Lucktenberg describes the pieces as Italianate, though Leclair was French.  During the 1700 to 1755 time period from which this music is taken, “the Italians were ahead of everybody in violinism.” Lucktenberg said.  “The French violin school was pretty modest by comparison, except for Leclair because he went down to Italy to see what they were doing and brought it back to France.” 

On the final piece, a violin solo, Marks will perform on a Baroque and on a modern violin.  Though the instruments look similar, she will explain the differences in the playing technique, strings, chin rest, pitch and sound.

Lucktenberg will perform on his concert harpsichord, an 8 foot, 6 inch long instrument with three sets of strings and four ranks of jacks (the part of the instrument that plucks the strings).  Like an organ, the instrument is very versatile.  By changing its stops, the instrument’s tones can vary widely.

“It is a perfect accompaniment instrument, as well as solo,” he said.  “It is representative of the final evolutionary stage of the instrument which begins way back in the 1400s and culminates in these, just before everyone went to pianos.”

Both performers have impressive credentials.  Lucktenberg earned bachelor and master's degrees in music from the University of Illinois, a doctorate in music from Florida State University, and an artists diploma from the State Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Vienna, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.  Marks, a native German, immigrated to Atlanta in 1997 after receiving a double master's degree in music education and English/ American studies in Berlin, Germany. In addition, she studied violin with Oliver Steiner at Georgia State University for a year.

Marks and Lucktenberg are also active performers and teachers, as well.  As the Marluc Duo, they have performed annually at Reinhardt since 1998.  Marks' special interest is in chamber music, particularly Baroque music.  In addition to teaching the violin, she plays with the Cobb Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.  Lucktenberg travels around the country and gives numerous concerts each year.  Lucktenberg chaired the keyboard and graduate music departments at Converse College (Spartanburg, S.C.) for 30 years. Prior to his retirement in June of 1994, he served as professor emeritus at Clayton State College (Morrow, Ga.). He has been affiliated with Reinhardt as an artist-in-residence since the fall of 1994. He established a harpsichord training program for high school students at the internationally renowned Interlochen Arts Camp, where he has taught for the last 49 summers.

###

Photo caption: Dr. George Lucktenberg (left), Reinhardt College artist-in-residence, and Ute Marks, an accomplished violinist and instructor, will perform works by Vivaldi, Corelli-Veracini, Leclair and Geminiani in the Floyd A. and Fay W. Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt College, in Waleska, Ga., on Nov. 10, 2002, at 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend free of charge, though donations are welcome.

            The phrase painted inside the harpsichord, “Ars longa, Vita brevis,” means “Art is eternal, life is short.”

###

For more information, please contact
Dr. George Lucktenberg - 770-720-5574 
or Ute Marks - 678-355-9473