Symphonic dances sashay into Russell
Showing in Russell Auditorium, many GCSU students and faculty, as well as Milledgeville community members, came out to support the concert. Dr. Maureen Horgan, the GCSU Assistant Professor of Music, was in attendance for this spring performance and said she loved the pieces chosen.
“The concert was the best I’ve ever seen from the GCSU Concert Band,” Dr. Horgan said. “The repertoire contained pieces that were both interesting and complex. I was delighted as an educator and trained musician to see them accomplish such hard pieces.”
Bouncing off the walls in remarkable form, the sound of the symphonic dances carried lively traces of folklore into the auditorium. Beginning the concert with “Folk Dances,” composed by Dmitri Shostakovich and arranged by Robert Reynolds, the dramatic percussion drove the band forward, a sound reminiscent of the military. Percussionist Scott Thompson said he had fun playing these pieces.
“I enjoy playing with the GCSU Concert Band because it allows me to continue playing music without having to be a music major,” Thompson said. “I think the show went well and the pieces were of a good variety.”
The second piece, “Four Scottish Dances,” gradually built up until heightening into a large movement.
Then, completely different from its predecessor, Clifton William’s “Fiesta” rang in as the third chosen piece. Williams composed the piece desiring to capture Latin culture in South Texas, utilizing maracas for cultural identification. The music suggests images of bull fights, street bands and bright costumes.
“The ‘Fiesta’ piece stuck out to me,” said Katie Hanna, sophomore special education major. “I enjoyed the percussion’s use of the maracas and the lively rhythm. It fell away from my expectations and completely surprised me.”
The next few pieces continued to usher in the dramatic pull and release of instrumental syncopations and dramatic exaltations. “Havendance” by David. R. Holsinger consisted of first unified and then counteracting instrumentals by the winds and brass. In “Satiric Dances” the rapid pulse of the music was reminiscent of someone on the run.
Lastly, John Chance’s “Incantation and Dance” closed the concert with first a soft sigh and then mounting into suspicion and tragedy, leaving the audience waiting for stability and restoration.
Overall, the concert presented a new side to the Concert Band of fierce musicality and drama. The spring 2009 GCSU Concert Band has been composed of 64 devoted musicians, and for many students involved the Concert Band is highly valuable and beneficial to their lives at GCSU. Becca Dinoff, sophomore flute player, is one of these students.
“Band is really fun,” Dinoff said. “It’s nice to have a group of friends who all have at least one thing in common- a love of music. It definitely influences my GCSU experience in a positive way.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 3 2009. Filed under Features.
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