FARMINGTON — On Saturday, Sept. 26, Maine Mountain Chamber Music will present a concert featuring works by Purcell, Mozart, Brahms and Thomas Kraines on the University of Maine at Farmington campus.

Kraines, who has performed at MMCM many times, has written a piece for string trio especially for the concert. 

Co-directors pianist Yuri Funahashi and violist Laurie Kennedy will be joined by violinist Cyrus Beroukhim and Kraines for a concert of chamber music from four centuries. The program begins in the 17th century with “Three Fantasias” for string trio, written in 1680 by Purcell. Although organist at Westminster Abbey and “composer to the King’s violins,” Purcell wrote these imaginative pieces for his own enjoyment.

A giant leap to the 21st century brings the audience to the world premiere of “Departures” for string trio (2009) by Kraines. This is a slow, one-movement work intended to become part of a larger work in the future. It is structured so that each instrument, in turn, takes on a solo role as the other two join together in a supportive accompaniment.

Mozart wrote the first of his two quartets for piano and strings in 1785. He was the first well-known composer to use the piano in a solo role in chamber music, rather than as an accompanying instrument, and he most likely wrote these works to perform himself. Following Mozart’s lead, many great composers of the 19th century such as Schumann, Brahms and Dvorak wrote piano quartets, and the form has remained popular with composers to this day. Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G Minor, K. 478 is still one of the most popular.

Representing the Romantic period on this program is Piano Trio in C Major, Op. 87 by Brahms. A mature work, written in 1882, this trio includes a wonderful theme and variations movement based on a plaintive, Hungarian-style folk song that Brahms accurately predicted would be popular with audiences.

Beroukhim made his debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at age 15. He received his doctorate at The Juilliard School, and has earned broad recognition as a leading performer of his generation. Kraines, a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, is gaining recognition worldwide as a cellist, composer and teacher. Formerly a member of the Peabody Trio, he currently performs as a duo with his wife, violinist Juliette Kang, as well as with the free improvisation ensembles Dithyramb and Spring Theory, and the chamber group Mistral. Funahashi is a member of the Festival Chamber Music Society of New York City and the Pane-Funahashi Duo, and is a frequent guest performer at chamber music festivals around the world. Kennedy, principal violist of the Portland Symphony since 1981, appears frequently as a soloist with that orchestra and chamber artist throughout the Northeast.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Nordica Auditorium. Admission at the door is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors; children under 16 admitted free. No advance ticket sales. For more information, call 645-2157.