Kilmarnock United Methodist Church, 89 East Church Street, Kilmarnock, will host “Two on the Bench,” a concert of organ and piano music, written to be played by four hands. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. May 7 at the church.
The program of duets will feature Denise Cromer and Neil Smart performing works of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann and Brahms, said Smart. Donations are welcome to benefit the Chesapeake Chorale.
Works for four hands on one keyboard became popular in the early 1700s with works by Mozart leading the way, he said. In their heyday, they were played principally in studios or parlors. Great symphonic and chamber works were frequently arranged for piano duet—making the music available to many outside the concert hall.
Cromer has spent over 25 years as a church organist and presently serves as organist and choir director at Kilmarnock UMC. She also has served numerous musical organizations as accompanist. She is the accompanist for the Chesapeake Chorale.
Smart is a former organist and choir director at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Weems and presently serves Bethel UMC in Lively. With music friends, he has organized numerous concerts of Baroque and early Classical chamber works. He has also sung with the Chesapeake Chorale.
