of John Corigliano. A dedicated scholar of Czech music, Beranek was honored by the American ambassador to Czechia in 2018 during a performance of his music in Prague Castle for the country’s centenary celebration. Learn more at www.BeranekMusic.com.