Category Archives: Classical Music

Orchestral Hip-Hop; Yes, Hip-Hop

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According to an article on the New York Times website, the Brooklyn Philharmonic is breaking musical boundaries, just as their performance did this past Saturday by combining rap and, well, orchestra.  Under new direction by Alan Pierson, the Brooklyn Philharmonic is attempting a new approach to their outdoor events, “each containing three events: an orchestra concert, a chamber performance and a community program.”  Not only is this ensemble experimenting with hybrid artistic genres, but they are focusing on the communities for whom they are creating music.  The article says that Pierson’s vision is to, basically, meet people where they are in their community.  In other words, he is going to flavor the orchestra’s concerts to make them appealing to the individuals where they perform rather than attracting a homogeneous group of concert-goers for the more traditional orchestral performance.  His attempts are plausible, indeed.  Surely we can learn from his approach to sharing the beauty of music with others, even in non-musical settings.  Especially in such a diverse city as New York.

For Jazz Lovers

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Those who listen to Jazz quickly recognize the names Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker, three exceptionally talented musicians who would play for James Brown.  In the 1960’s  and 70’s when James Brown used to perform, these three, who were asked to “hit me!” and “take it on out,” developed a unified style while playing trombone and saxophone together.

After a 20 year hiatus, in which each separated into their own successful careers, these greats plan to perform together on Thursday at Town Hall.  The three different styles which they bring to the table, a mixture of Jazz and Funk, is expected to produce an exceptional show.  Furthermore, depending on the sucess levels of this event, brings about ideas about future shows.  The group even plans to create a record.

Whether a fan of jazz or not, one should definitely check out their work.  Here is a link to the article; surely this event will be a successful reminder of their immense talent.

 

My Late Review on the 9/11 Memorial Service at The Riverside Church

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On my way over the church, I was feeling, for the first time, nervous about being underground. Hearing about terrorists threats on the 10 year anniversary of that dreadful day had made me extra alert and paranoid while I was attempting to read a book for my Anthropology class. I was slightly uncomfortable and ready to get off the train. Finally, I reached 116th Street and I zoomed out into the street. I eventually met up with some of my peers and we headed off to the church.

When we arrived, I was in awe of its grandeur and aesthetic beauty. I had visited that neighborhood so many times while growing up because I lived in Manhattan and my pediatrician was at St. Luke’s Roosevelt hospital on 113th Street and I NEVER knew such a gorgeous place existed. We quietly sat down as the Queens College Chorus began to take its positions. I believe the chorus sang a SATB Alleluia first. I loved the simple harmonies and the way all the voices were balanced enough to sound like one voice.

The chorus then went on to sing America the Beautiful which was my favorite. I had never heard that choral version and was pleasantly surprised. The soloist had a captivating voice, but I have to admit that the chorus part was my favorite. There were some points in the piece where the chorus made very cool sounds that you find common in a cappella groups. It reminded me of my high school, LaGuardia High School. I found myself closing my eyes and just listening to the music and realizing how much I missed music and being part of an ensemble.

That was how I experienced this service. I felt like maybe it was a sign that I shouldn’t let go of music entirely.

 

Inspiration from Understanding

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Does knowing an artist’s sense of inspiration for a piece of work enhance our experience with it?  Gil Morgenstern, a violinist, wonders this in relation to music.  Is an audience or musician moved by knowing that Messiaen wrote “Quartet for the End of Time” while imprisoned in a German camp?  Mr. Morgenstern performed the piece along with pianist, Jonathan Feldman, this past Wednesday at W.M.P Concert Hall.  After Michele Martin and Misaki Sekimoto kindly came to treat us with a performance, we all know how powerful that combination can be.  It seems that Morgenstern feels that some further understanding does, in fact, add to an experience.  I am sure this concept applies in all kinds of art.

Read this article to learn more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/arts/music/gil-morgenstern-at-wmp-concert-hall-review.html

Thank you, Mr. Morgenstern, for bringing up this point.  I am now encouraged to research pieces of art, whether paintings or works of music, so that I can get the full effect of it.  This will definitely help me to gain insight into the works of art!

Even Aaron Copland, the article mentions, was inspired– how lucky we are to have our school of music named after him!

 

Learn more about Gil Morgenstern here!

 

Memorial Service at the Riverside Church

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I attended the memorial service at the Riverside Church in Manhattan this past Sunday. The service included a concert in memorial of those who served us on 9/11 and those who were affected by the earthquake in Japan this past Spring. The service began with a memorial service honoring those who have served our country and remembering the ones we have lost during that tragedy. A performance followed by the Queens College Orchestra and Chorus and the Japan and U.S. Memorial Orchestra and Chorus. I was particularly touched by Mozart’s Requiem KV626 because of its drama and numerous changes in tempo and dynamics.

