Sound ExChange at ArtisanWorks

A few weeks ago, Christina and I played an interesting concert at ArtisanWorks, a local Rochester art gallery, with an organization called Sound ExChange. 

Sound ExChange is a student-run organization that is dedicated to “exploring alternative ways of presenting music to reinvigorate the concert experience and engage audiences.” I played at one of their concerts last year, a program that was held in an art studio at the University of Rochester.  That was very cool, because they seated the audience inside the orchestra, rather than facing the musicians.  I had a little girl who looked like she was six or seven sit next to me and stare at the harp with bug eyes the whole time.  It was really fun to see that and other peoples’ reactions to being so close to us.  

Anyway, this concert was at ArtisanWorks, the coolest art gallery I’ve ever seen.  It seemed like every square inch of space was covered in art - paintings, antiques, and miscellaneous interesting objects.  The first half of Sound ExChange’s event was actually a series of musical performances going on simultaneously in different rooms - Christina and I played our duo program, and a few student dancers created choreography to go with some of the pieces.  I love dance (watching it, not doing it myself) so I was really excited to be involved in this.  It’s something I would want to do more of in the future. 

Thanks to Kristina Finch for taking pictures!

The second half of the event was a concert consisting of new chamber music (with lots of percussion and saxophones), culminating in the performance of a new work in which everyone - musicians and audience - had a part.  I sat in the audience for this piece, and it was probably one of the best concert experiences that I’ve ever had, because it really felt like we had an important part in the music.  All the sounds that we had to make - saying someone’s name, playing a music box or a noisemaker, etc. - seemed necessary, and not just filler to give us something to do.  And the piece, I thought, was pretty awesome.  

In other news, I’m not 100% sure where I will be in September, but this summer I will be playing in the pit orchestra for the Ohio Light Opera!  And getting PAID for it!  One pinky toe in the door!!!

I love Mahler

I love Gustav Mahler.  Playing all of his symphonies (including Das Lied von der Erde) is on my bucket list, and so far I have played Nos. 1 and 3.  If I see Mahler programmed on a symphony concert somewhere near me, I will probably be there. 

So you can imagine how excited I was when I saw Mahler’s fourth symphony programmed for the Eastman Philharmonia’s first concert of the semester.  Mahler 4 is one of his smaller symphonies, calling for a moderately sized orchestra and only one vocal soloist, as opposed to his usual gargantuan orchestra and a chorus or two.  It’s also one of his shortest, a mere 54 minutes in length.  Despite its “smaller” size, it’s still pure Mahler, with an amazing depth of emotion and beauty - one of the main reasons I love his music (I think Mahler is the only composer that has ever actually made me cry - Mahler 9, Boston Symphony). 

The Eastman Philharmonia played a wonderful Mahler 4.  The drama before the concert was that the vocal soloist the school had hired cancelled a few days before the performance, I think because of illness.  Luckily they had an understudy, a vocal major at the school who is in her junior year.  Despite having to be miked, she delivered a beautiful performance and saved the day! 

My duo partner, Christina Brier, was on the harp part and she ROCKED!  Her playing was extremely clear and perfectly audible.  I always find Mahler harp parts to be deceptively tricky.  They usually look quite simple, almost sight readable, on the page.  And then you get into rehearsal and realize that you REALLY have to know that part in order to play it well.  I really like Mahler’s harp writing and I find it to be very effective.  Although you often have to count long blocks of empty measures, I prefer that to playing parts that are very difficult but covered by the rest of the orchestra *cough* RICHARD STRAUSS *cough cough*. 

So, kudos to the Eastman Philharmonia for a great Mahler 4.  Love those sleigh bells. 

I will be playing in a concert this Friday, a celebration of the Eastman Wind Ensemble’s 60th anniversary.  This performance will include a piece that was played for one of the Wind Ensemble’s very first concerts (Stravinsky, “Symphony for Wind Instruments”), as well as two world premieres!  Sophie Rusnock and I will be on the harp parts for one of the premieres, as well as a possible top secret surprise encore (if y'all clap long enough)!!!!!!!!!