The Chautauqua Symphony Partners will be hosting their second Brown Bag lecture of the season at 12:15 p.m. today at Smith Wilkes Hall.
While the previous “Meet the Musicians”-themed lecture featured an outside expert, today’s will be hosted by a brass quintet made up of members of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
Horn player Bill Bernatis organized the group and will be joined by Charles Berginc and Leslie Lin on trumpet, Fred Boyd on tuba and Eric Lindblom on trombone.
“Our goal is to give people an idea of what our life is like outside of Chautauqua, as well as some focus on our individual instruments,” Bernatis said. “It’s fun for people to know what we do. It adds a depth of personality to the CSO events.”
The quintet does have a pair of pieces for use as reference and entertainment this afternoon — “Canzona Bergamasca” by Samuel Scheidt and “Sonata from Die Bankelsangerlieder” by a 17th-century composer who remains anonymous to this day.
Bernatis emphasized that there is “no great intrinsic intent” within the musical program; the duo is meant to provide a good energy to the lecture and a jumping-off point for questions.
“People might be interested in the historical progression of brass music, or they could have a question about how one or all of us prepares for a difficult concert piece,” he said. “Even if the questions are about our life outside of music or our favorite musicians, we want and welcome that interaction.”
Longtime Symphony Partner Lenelle Morse has said that if people enjoy the programs, the best way they can show their appreciation is by bringing a newcomer to the next one.
The Chautauquan Daily 
