Dr. Charles Kinzer, associate professor of Music, took the stage of Molnar Recital Hall in Wygal at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to introduce the first concert in the Chamber Music Series.
The concert was held in honor of beloved former Professor of Music Frieda Myers, who spent almost 30 years teaching at Longwood. It also featured two pieces composed by Chuck Holdeman and two by Johann Sebastian Bach. Musicians included: Holdeman on bassoon,
Marshall Taylor on saxophone, Mooney a baritone and James Kidd on piano. The first piece, written by Bach, was entitled “Trio Sonata in G Major, BWV 1039” and began with a flowing and serene melody that seemed to be traded off between the saxophone and bassoon and accompanied by the piano. The piece continued on through three more themes that varied from a dance-like melody to a slower and sadder rhythmic syncopation, then ending with that same dance-like feel and some high notes played by the saxophone.
After a quick set change, a screen appeared for the second piece entitled “At the Bend,” a premiere performance of the piece composed by Holdeman. The piece featured eight poems written by W.S. Merwin and arranged for a vocalist and piano accompaniment by Holdeman.
Illustrations by Peter Koch appeared on the projector screen as vocalist Mooney sang through the eight poems. The pieces featured varying themes, including slow and sad; dark and mysterious; flowing and sweet; and ending with a slow yearning feeling portrayed through the lyrics, vocal tone and the piano accompaniment.
Following a short intermission, the third piece, another premiere performance entitled “Trio Pianoforte e Due Fiate” by Holdeman, was played by Holdeman on bassoon, Taylor on saxophone and Kidd on piano.
Unlike the first two selections, this piece was much more intenseand featured many dissonant and quick runs through each instrument.
There were quite a few abrupt and emphasized notes as well as slower, more eerie tempos and sounds. This piece caught the audience much by surprise as it ended with an abrupt and dramatic bang.
The fourth and final piece was again, nothing like the ones before. Entitled “Mache Dich, mein Herze, rein” by Bach, it began sweetly with a flowing melodious line. Holdeman on the bassoon, Taylor on saxophone and Kidd on piano began the light melody. After a short intro, baritone Mooney took over the main line with a light and happy vocal part that could have been compared to an upbeat church hymn.
The instruments and vocalist then took turns trading off with the melody, and toward the end, they joined together to create exciting dynamic contrasts and uplifting, dramatic swells in the music.
These swells, like many others before, kept the audience at the edge of their seats throughout the program. After every piece, applause erupted in the almost completely full auditorium in Wygal Music Building.
Even though the audience seemed to be predominately students, there were a noticeable amount of community members in the crowd to enjoy the performance, as well.
Freshman Leah Parr described the concert, saying, “It was really interesting, not just to see the composer there playing his pieces alongside other musicians, but also to have the visuals displayed throughout the second piece to convey the message and beauty of the piece even more.”
The second concert in the Chamber Music Series, called “Voice,” will be held in Molnar Recital Hall on Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
