A college ensemble puts the world on notice by performing complex pieces of music at a high level, comparable to professional ensembles.
Times are tough, people are stuck at home without much to do, desperately searching for ways to stay entertained and motivated. But thanks to the heroics of the Ithaca College music program and the wonders of modern technology, not all hope is lost yet. On March 3rd, 2020 at 8:15pm, the Ithaca College wind ensemble, led by the celebrated conductor, Christopher Hughes, put on a marvelous show. The concert took place prior to the premature closure of universities across the US, due to the pandemic, and so lucky concertgoers got the privilege of experiencing what would end up being the last in-person concert for the foreseeable future. Though we may not be getting the same in-person experience, we are fortunate enough to have access to a video recording of the event (available on the Ithaca College School of Music 2019-2020 Archive webpage). Unfortunately, due to copyright issues, the wind ensemble was not able to release the entire performance, but thankfully we still get to view a majority of the concert.
Opening with ‘…and the mountains rising nowhere’ by Joseph Schwantner, the recorded concert begins with a bang, quite literally. The percussion section plays the drums with an incredible amount of force, producing a sound that is sent echoing throughout the building, immediately capturing the attention of the entire audience and leaving them to wonder what could possibly proceed such an intense entrance. What can only be described as an ominous and musically ambiguous section proceeds the drums, leaving everyone quite confused as a typical spectator would have assumed that an intense entrance would be followed by an equally intense musical motif. This ominous music continues as it begins to feel like a battle between the conductor and ensemble, wherein the conductor is constantly trying to regain control of his seemingly lost ensemble. There are moments of success within certain instrumental sections, however, he never seems to gain complete control. The wind ensemble appears to be blowing into seemingly hollow aerophones failing to produce any sort of musical sound and only emitting a sound that can only be described as the howling winds you hear on a cold dreary night, which adds to the eerie nature of the piece. To give the average reader an idea of what kind of music to except, when listening to this section upon closing your eyes you may just see yourself trapped within an abandoned house while slowly watching its interiors being contorted into different shapes and sizes by an invisible force. As we progress, the conductor acquires more and more control of the ensemble until it is clear he has regained complete command and the ensemble are playing as they are supposed to. By the end, the average listener may be questioning what array of cacophony and musical dissonance they just witnessed however the more experienced listener would be awed by as they know the technicalities and skill required to perform this unique piece.
Upon completion of the last piece a majority of the ensemble leaves and we are left with eight members, marking the beginning of an intimate experience of ‘Serenade No. 12 in C minor K388 (I. Allegro II. Andante IV. Allegro)’ by Wolfgang A. Mozart. As soon as the performance beings we are overcome by beautiful melodies and countermelodies. But perhaps the most impressive facet of the performance was the incredible technical ability of each member of the sub-section. Each individual clearly demonstrating expertise in their instrument with their quick transitions between notes and ability to clearly sound each individual note without ever faltering. Though the Allegro movements were excellent in that they showcased the musician’s incredible technical abilities, the Andante movement showcased a different side of the musician’s talents: their ability to generate emotions by paying attention to cutoffs and dynamics. I must also compliment their unbelievable stamina, the ability to play the wind instruments at such a high level for such an extended duration of time is truly an incredible feat. Imagine the amount of breath required to be playing for up to 22 minutes with a few second intervals between each movement, a feat that I am sure takes years of dedicated practice. Mozart would be proud of this performance.
As the applause of in-person attendees echoed through the hall we are reunited with the rest of the ensemble and prepared for the next piece, ‘Molly on the Shore’ by Percy Grainger. Immediately we are greeted by the technical expertise of the wind section that we have grown so accustomed to through the clear articulation and rapid fluctuations of notes but this time it is performed by the entire ensemble thus creating a much more powerful and overwhelming sound. Accompanied by the percussive section that never seems to miss a beat, this performance is truly one to remember. Throughout the performance I found myself forgetting that this was being performed by a cohort of college students, accompanied by a few professionals, and realizing the enormous amount of time they must have dedicated to their craft to reach the point where they are today. After a bit of reorganizing we are catapulted into the final performance of the night, ‘Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral’ by the famous Richard Wagner and transcribed by Lucien Cailliet. It opens with a heavenly chorus performed by members of the sub-section we saw perform earlier. They are then joined by the rest of the ensemble creating a heavenly and full sound for the audience to relish. Unlike the last piece, this one is much slower and thoughtful which allows the ensemble to showcase their other incredible abilities such as expression and dynamics. Cultivating a feeling of triumph and success through the grand and glorious nature of this piece, the performance acts as a perfect way to mark the end of a magical night that leaves the audience satisfied and feeling complete. As the stand ovations and overpowering applause fill the auditorium, I am left wondering what can’t the Ithaca College Music Program do.
Watch the live performance here