February 20, 1997William StrangMusic 6Concert Paper #3 On Feb
20,1997, I attended a piano concert that was performed by Barbara
Wieman. The performance was held at the American River College Music
Department choir room. The choir room holds about 100 people and
every seat was taken and students were seated on the floor. The
audience was dressed casual as everyone was students trying to do their
concert papers. Barbara Weiman was also dressed casual but nice. The
piano concert started at 12:20pm and was finished at 1:05pm.
The program started with a piece from L.V.
Beethoven called Sonata in F minor, Op.57. This piece can be
characterized by an intense, dramatic use of fluctuating dynamics. It was
as if the crescendo was not allowed to climax, then is aborted by a
sudden change to pianissimo. The so called Beethoven motif was used
throughout the piece, very effectively I might add. Barbara Wieman was
very animated performing this piece and seemed to be very emotional
while playing. This piece was very distinct and there was an effective use
of rests that was displayed. I would call this piece very serious.
After Beethoven we were treated to F. Schuberts Impromptu in G
flat Major, Op. 90, No.3. This piece was very pleasing to the ear so we
could call this consonant. The music seemed to flow and had a great
rhythm. This piece was romantic in nature and probably that is why it was
written in the romantic era. C. Debussy
's Feux d'artifice (fireworks) was the next piece played. The harmony was
very obscured in this piece of music. The theme trying to be presented in
this piece was as if fireworks were going off. The notes were ever
changing and there was a very good uses of all the keys of the piano.
This piece was not very pleasing at all and I did not care for it at all. From
looking around the room it seemed other people would agree. After that
unpleasant piece was played we were lead into La Cathedrale engloutie
(The Sunken Cathedral). It was very slow starting but eventually started
building the tempo and then seemed to drop off and become very slow in
tempo. This piece seemed as if it were trying to tell a story. Alot of people
seemed as if the were going to sleep. The
last piece was changed from S. Prokofieff to Chopin's Ocean Atrium
piece. This piece had rhapsodic melodies giving the illusion that the piece
might have been improvised. It was very moving and flowing using
melody and harmony. Very pleasing and also from the romantic era.
What a great way to end the piano concert. Everyone enjoyed the music
so much that she provided us with an encore. She played another piece
by Chopin. I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to learn more
about music to take your class. This has been a great experience for
me.February 17, 1997William StrangMusic 6Concert Paper #2 On
Feb 15,1997, I attended a concert put on by the Sacramento Chamber
Orchestra. The performance was held at the Dietrich Threatre, Sierra
College in Rocklin. Dietrich Threatre seats about 500 people, and on that
evening there was about 300 people present. The concert dress was
casual for the audience but the Sacramento Chamber Orchestra
performers were dressed in tuxedo's for the men and black outfits for the
women. The performers consisted of 8 women and 10 men. The
orchestra was conducted by Zvonimir Hacko. Programs were provided
and the concert followed the printed program very well. The starting time
was 8:00pm and finished at 10:00pm. The style of music played varied
because of all the different musical era's represented. Mozart from the
classical era, Dvorak from the romantic era, Bartok from the early 20th
century, and Copland from our present. The Sacramento Chamber
Orchestra consisted of Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass,
Piano, and Harp. When combined, the performance was outstanding and
uplifting. The concert opened with Mozart's marvelous miniature,
"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" which stands for ("A Little Serenade"). Mozart's
Serenade, which is like a tiny symphony, was conducted and played with
exemplary care. The tempo of the music was upbeat, it's dynamics were
managed thoughtfully, and the musical form presented consisted of
alterations that were superb. The "romance" of the second movement
was hushed and tender, the finale was as light as air. After the finale of
Mozart's we were treated to the Dvorak Serenade in E opus 22. The
Dvorak was in five movements lasting a little over half an hour. The
waltzes of the second were a bit of folk flavor, and were quite beautiful.
The third movement, Scherzo, was dance like and soulfully romantic. The
fourth movement,Larghetto, was even more soulful in mood, which
deepened as its melody passed from the violas to the cellos. The finale
brought us back with a touching recollection of the very beginning of the
work. The Bartok Divertimento was in three movements. It can be
best described as continuous, fascinating, exciting and full of action. The
melodies were strong, as were the rhythmic pulses and dissonance's. So
much was happening that all you could do was go for the ride and enjoy
it. The last major piece was by Copland, called Concerto for Clarinet and
String Orchestra with Harp and Piano.
The Copland piece was in two movements bridged
by an unusually long cadenza(Soloist), that lasted over three minutes.
The soloist seemed to dwell on the lyric sweetness of the first movement
and then signaled the merriment of the second movement. The first part
struck me as very slow but the second part was very rhythmic,very perky,
and was passed around appreciatively by all, while the piano and clarinet
were trading ideas with each other. All in all, this piece signaled
excitement and was made very enjoyable with the clarinet and piano. As
this was my first Chamber Concert I was not sure what to expect. I
thoroughly enjoyed myself and I'm looking forward to my next concert.
. February 20, 1997William StrangMusic 6Concert Paper #3 On Feb
20,1997, I attended a piano concert that was performed by Barbara
Wieman. The. everyone was students trying to do their
concert papers. Barbara Weiman was also dressed casual but nice. The
piano concert started at 12:20pm and was finished