A Lover's Discourse: An Evening of Art Songs

"A Lover's Discourse" will be a recital of art songs performed by baritone Paul Friesen-Carper and pianist Benjamin Bourlier that poetically and musically explore the situation of the lover. At its core will be Schumann's Dichterliebe. And after a small break, three lieder of Hugo Wolf will lead us into the debuts of Benjamin Bourlier's "Three O'Hara Songs" and "Love Letter", a setting of Sylvia Plath's poem of the same name.

The recital will also be a free-will donation benefit for the family of Pastor Peter Perella.  

Benjamin Bourlier is a pianist/composer/poet from metro-Detroit. He's studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan under Stephen Vaglica, Curtis Curtis-Smith, Andrew Mead, and Louis Nagel. He's composed many works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and voice and performs regularly as an improviser and classical pianist. His writings have appeared in West Wind Review, Everypeople Workshop, Lana Turner blog, Sprung Formal, and elsewhere. He is currently music director at St. John's Lutheran in New Baltimore, Michigan, where he'll be organizing a new concert series starting this year.

Paul Friesen-Carper is a baritone/multi-instrumentalist/composer currently residing in metro-Detroit. He earned his music degree from Valparaiso University and has studied under Ralph Klapis. He has appeared as a soloist with the VU Symphony Orchestra and with various choirs. He frequently leads music for regional and national Lutheran church conferences, and serves as Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond, Michigan. He composes liturgical music (some of which is published by Augsburg Fortress) and uses guitar, cello, bass, and other instruments to write songs in an indie/folk vein (some of which are available on iTunes).