One of the amazing things at Andrews University is the diversity and quantity of events that can happen in just one weekend, particularly this past one! Sometimes, it is too hard to choose between events, as most (if not all) offer a good quality of entertainment and additional benefits. This weekend was not the exception, but one thing is true: any occurring events were a not-miss. Indeed, the AU Symphony Orchestra (AUSO) concert at the Howard Performing Arts Center was an excellent example.
The concert started at 8 pm in a mostly full hall. The orchestra was ready to tune, and after the announcements were made, it was time to hear the music. The musical selection for this time included American composers such as Robert Muczynski, Samuel Barber, Václav Nelhybel, Gala Flagello, and George Gershwin. Dr. Marc Elysee, the director of the AUSO, described the program as “a nice palette of American colors, [...] and they represented a facet of America.” Starting with “Dovetail” by Muczynski, it was a demonstration of rhythms and particular patterns that are not typical of European classical and romantic music.
The next piece on the program, the “Adagio for Strings" by Barber, covers a lot of tragedy, sadness, and suffering in the melodies, constantly trying to resolve but at a slow pace. Each note could be tasted and felt in such a way it can touch even the hardest of hearts. On the other hand, “Music for Orchestra” by Nelhybel was a fantastic example of how great pieces can be composed of very simple ideas, making a masterpiece of art with different colors and scenes. With that impression, the first part ended.
For the second part, it was a surprise to hear a composition from a living American composer, who was also present at the concert. Gala Flagello was able to come to the front and present her piece “Vitality,” which was inspired by the following quote by choreographer Martha Graham in her biography written by Agnes de Mille: “There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”
The piece felt like a timelapse of a life, or from another perspective, like a journey through the universe. The audience was amazed, and it was clear to distinguish how the word “Vitality" was expressed through the music.
For the last performance, piano student Ben Loenser (sophomore, Music) came to the stage to play with the orchestra Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.'' For those who may have never heard of it or don’t recognize it by name, it is the music featured in one of the short animated films in Disney’s “Fantasia,” where some characters are looking for their true calling in the middle of the streets of New York City. Although the original piece is longer compared to the short film’s take, Loenser’s synchronization with the orchestra, not just in terms of tempo but also of character and ideas, made the ideal combination to express each of the melodic lines and scenes that this amazing piece offers to the listener. The audience clapped and stood in ovation to the soloist and the orchestra. With this high energy, the concert came to an end.
While each of the attendees to the concert had different favorite pieces, everyone agreed that the concert was a breathtaking experience to listen to, even if some of the pieces were not well-known. The orchestra did an amazing job in such a short time (let’s remember their last performance before this one was on Alumni Weekend), exemplifying the passion and dedication a musician has to have to make art, in this case, music.
If you would like to experience something like this, you are more than welcome to attend the several upcoming performances throughout the year, from the AUSO and the other ensembles from the music department, as well as the solo recitals coming up from the junior and senior music students. So don’t miss the next AUSO presentation at HPAC on Saturday, November 18, at 8 pm!
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.