Go Blue Composers! (Part 2 of 2)

Part Two: The Master's Thesis Concert.

A BIG (albeit late) shout-out to my new friends Joey, Garrett, Chaz and Micheal for a job extremely well done on their thesis compositions. They were performed on Monday, 2/6 (I know, I'm so behind!) by the University Symphony Orchestra and conducted by graduate student conductors.

The concert featured seven total works, all master's degree theses except for one undergrad entry due to extra room in the concert. The music was all pretty great, but what really interests me is the inspiration. I am way more fascinated by the reasons to create rather than the skill to create.

Here's a briefing of my favorites from the concert:

The first piece, "TOTI" by Andy Ly, was inspired by the films of Quentin Tarantino, specifically his characters. (I'm a huge fan BTW.) The piece reflected the "organized chaos" typical of a Tarantino film, reiterating musical "characters" throughout. I enjoyed that idea played out in an orchestral setting. I feel like I'd catch on to way more connecting subtleties if I could hear it a few times.

"Aftermath," by Joey Prestamo, was inspired by Revelation 21:1-4, which speaks of a new heaven and earth after the end of this one. Joey liked the idea of hope and perfection rising out of chaos. In the piece he "attempted to explore beauty within disorder and peace within turmoil."

Garrett Schumann's piece, "Kharybdis," was titled after it was written. Garrett has originally intended to write something calm, quiet, "mature" as he put it. Instead, the piece took a turn for the tumultuous. He described being caught up in this piece like the mythical maelstrom. (It's from The Odyssey btw, for those of you, like me, who couldn't quite put your finger on where you heard that name before. Ah! 10th grade English!)

The one undergraduate work was by Pierre Derycz. It was named for a verse by Victor Hugo which translates to "Tomorrow, at the very break of dawn, at the hour when the countryside whitens." It was written for string orchestra only, at which I scoffed at first, but ended up really enjoying. I really amazed me what range of textures came be made with that seemingly limited instrumentation.

(I pause here a moment to acknowledge the fact that there is probably a lot of really great music for string orchestra, and that some people would find me very ignorant for not having heard any before this. I'd like to mention that every concert I attend is a learning experience for me. How great is it that I am now turned on to string orchestra music because of a piece I heard by a 21-year-old student rather than by some dead guy?)

Finally, Micheal Schachter's "Freylekhe Tanzen" was inspired by traditional European Jewish music. The Yiddish title translates to "joyous dances" and the piece really captured that energy and represented a folk culture without feeling like a recycled traditional. The composer even supplied his own shofar that was blown from the audience at the beginning of the piece.

Overall, the concert was a huge success. Corey will be on the concert next year, and the only part he is nervous about is presenting his piece during the pre-concert talk :)