Professors Sara Edgerton and Matt Yount from the Department of Music at Southeast Missouri State University performed Baroque and Romantic Masterpieces for cello and piano at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Robert F. and Gertrude L. Shuck Music Recital Hall at the River Campus.

The recital consisted of three songs. The first song, “Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008” by Johann Sebastian Bach for solo cello, was performed by Edgerton. She played with passion and moved with the music.

Before the second song started, Edgerton spoke about Gaspar Cassado, the composer of “Partita for Cello and Piano,” the second song the pair played.

“Cassado was a prominent and active cellist in the middle of the 20th century and he had a Spanish influence,” Edgerton said.

She said the first and second movements of the song were written with no bar lines. Yount said they put a lot of work and rehearsal time into the piece and learned the habits of each other so they knew what to anticipate.

Edgerton and Yount moved with the music. Yount said he and Edgerton have performed together many times and know each other musically.

After the second song ended, Edgerton and Yount took a short intermission.

About 80 to 100 people attended the event.

“Edgerton’s sound is full and rich and in tune,” Cape Girardeau resident John Scheibe said

The last song Edgerton and Yount performed was “Sonata in A Major for Cello and Piano” by Cesar Franck. The song consisted of four parts and each part had a soft sound but also had fast and upbeat parts.

At the end of the performance, the audience gave Edgerton and Yount a standing ovation.

Southeast freshman Doug Evans said his favorite part was the last song because the sounds shifted a lot.

Edgerton said she hoped the audience enjoyed the variety of music and heard the emotion from the music.

Yount said he hoped the audience was able to see how much they enjoy performing and how music is a labor of love.

Edgerton’s upcoming performances include a solo performance on Sept. 17, conducting for the symphony orchestra on Sept. 18, and another solo performance on Sept. 25. Yount’s upcoming performances consist of faculty performances on Sundays in the coming months and accompanying students in undergraduate student recitals.