Musical Notes Over the Harbor returns for its 13th annual performance April 5, at the San Juan Community theatre with chamber musicians Kim Breilein, Hanneke Klein-Robbenhaar, Sue Collado, Sasha von Dassow, Pat Nelson, Elizabeth Schaltenbrand and Kay Zavislak.

This small group of musicians have arranged a musical treat for islanders once again, with one of the highlights of the concert will be “The Suite of Old American Dances” by Robert Russell Bennett, written for Concert Band in 1948 and transcribed in the RAG. This rendition was arranged by Jim Collado for the Melodious Notes musicians. “Bennett wrote this piece with five dance movements and the Rag is the last one. The Rag simulates the popular dance of the day,” Sue clarinetist for the group said.

The 2025 concert also features three soloists, new combinations of instruments and composers. The most complex piece this year is the wind trio Rubispheres for flute, clarinet and bassoon.

“This movement titled, “With Finesse” is an exciting, rhythmic and virtuositic piece that just keeps moving at a really fast pace. There is a lot packed into the four-minute piece,” Sue said.

Other compositions include Jonathan Cohen, Playdates, born in 1954, has a doctorate in electrical engineering and holds a dozen patents. He likes to play alto and bass flute in chamber music trios. Sue explained that “This piece is a whimsical outing with these titles of the three movements: ‘Stalking the Wild Catnip Mouse; I’m Skipping, Even If Everyone is Watching; and But I Always Have This Much Sugar for Breakfast.’”

This piece will be performed by Breilein on flute, Collado on clarinet and Pat Nelson, on the bassoon

Next, Breilein and Nelson will be joined by Kay Zavislak on piano. The trio will play Francois Devienne’s Trio in C. According to Sue, Devienne, 1759-1803, was a professor of Flute at the Paris Conservatory and played bassoon in the Paris Opera. “During this Classical period of music, composers wrote a lot of trios that were performed in “salon” settings. This Trio is a beautiful, lovely piece that shows off all of the musicians’ skills and musicality,” she explained.

Following Trio, Hanneke Klein-Robbenhaar, on violin, joins pianist Elizabeth Schaltenbrand for Jules Massenet’s Thais. Massenet (1842-1912) was primarily known as an opera composer in the Romantic Period. He composed every day from 4 am to noon so he had a lot of time to write his 30 operas. Sue says Meditation is one of the most beautiful interludes in all of opera.

Camille Saint-Saens, 1835-1921, was a child prodigy on piano and this piece Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso was originally written for violin and has been transcribed

for cello. Pianist Schaltenbrand will join cellist Sasha von Dassow. “This is a beautiful but very adventurous piece when played by the cello,” Sue said of the piece.

Zavislak will play Nicolai Medtner’s Fairy Tales. Medtner (1880-1951) wrote mostly for piano and these Fairy Tales are written to evoke stories in the listener’s mind. According to Sue, attendees will also hear a lot of Rachmaninoff in his pieces. “He was not well known until 25 years after his death and has become recognized as one of the most significant Russian composers for the piano,” she said.

Klein-Robbenhaar, Von Dassow and Schaltenbrand play Astor Piazzolla’s Oblivion. Following intermisison. Piazzolla (1921-1992) was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneon (a button accordion) player. He became a world-renowned player and composer of his tangos. “Oblivion is one of his most beautiful and popular tangos that has been arranged for many ensembles,” Sue said.

When asked why it was important to keep Chamber music alive, Sue replied

“Chamber music allows small groups of musicians to play wonderful music that is written for their instrumentation, whether that’s 2, 3, 5 or more players,” Sue said. “The audience also gets to see the musicians close up and that adds a dimension that you don’t get with a big orchestra. The music for chamber groups has a long history and musicians can choose music from the 1600’s to now. Chamber music allows listeners to explore music that is not in the popular genre.”

Sue hopes the audience will be enthralled by the performance. “ I’d like for the audience to say, “Wow, amazing and that went by too fast” and I want to come back next year.! “They were awesome and the selections were all wonderful!” She said. “Don’t miss this unique and beautiful concert performed by the amazing and incredibly talented musicians of “Melodious Notes Over the Harbor”

Tickets are $28 for adults, $15 for students or $5 student rush at the door. For more information visit https://www.sjctheatre.org.