On November 19, at 8:00 pm, Andrews University students and friends occupied the Howard Performing Arts Center for “The Journey” Concert presented by the diligent Andrews University Symphony Orchestra. Throughout this imaginative concert, a slideshow depicted various images that correlated with each piece.
The concert commenced with “Overture to Esther,” composed by the talented George Frideric Handel. This performance exhibited Baroque-style violin bowing, harp sections that mimicked the euphonious harpsichord, and oboe refrains that soared above the other phrases. Through the music, audience members viewed elaborately painted depictions of numerous characters in the biblical narrative of Esther.
Sofia Oudri (freshman, pre-physical therapy), a violist, remarked that while the concert had a lot of fun repertoire, the difficult part “...was figuring out a few difficult passages early on in the concert cycle. I always want to have fun and include more emotion because performances are usually more authentic when you enjoy what you are playing, and that was the case for this concert.”
The following pieces in this compelling concert cycle were exhilarating symphonic suites from the “Fellowship of the Ring” and the Two Towers movie adaptations “Lord of the Rings Trilogy.” The accompanying slideshow revealed various images from the franchise corresponding to different musical themes. Audience members were elated with the musical performance from the beloved franchise as it is renowned and cherished to this day.
Seung Yun Park (senior, speech-language pathology), an intrigued audience member at the concert that night, expressed her satisfaction with the performances. “The music they played at the concert was warm and gentle, so the atmosphere in the entire auditorium softened. I want to tell people to come to future orchestra concerts if they desire to feel the warmth in this cold winter.”
The final musical selection of the night was Duke Ellington, which was a striking and distinctive suite from “The River.” This outstanding performance featured a multitude of jazz influences and several movements that kept the audience at the edge of their seats. Concerning the slideshow, the audience was treated to stunning images of scenic bodies of water from the Greater Michigan area, which reminded them of the picturesque sights of the area.
Jamison Moore (senior, cello performance), declared that his favorite piece during this concert cycle was, “... Duke Ellington. It was nice to hear the orchestra playing music that falls more closely under the umbrella of the jazz genre. My experience as a cellist in the orchestra has caused me to grow as a musician and made me appreciate and further cultivate my skill of sight-reading.”
If you are available and in the area, please come and support the Andrews University ensembles at their upcoming concerts. There will be a University Singers, Canta Bella, and Pioneer Men’s Chorus concert entitled “Welcome Christmas” on December 3, promising to be a magnificent treat. Also, there will be a Wind Symphony concert entitled “Joy to the Season,” which will be the enriching final ensemble concert of the 2021 season.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.