Notes in Nature: 2025 Chamber Concert Series

Notes in Nature: 2025 Chamber Concert Series
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 – Wit and Wisdom: Chamber Music for Piano, Strings, and Winds
Register now or learn more below.
Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025 – Emotional Landscapes for Violin and Piano
Register now or learn more below.
Saturday, May 31, 2025 – Folk and Fiddle: String Quartets Inspired by Folk Traditions 
Register now or learn more below.
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 – Mosaic of Miniatures: a Wind Quintet Showcase From the Baroque to Space
Register now or learn more below.
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 – Fireside Melodies: An Intimate Winter Concert for Violin & Harp
Registration to open soon, learn more below.

All concerts 7pm – 8:30pm
Tickets per person, per concert: $35 in advance; $40 at the door if seats are available. Reservations required. All tickets final sale. Rain or shine.

Immerse yourself in a remarkable musical experience at Planting Fields during our newest concert series: Notes in Nature!  

We invite you to embark on a captivating journey through the works of beloved composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, whose timeless masterpieces will be celebrated alongside rediscovered gems and exciting contemporary compositions. This series features five concerts, each presenting a unique opportunity to explore the rich landscape of chamber music and brought to life by the passionate performances of exceptional musicians. 

This series is led by Eric Huckins and Gergana Haralampieva, along with composer Nick DiBerardino, all dedicated to making professional classical music of the highest caliber accessible to Long Island audiences. Their talented musicians, hailing from prestigious organizations such as the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, and Concert Artist Guild, are not only masters of their craft but also youthful, enthusiastic advocates for classical music. With their vibrant energy and commitment, they illuminate each piece, ensuring that classical music is engaging and approachable for audiences from all walks of life. Enjoy their engaging storytelling, humor, and insightful introductions and anecdotes about the composers and the context of the works performed, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that deepens the connection between the artists and the audience. Join us for an unforgettable experience that celebrates Planting Fields, the beauty of music, and the joy of community! Learn more about each concert in the series and register below!

Wit and Wisdom: Chamber Music for Piano, Strings, and Winds 
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, 7 to 8:30pm

The exuberant charm of Mozart’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major captures the youthful vibrancy and elegance of its composer despite the skepticism he faced from the commissioner of the work. Delight in the intimate textures of Max Bruch’s evocative pieces for clarinet, viola, and piano, which blend lyrical melodies with sophisticated harmonies. Experience the cross-cultural richness of Reena Esmail’s Saans (Breath), a piano trio that utilizes Indian classical forms. Revel in the grandeur of Beethoven’s Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Major, showcasing the dynamic and transformative power of one of music’s greatest innovators. The evening culminates with Ernő Dohnányi’s Piano Sextet, a lush and intricate composition that exemplifies the Romantic era’s rich harmonic language combined with edgy wit and humor.

Register Now  

Emotional Landscapes for Violin and Piano
Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025, 7 to 8:30pm

Emotional Landscapes is a captivating musical journey with pieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Davidson, and Still. This concert brings together a diverse selection of works for violin and piano that explore a spectrum of human emotions and natural beauty. Inspired by sculptures from his contemporaries from the Harlem Renaissance, William Grant Still’s Suite for Violin and Piano intertwines classical and African-American musical traditions to evoke rich emotional and cultural narratives. The second piece on the program is “Blue Curve of the Earth,” by Tina Davidson. This contemporary piece explores the composer’s observation and emotional response to the beauty of nature’s grandeur.

Beethoven’s “Spring Sonata” is a classical masterpiece that embodies the joy and renewal of spring, bridging the emotional landscapes of the earlier pieces with its lightness and lyrical grace. The evening concludes with Brahms’ Sonata No. 3, a profound work of deep expressiveness that ties together the themes of the concert. Set in the elegant Great Hall of the Main House, this performance offers a seamless blend of historical and contemporary influences, inviting you to take part in a rich dialogue between past and present interpretations of the human experience.

Folk and Fiddle: String Quartets Inspired by Folk Traditions
Saturday, May 31 2025, 7 to 8:30pm

Celebrate the coming of summer under the open sky at the Main House’s Courtyard with Folk and Fiddle, a captivating concert of string quartets inspired by folk traditions. This enchanting evening invites you to experience the vibrant essence of folk music through an engaging performance that blends folk-inspired melodies with the charm of a live string quartet, all set against the picturesque backdrop of Planting Fields. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in the Main House’s beautiful Great Hall.

