Julie Druker | Nov 18, 2015


Lovers of, as well as those just curious about classical music, were treated to a spectacular classical concert that opened MERA's Blue Jeans Classical Music series at the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners on November 8.

Cellist Emily Kennedy and pianist Keenan Reimer-Watts performed a diverse repertoire. The dynamic duo, both uber-talented graduates of Wilfrid Laurier University, have been playing together for the last three years and both were in prime form.

Reimer-Watts, who is a concert pianist, teacher, composer, improviser, concert curator and chamber musician, opened with a selection of 15 of the 30 Bach short compositions from a work titled “The Inventions”, which were written as pedagogical exercises for the composer's young sons. Like everything Bach, the pieces sound deceptively simple but in reality are examples of his musical genius, profundity and pure musical beauty. Written for the purpose of demonstrating two voice inventions or counterpoint, the Inventions are delightful and Keenan played them with aplomb.

Reimer-Watts then delighted listeners with (Surprise! Surprise!) the Canadian premiere of an original work titled “Wandering Pieces”, a set of four solo and very modern sounding piano works that demonstrate his desire to explore improvisation and jazz piano. The work is new, fresh and covers a vast range of musical ground, with conflicting rhythms and themes that are sometimes repeated. Taken together they entertain and delight and show Keenan's dexterity and desire to push the musical envelope. The third movement in particular shows his openness to everyday influences, like one particular piano that inspired the old clock theme in the piece's third movement.

For the second half of the concert, Emily Kennedy and her cello were front and center, first for Debussy's Cello Sonata, which was written near the end of the composer's lifetime, after he was diagnosed with colon cancer. The sonata's musicality ranges from awkward to playful to highly exuberant. Kennedy delivered the delightful piece to great effect, and Reimer-Watts, accompanying her on piano, was with her every step of the way.

The two saved their most serious and somber sides for their final piece, Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano. Written by the composer as a way to show off his abilities both as a composer and a player (“one with extremely huge hands”, Reimer-Watts was quick to add) this difficult and deeply dark piece demonstrated how this accomplished young duo are not only technically adept but emotionally astute as well. The piece delves into extremely dark emotions that the composer seems to try to disentangle himself from musically, often succeeding and coming to a brighter, less foreboding realm only to be pulled down once again into the depths of darkness.

Those complex emotions were often reflected in Kennedy’s facial expressions as she played with precision, intensity and subtlety. She somehow knows what the composer felt and Reimer-Watts was equally adept.

Though the two had to face in opposite directions in the hall on account of the upright piano, a gentle leaning here and there of the head was enough to signal each other at certain necessary moments. Coming up next at MERA on Sun. November 29 is a concert by Karen Savoca at 7pm. Tickets at the door are $25. Advance tickets are $22 ($18 for MERA members) and are available from Tickets Please, Perth (Jo's Clothes), on-line at www.ticketsplease.ca or by phone at 613-485-6434. Teenagers are free of charge.

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