Musical Concert Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Musical Concert Summary - Essay Example My preference for music 'intelligent' music was the other but not minor factor. The concert took place at the Campus Center lobby, on Sunday, November 11 and was scheduled to start at 3:15pm. The Trombone Ensemble and Jazz band under the direction of Ronald Stitt presented a total of twelve pieces, with the Trombone Ensemble presenting three and the lively Jazz band the other nine. I arrived to find an almost packed Campus Center Lobby and was soon convinced that this concert was going to be good. The Trombone Ensemble comprising of retired Professor Emeritus of History, Jonathan Helmreich along with some students opened the evening with J.S Bach's "Chorale". As the soul stirring piece filled my being, I took in the intense yet relaxing ambience the melody had created. Clad in their black and white tuxedos, the Ensemble displayed great artistry and mastery of their instruments. The night reached a crescendo for me with the second piece, Mozart's' famous "Ave Verum Corpus". This was already my favorite Mozart work and the performance of the Ensemble was most breathtaking. They rounded up the first half of the concert with another good performance, the Hooper and Magliocco piece "So, You Wanna Play Trombone," After an interlude, the Allegheny College Jazz band opened with Carl Strommen's "The Opener", this lively start ensued for the rest of the performance as the Jazz Band continued with "I remember Clifford" by the soloist Mike Faix, Christina Dastolfo's "In the Wee Small Hours". The concert closed with a standing ovation after the performance of "Superstition", a Mike Tomaro piece. An encore performance of Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus" was given by the Trombone Ensemble. Concert 2: Recital IV with Pianist Alec Chien My experience with Jazz band and the Trombone experience was rivaled by an earlier episode at Pianist Alec Chien's performance of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas. The concert which took place at Allegheny College's Shafer Auditorium, was a sixth in a seven-concert series featuring, Chien who was Artist in Residence at Allegheny College. Professor Chien's demonstration of his mastery of Beethoven's work started a little after the pre-announced 7 pm, because the turnout had be underestimated and provisions had to be made to accommodate the eager guests. The last in the series of events is scheduled to be concluded with another free concert in the spring of 2008 at the same venue. The program started with Sonata Number 5 in C Minor, Opus 10 Number1; Chien standing briefly under the lights, bowed briefly before he sat, his delicate touch running through the keys as he concluded this number reminded me of my very first reaction to Beethoven's work; listening, hardly breathing and startled. Chien progressed with the Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Opus 10, No 2 and the Sonata No 7 in D Major, Opus 10, No 3. He delivered with pomp and a nostalgic finality Beethoven's last piano sonata, the Sonata No 32 in C Minor, Opus 111. Chien's performance was greeted by three standing ovations. The concert which was to celebrate Allegheny College family week, left me motivated, spirited and saddened. For me, Beethoven's Sonata's seemed to indicate a familiar despair prevalent in today's world. Chien himself seemed completely taken over by mixed emotions as he took a bow before the applauding audience. Overview The