Beacon Arts: American Echoes

Paul Lundin’s cherished string quartet returns with a program that honors the enduring legacy of this concert series and rich cultural heritage of our country.

Featuring Paul Lundin and Joe Deller on violins, Janine Bradbury on viola, and Katri Ervamaa on cello, the concert opens with Ernő Dohnányi’s Serenade for String Trio. This graceful and spirited work has echoed throughout the series since one of its earliest performances in 1968. William Grant Still’s Lyric Quartette offers a vivid and expressive portrait of African American life, with each movement inspired by a distinct cultural archetype.

Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, affectionately known as the “American Quartet,” follows as a radiant expression of frontier optimism, composed during his time in the United States and infused with folk‑inspired melodies.