Dr. Ernest Harriss II, professor of music, is bringing to UTM an evening of music by Johann Adolph Hasse, one of the finest composers and a pivotal figure of music in the 18th century.

The concert, with commentary by Dr. Harriss, will begin at 8:00 p.m., on Monday, September 30, in the Fulton Theater in the Fine Arts Building. This special event is sponsored by the Department of Music.

Harriss, a world-renown scholar in 18th-century music, has studied Hasse and his contemporaries in great detail.

His 14 years of work on the music of Hasse took him to Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and Brussels.

Harriss has published numerous writings about Hasse and has prepared performing editions of Hasse's music from the original manuscripts.

This concert will highlight many of his findings. A selection of music, photos, CDs and articles about Hasse from Harriss’s research and travels are currently on display in the Fine Arts Lobby.

Hasse was a prolific composer, writing much music for the church, the stage and chamber settings.

The September 30 performance will include selections from Hasse’s Mass in D performed by the University Singers with orchestra.

Vocalists Meg Olson, Jennifer Hill Cook and Kevin Lambert will perform arias from Piramo and Tisbe, the opera Hasse considered his finest.

Flutists Elaine Harriss and Charles Lewis will present two sonatas for flutes, an instrument for which Hasse wrote a considerable number of works.

Scott Roberts will perform one of Hasse’s sonatas for harpsichord. Instrumentation on the program will be typical of mid-18th century music: strings, pairs of winds and continuo (harpsichord and cello).

Harriss considers Hasse today’s greatest “unknown” composer of the 18th century. During Hasse’s lifetime, however, he was the most highly regarded composer in Europe. Even Mozart stated that he wanted to be as famous as Hasse.

The public is cordially invited to attend this evening of exquisite music and enlightening commentary. There is no admission charge.