The Stones River Chamber Players, a faculty ensemble at Middle Tennessee State University, will perform the final concert of the 2011-12 season at 7:30 p.m. April 9 in the T. Earl Hinton Music Hall of MTSU’s Wright Music building.

“The concert showcases music from eastern Europe and highlights several of the School of Music faculty in challenging and exquisitely beautiful music,” said Angela DeBoer, faculty horn teacher and co-coordinator of the group.

The free public program will begin with Bela Bartok’s “Contrasts” for violin, clarinet and piano.

Andrea Dawson, faculty violinist for the group, called the work “a virtuosic romp for each instrument,” incorporating such effects as snap pizzicato and scordatura for the violin. MTSU clarinet professor Todd Waldecker noted that Benny Goodman commissioned Bartok to write the work, which is based on Hungarian Gypsy music.

Bohuslav Martinu’s “Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano” will be the second piece performed, a “bright and cheerful work inspired by the sounds he heard as a child like sewing machines and church bells,” said Christine Kim, MTSU faculty cellist.

Ernst von Dohnányi’s “Sextet” for violin, viola, cello, clarinet, horn and piano will serve as the concert finale. Waldecker said the Dohnányi piece is a “seldom performed masterwork that tests the physical limits of the performers.”

“The Dohnányi will make a rollicking conclusion to the season,” added Lynn Rice-See, MTSU faculty pianist and co-coordinator of the group.

For more MTSU School of Music concert information, call 615-898-2493 or visit www.mtsumusic.com and click on the “Concert Calendar” link.