The evening opens with Manuel de Falla’s Spanish Dance No. 1, a lively piece that captures the fiery spirit and rhythmic vibrancy of Spanish folk dance in just four minutes. Following this, immerse yourself in a Danish String Quartet Suite, that artfully combines sophistication with fiddling flair.

Next, enjoy Florence Price’s Four Folk Songs in Counterpoint, an exploration of American folk traditions, where Price’s intricate counterpoint enriches the soulful, folk-inspired melodies including “My Darling Clementine” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” After a brief intermission, let the energetic rhythms of Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances transport you with their vibrant Eastern European melodies and energizing spirit.

The evening culminates with Antonín Dvořák’s American Quartet, a monumental work that masterfully weaves American folk influences with Romantic elegance. This exuberant quartet reflects Dvořák’s deep engagement with American musical traditions, offering rhythms and lyrical beauty that echo the spirit of the New World.

Mosaic of Miniatures: a Wind Quintet Showcase From the Baroque to Space
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, 7 to 8:30pm

Experience this Mosaic of Miniatures, a charming program of wind quintets showcasing music from the Baroque to space. The evening begins with Amy Beach’s serene and lyrical Pastorale, a gentle introduction evoking the tranquil beauty of nature. Following this piece is Malcolm Arnold’s lively Three Sea Shanties, which brings to life the spirited tunes of seafaring life. The program continues with William Grant Still’s Four Miniatures, a captivating suite that explores a rich tapestry of cultural influences, including a cowboy song, a spiritual, and pieces inspired by Peru and Mexico. Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Gavotte and Six Doubles adds a touch of Baroque elegance with dance forms and variations, showcasing the quintet’s virtuosity. After intermission, be transported to the whimsical and colorful world of Darius Milhaud’s La Cheminée du Roi René, a suite inspired by the folk music and historical tales of Provence, France. The evening concludes with Marc Mellits’ dynamic Apollo, a powerful rock-inspired composition celebrating the spirit of the Apollo 11 mission. Join us for an evening filled with vibrant contrasts and musical delights that highlight the versatility and richness of the wind quintet. 

Fireside Melodies: An Intimate Winter Concert for Violin & Harp 
Saturday, December 13th, 2025 | 7 – 8:30pm

Embrace the winter season at our intimate concert featuring the captivating sounds of the violin and harp. On a crisp winter’s night, grab a hot chocolate and join us for a cozy performance filled with evocative winter-themed music and thoughtfully arranged holiday classics. This concert is the perfect escape from the cold, offering a serene and inviting atmosphere that is ideal for a romantic date night or a peaceful retreat. 

This charming event will be held at the Great Hall of the Main House, a location renowned for its inviting ambiance and warm acoustics. Picture yourself nestled in a beautifully decorated space, where the delicate interplay of violin and harp creates a soothing and festive soundscape!

Registration to open soon!

For questions, please contact Lilly McGurk, Stewardship Director at lmcgurk@plantingfields.org 

About Long Island Chamber Music 
Long Island Chamber Music (LICM) is a collective of professional musicians that bring classical music to Long Island communities through concerts and educational programs year-round. LICM was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife musicians Eric Huckins and Gergana Haralampieva alongside composer Nick DiBerardino with the mission of making professional classical music of the highest caliber accessible to Long Island audiences. 
 
LICM performs chamber music at local venues across Long Island including concert halls, parks, libraries, churches, museums, and community centers. LICM works closely with its community partners to create concert programs that are relevant and compelling to audiences. Each concert showcases a variety of instrumentations drawing from LICM’s artist roster of over 20 professional musicians. LICM is strongly committed to programming works and featuring musicians from historically underrepresented communities in the classical music field. 
 
LICM provides a variety of highly interactive educational concerts and residencies in schools, libraries, and community centers that focus on fostering a love and understanding of classical music for all ages. 
 
LICM musicians are all drawn from Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Astral Artists, Concert Artist Guild and several other of the country’s most prominent musical institutions. In addition to being leaders in their art form, LICM musicians are teaching artists, entrepreneurs, and socially-minded advocates for classical music.  

Long Island Chamber Music is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All Long Island Chamber Music programs are made possible through the efforts of our community partners, support from local businesses, and the generosity of the Long Island community.