The At The Jacobs School Of Music Recital Hall

Last Thursday, I attended the Department of Music Concert Series at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. I was able to listen to both the Symphony Band, under the direction of Dr. Cara Morantz as well as the Wind Symphony Band directed by Dr. Sean Murray. They presented a tremendous performance comprised of pieces by J.B. Chance, Frank Ticheli, Samuel Hazo as well as a wide variety of other authors. The event was pleasurable to me, as well as many others in attendance to the concert. By the looks, colleagues families and teachers came to support the talented musicians on stage that night!

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

“A Music Faculty Recital” at Prince George 's Community College was actually the very first concert I’ve been to that included Baroque style. The environment created a nostalgic yet modern and elegant mood; something that made you feel like you were in the late 1700’s yet still in modern times. The songs were mostly enjoyable and we 're all well played. This concert included an ensemble: the flute, the cello, the piano, and the harpsichord. Peggy Bair, who played the flute, was very enthusiastic. Irma Cripe, who played the cello, was quiet for the first part of the concert but gradually became more important throughout the concert. And lastly, the virtuous Gary Kirkeby, who played the piano and harpsichord, served as the backbone of all parts of the concert and made this concert very enjoyable.

I attended the Baylor University Concert Jazz Ensemble directed by Alex Parker on Tuesday, November 10th. This ensemble consisted of saxes, trombones, trumpets, drums, a piano, and bass. The concert showcased many individual talents by including solo’s or duet’s in every song. The program consisted of seven songs with no intermission. The pieces I selected were “Big Dipper” by Thad Jones and “Undecided” by Frank Mantooth.

I attended a Jazz Recital presented by faculty on March 9th 2016 in Marlboro Hall 1076. The recital was performed by Bobby Muncy, Gene D’Andrea, Shaun Jurek, Andrew Hare and Dr. Nakia Verner. The group performed the following songs, Donna Lee composed by Charlie Parker, Wave composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Misty composed by Erroll Garner, Another Song(For All The Pretty People) and Impressions composed by John Coltrane. In my essay I will discuss Impressions composed by John Coltrane.

Juilliard’s Paul Recital Hall was where jazz drummer Douglas Marriner had his graduation recital, which happened on Monday, May 8th.

For this assignment, I went to the Basically Beethoven Festival at the Dallas City Performance Hall. The recital was opened with a few pieces played by the rising stars Madera Wind Quintet. The main performance included Rachel McDonald on the viola, Joseph Kuipers on the cello, Grace Wollett on the violin, Scott Wollett on the oboe, and the great pianist Alex McDonald. They performed a compilation of famous composers’ masterpieces.

On Friday, May 18, I attended the Burrell High School Jazz Band Concert. Over the concert, a band played for the first half, there were then chamber groups that played in between, the second band next, and then a combined band with alumni. I felt that the structure of the concert flowed nicely, as the chamber music in between was refreshing from the jazz. My favorite chamber piece was an African piece involving bongos and soprano saxophone.

I attended a Senior Recital performed by Travis Hogue-Smith. This concert took place at Barry University’s chapel on March 28, 2017 at 7:30 PM. The instruments used in this concert are a clarinet, played by Travis Hogue-Smith, and a piano, play Dr. Beverly Coulter. Music from both Romantic and Classical genres were played in this concert.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2017, I attended the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra at the Pioneer Center. The program for that evening included a Violin Concerto op 14 (1939) by Samuel Barber. With Benjamin Beilman, on the violin, the piece included three movements. Followed by Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 1 I D major, Titan (1889).

The production A Christmas Carol was performed at the Denver Center for Performing Arts located in Denver, Colorado. I had the pleasure to attend the show on December 14th in the Stage Theater and I was captivated. This show captured the essence of a theatrical production. To avoid false impressions, the production I saw was performed in 2013. This is a foretaste for those thinking about attending the future performance in 2016; especially those who desire the theater experience.

In the May 16th concert, the Sartell High School Concert Band played six pieces in the Sartell High School auditorium. Those six piece were, “Into The Clouds”, “On The Rising WInds”, “Adagietto”, “A Westward Expedition”, “From Russia With Music”, and “Prospect”. I will be evaluating the band’s dynamics and intonation.

This performance was located at San Jose State University Music Hall. Most of the audience wore informal attires(dressed casually). The other audience were members from the San Jose State Symphony Orchestra, SJYCO Senior Youth Orchestra, and Ad Lib Orchestra who wore formal attires. Throughout the concert, I was somewhat a casual listener and mostly a referential listener. I was somewhat a casual listener because I didn’t know the name of the artist or piece, however, I paid attention to the music. I considered myself a referential listener because, while I was hearing the presto tempo and crescendo dynamic, I pictured Mickey Mouse running away from an evil monster. When the tempo suddenly changed from presto to adagio and the dynamic changed from crescendo to piano, I imagined a turn of events. The monster returning to its lair and the darkness fading. Flowers growing around Mickey Mouse. The sun appearing and smiling in the sky. I pictured these memories because ever since I was a kid, I’ve watched black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons with the orchestra music playing in the background. As a result, I was a referential listener. I wasn’t a perceptive listener because this event was my first musical performance I’ve ever attended and I was so into the music.

I went to Palmetto Middle Schools band concert. It was conducted and directed by Avery Davis. There were around 50 students that performed. It was held luxurious Palmetto Middle School auditorium. They played: Rough Riders by Karl L. King, Afton Variations by Carl Strommen, and Blue Ridge by Brian Balamages. Before I went to the concert I did not expect much, but then I completely was blown away. I enjoyed the whole concert but, I loved Afton Variations the most. I know this song pretty well, and I know that it requires a lot of “woodwind power”, which they had.

a. Chopins Op.28 No4 is one of the many preludes he wrote in his lifetime, which is written in free-form, meaning it did not have any dance rhythm.Chopin's Op.28 is a character piece and features a largo tempo.The piece is written in ABA form and features changes in dynamics which can be heard when Chopin goes from playing pianissimos to forte.Chopins Op.28 is written in the key of E