Attending a Performance of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra Essay

For this concert report I chose to go to a performance of student composers held at the Kimball Recital Hall. I chose this one because I wanted to see some of the talent that my peers have in the music realm, and also it was one of the only concerts I have been able to attend because I usually work at night. It was impressive to hear pieces composed by students. I cannot imagine creating something as complex as a musical composition, much less actually performing it, so this aspect of the concert was particularly awe-inspiring. There was a large attendance, and I think that much of the audience consisted of friends of the composers and/or performers. I went with three friends, who I convinced by telling it would be interesting to see

To the front were all the other musicians positioned in three rows. The audience filled with a wide range of unique individuals. There were very old gentlemen and ladies, and then there were college students and middle-aged individuals. The audience seemed to have an unexpected attitude before the concert, as some students appeared to be unable to show proper respect for the hall and what was about to happen.

For my fine arts event, I chose to see the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at Dogwood Park on September fourth. Their theme for the evening was “Music in the Movies”, and they played a variety of movie pieces, including music from Star Wars and The Dark Knight Rises. I have always loved the orchestra because I have always loved music, but combining music and movies together made me love this event in particular even more. Our orchestra here at Tennessee Tech is so beautiful and refined that it blew me away. I have never really played an instrument with a group, but I have actually sung in multiple choir groups over the years, and I know how much time and dedication goes

The University of Florida Wind symphony performed Persichetti Symphony for Band. Right from the start, as evident in the beginning notes, the tone quality and blend was exquisite. Harmonious notes reverberated from the instruments as the low base rounded out a full, dark sound. No instrument stuck out poorly with against the backdrop of the song because the intonation was impeccable. Articulations made sense and fit with the style, so overall the band’s quality was incredible.

Many people came dressed in formal attire and the largest groups were older listeners and families. As being a Symphony Orchestra from the Ukraine, there was a large number of Ukrainian people in the audience. Before the concert began, I spoke to an older gentleman in front of me. He was Ukrainian, and was excited to hear the concert. Many other people came up to him to greet him before the show. Seemingly, there was a close community of Ukrainian people in the surrounding area, that all came to see the concert. As America has so many different nationalities within such a large country, it is evident how a concert like this may affect communities and help Americans honor their ancestors. There was a large number of female musicians in the orchestra. Although mostly string, it is important to note this and many seemed very young, while other players seemed older. The orchestra was widely diverse in terms of age and gender. Putting aside the newer suite, two of the compositions played were played historically accurate to what could've been played in the nineteenth century. It was an Eastern European orchestra, but the famous compositions played have meaning in American music as well. Mostly being introduced in the twentieth century, classical concert European concert music like those played, are still played today by American symphonies. One of the compositions played, was a suite from “The Night Before

The Performing Arts Center was bustling with attendees of all ages. There were young students holding notebooks and laughing and repeatedly changing seats. There were older concert goers wearing blazers and serious expressions. A man in a black suit and a bow tie was sitting in an aisle seat holding an oboe. The atmosphere was cheerful and lively.

I thought the place would be more like the auditorium that I saw before from my high school, but in fact the lighting and the design had made the theatre looked more like a palace. It was divided into two levels, with the second level hanging over half of the first floor. The stage was covered with two red curtains that the outer curtain would be pulled open when the performance started. The theatre itself was surrounded by many window-like niches that appeared every few feets. We actually had met the musicians before the performance. Some of them were relaxing at the field in front of the building and talking to the audiences. The male musicians were dressed up in black suits uniformly while the female musicians had either dressed in black, long dresses or trousers. The similarities between all of the musicians were their friendly attitude and the sort of excitement that they shared on their

The concert “Heroes Among Us” took place on March 25, 2017 at 7:30pm at Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University. The guest conductor was Dina Gilbert. The symphony performed a few pieces. The first was Fanfare for the common man by Copland. The second was Lieutenant Kije Suite, op. 90 with 3 movements 1st Birth of Kije, 2nd Romance, and 4th Troika. Third was Small suite for a Hero by Simon Leclerc. Fourth was Game of Thrones main theme by Ramin Djawadi arr. Simon Leclerc. Finally after intermission they performed Symphony No. 3, OP.55, “Eroica” with four movements 1st Allegro con brio, 2nd Marcia funebre: Adagio assai, 3rd Scherzo: Allegro vivace-Trio, and 4th Finale: Allegro molto. This concert was very well organized and the music perfectly executed in my opinion.

The faculty concert was overall a remarkable composition of musical selections. The downs of the slower and softer movements, the emotion full performance brought by the expressiveness in musicianship, and the ups in entrancement made this concert a successful one. Although an atmospheric roller coaster, it was certainty the most effective way of showcasing such great

We got to our seats early so we could be sure we were in a good location. The instrumentalists warming up with different sounds and scales all playing at the same time was like listening to the sounds of nature. Everyone had their own different sound. Everyone was playing something different. While I was amazed at what I heard, it wasn’t until the conductor raised his baton and the first sounds from a well-practiced group took my breath away. Every section came together to make the most beautiful sound floating throughout the hall; a sound of excellence.

I recently attended the opening night of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Wheeling. The experience of seeing a live orchestra for the first time was very unique and pleasant to me. The feel and atmosphere was much different from what you would experience at a country or hip hop concert. The venue was very quiet and respectful, no one was talking or playing around on their cell phones. Whereas my prior concert experiences had consisted of musicians aiming to be as loud and energetic as possible to invoke excitement in the audience, the orchestra put out a different feel for the audience. The orchestra aimed to invoke and emotional and appreciative response from the audience.

I wasn't entertained by any of the pieces they played or by anything specific related to the actual orchestra. One thing I did find to be entertaining was people watching. A gentleman sitting three seats over from me looked like he was asleep, although his wife looked like she very much enjoying the concert. During one of the compositions, she looked over at him and hit him on the shoulder as to wake him up. If I had to guess I would say that she made him go. Observing the audience and their actions and reactions was enjoyable. I could tell each person had a different view on a song, or a different opinion about an instrument. Noticing things like that is what got me through the symphony.

I have never been personally a fan of the romantic orchestra music but going to listen to a concert live is breathtaking. I attended the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Masterpieces concert with music director Fouad Fakhouri performing Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.1 in D major. There was a full stage of musicians and a complete choir to back it up.

The contrast between the orchestra and the concerto violinist was perfect and she showed her skill in the violin solos. She mostly played at a very allegro pace as she expertly navigated through this very tough piece. She showed a lot of emotion as she quickly played crescendos and decrescendos that where congruent to the rest of the orchestra. I also noticed that the conductor was constantly looking back at the soloist in order to set the tempo for the rest of the orchestra. It was almost as if the soloist was leading the orchestra and the conductor was just following the soloist’s decisions. I thought that this was easily the best part of the show. She clearly is a virtuoso violinist due to her clear skill of playing the violin. I’ve never seen a violin player’s finger move so fast throughout a piece like that in my life. I thought that this was the most interesting and the most important part of the show. After, a guitarist named Steven Mackey came to perform with the solo violinist and the entire orchestra. He played pieces named Like an Animal, Salad Days, Lost in Splendor, and Destiny. I thought that this performance was

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend a real concert, since it usually requires transportation and I do not have a car (or friends who would be willing to drive me there and enjoy some classical music). Instead, I listened to the Brahms Violin Concerto (my favorite composer) performed by Chamber Orchestra of Europe conducted by Bernard Haitink with violinist Janine Janses as soloist. I enjoyed it almost as much as if I listened to a life performance, I promise.