Courtesy of Flickr

I found it captivating yet unsettling how the piece was divided into many movements which structured the long piece and also gave it fluidity and kept it from being strenuous and redundant. It gave it contrast between movements which commands attention. The origami paper cranes given out at the end of the memorial served as a nice and joyful touch to this time of mourning.

A Memorable Evening at Rockafeller’s Chapel

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September 11, 2011

One of the most important elements included in a special night of commemoration is the music. I felt that The Riverside Church 9/11 and Japan Event provided a fitting and tasteful playlist to pay respect to those who were affected by these devastating events. Specifically, I want to touch on a certain song that caught my attention. One of the songs that stood out to me as a suitable and sweet-on-the-ears kind of selection was the illustrious, “Amazing Grace.” Written by John Newton, this hymn has the potential to arouse many emotions in any given listener. Throughout the song, in my experience, I felt a deep sadness that transformed into a feeling of great hope by the end. I believe that a masterpiece like, “Amazing Grace” carries the power to inspire hope in troubled minds and peace in minds of vengeance and anger.

As for the choir that performed the piece, I felt that they provided a memorable and impressive sound that resonated throughout the sanctuary. The soloist in the song has a strong set of pipes and is very talented. However, with a song like, “Amazing Grace,” I enjoy hearing the melody sung simply and just as it was written. Sometimes extra runs here and there can distract from the beautiful, straight forward melody. Overall, the performance was flawless and it left the audience with a feeling of hope for the future of the U.S. and for Japan as well. So I say, “Thank you” to all those who made the event at Riverside possible.

Now, for your enjoyment, a segment from my favorite number.

 

 

9/11 Memorial Concert at Riverside Church

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On September 11, 2011 I attended the charity concert presented by the Japan-USA Friendship Disaster Fund at Riverside Church. The concert was performed in honor of the victims of 9/11 and the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. It began with a brief memorial service during which the people organizing the event introduced themselves, the wife of a firefighter who lost his life on 9/11 spoke out about her experience on that tragic day, and a reverend said a short prayer in honor of all of the victims. The prayer was followed by a performance of Amazing Grace and Hallelujah, both beautifully rendered by the members of the Queens College Orchestra & Chorus. The evening’s program also included a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Air on the G-string and Wolfgang Mozart’s Requiem KV626—the main event of the evening—and concluded with another beautiful rendition of Ave Vernum Corpus.

The entire program was spectacular but the Requiem was probably my favorite part of the evening. For this piece the Queens College Orchestra and Chorus teamed up with the Japan and U.S. Memorial Orchestra and Chorus to produce a truly spine-tingling and heart-wrenching rendition of Mozart’s masterpiece. The composition is beautiful in itself but the performance of the two orchestras was truly worthy of the people they were commemorating with their music. I am truly grateful to have been part of the small group of people gathered in the church to witness a performance that excelled in honoring the memory of those who lost their lives because of two horrible tragedies, and anytime I look at the beautiful origami crane that I received as a gift for being part of this wonderful event I will remember the beautiful performance. I would definitely not give up an opportunity to see a similar program again in the future.

Anyone who could not attend the memorial concert can listen to a rendition of the Lacrimosa–my favorite part of the Requiem–performed by the Cracow Concert Choir and the New Polish Philharmonic here. Hopefully, this small taste will give people a sense of what they missed.

Cedarhurst Park 9/11 Commemoration

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Today a few fellow classmates and I attended the 9/11 memorial in Cedarhurst Park in Cedarhurst, New York. Speakers included Mayor J. Parise, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Bruce Blakeman, former Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature and former Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Events also included short performances by the Lawrence School A cappella Choir as well as the Lawrence High School Philharmonic Orchestra. Katie Miller, a member of the choir, sang the National Anthem with a voice hat sounded professional. The choir sang “Amazing Grace” before the moment of silence, and sang “Wind Beneath My Wings” immediately after. The philharmonic played “Fanfare for the Common Man” during the conclusion of the event. The music definately matched the mood of the afternoon, and transmitted emotions in the way only music can. It’s no wonder that music of some sort, be it a lone trumpet or an entire orchestra, is seen as a must at every kind of memorial worldwide. The music made me feel both sad and endlessly patriotic and proud of the U.S. at the same time. In all areas of life, music is always seen as the best instrument for dissemination of emotion.  This is a brief video I took of the conclusion of the memorial, and of the orchestra playing “Fanfare for the Common Man”, the same song played during the Queens College 9/11 memorial on September 7.