On May 30 at 7 p.m. at Lexington Presbyterian church, Patrick Summers and William Taylor will present “Press Play,” a joint piano recital showcasing the works of classical composers alongside the music of Final Fantasy Piano Collections.
Summers is known for faculty performances at Washington and Lee University, and as musical director of the university’s annual Bentley Musical productions. He appears frequently as a staff accompanist for Southern Virginia University. Taylor, who grew up in this area, is known for piano performances at SVU and as a staff accompanist at W&L. His recent exploration of video game music has complemented his other work and graduate study.
“Concert pianists have a recurring dilemma when it comes to programming music,” said Taylor. “Do we perform works that everyone knows and loves, or do we branch out into new music that could be known and loved? Beneath this question is another that has continually piqued pianists’ curiosity – what contemporary piano music will still be performed in 10, 30 or 50 years?
“As I’ve explored the repertoires, both old and new, one set has continually drawn my attention for their rich harmonies, elegant melodies and gripping rhythms: The Final Fantasy Piano Collections,” Taylor continued. “This collection consists of piano arrangements from the Final Fantasy games, and continues to expand with the video game franchise, promising an increasing body of piano repertoire for both performers and audiences.”
The concert is free of charge, although donations are welcome.
