Piano Recital

[Peter Salus]

Piano Recital: Michael Hawley

Those who only know Michael Hawley from his presentations at 
USENIX Graphics workshops or his 1986 and 1990 Conference 
Presentations, or even his portion of the music CD that 
accompanied Computing Systems 3.2, would have met a different 
Mr. Hawley in the Atrium of the MIT Media Lab at noon on 
Friday, May 17.

Mr. Hawley, a student at the Media Lab and a Yale graduate 
gave a recital before a large and enthusiastic audience.  His 
program consisted of Rachmaninoff's transcription of three 
movements of Bach's Partita for violin; Chopin's Sonata 
Opus 58, and Liszt's b minor sonata.  Mr. Hawley's instrument of choice 
-- which would doubtless have been the choice of both Liszt and 
Rachmaninoff (Chopin seems to have preferred the Pleyel) -- was the MIT non-electronic Boesendorfer.

Opening with the Bach/Rachmaninoff, Mr. Hawley appeared a bit tentative.  In the Chopin sonata, certainly the most formal of Chopin's three, he 
took the scherzo a bit slowly, though the third movement was 
quite expressive.  In the difficult Rondo, which challenges many virtuosi,
Mr. Hawley was quite exemplary.  The audience responded 
with resounding applause.

However, it appeared that Mr. Hawley was "saving himself" for the Liszt, a composer who has long attracted his regard.  In no uncertain terms, 
Mr. Hawley attacked this arduous composition with both deliberation and 
verve.  Though there were moments toward the beginning when this 
member of the audience was unsure as to whether Mr. Hawley was 
reserving enough of himself for the collossal athleticism to come, 
he lost none of his vigor as the sonata progressed, and concluded it in 
genuine triumph.

This reviewer certainly looks 
forward to Mr. Hawley's next appearance -- live or on another CD.

Peter H. Salus s
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