Concert Attendance Observation and Critique

REFLECTIVE
On Thursday June 3, 2010 @ 8:00pm, I attended a concert performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The show was held at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. The program consisted of Robert Spano (music director), Donald Runnicles (guest conductor), Norman McKenzie (director of choruses),featuring Tim Munro, Michael J.Maccaferri, Matt Albert, Nicholas Photinos, Matthew Duvall, and Lisa Kaplan as the eighth blackbird.

There was approximately one hundred and fifty plus chorus members and one hundred orchestra members and six featured members performed with the Grammy -winning eighth blackbird. the selections performed were Michael Gandolfi, Jennifer Higdon and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Gandolfi (an American composer) QED:Engaging Richard Feynman is a celebration, in words and music, of the boundless curiosity and infectious enthusiasms of the sui generis theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate, bongo player, raconteur, and practical joker, Dick Feynman (1918-1988). The text sources were I.On Walking and II.Song of the Universal. Higdon (one of the most premier performers of her generation)On A Wire is a co-commission by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.It is eighth blackbird's high-wire-act-of-a concerto. Written as a one movement work, it highlights the as an ensemble, allows each member to solo, and utilizes some of their unique staging: the players move about and perform beyond their traditional instrument (the work begins with bowed piano. Mozart symphony is approximately twenty-nine minutes. Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major,K.543(1788) was apart of the Mystery of the Final Three Symphonies (39-41). The parts performed were I. Adagio;Allegro, II.Andante con moto III.Menuetto: Allegretto IV.Finale; Allegro;

All selections were performed well and standing ovations and encores.The acoustics were remarkable. I was sitting close to the front, so the sound was very live. They were in an orchestral setup and the logistics overall was superb.

ANALYTIC
Each of the works exposed various contrasting styles,forms, melodies, harmonies, genres and texture. Mozart was the most appreciated in terms of analyzing. The four parts were expressive stunning from beginning to end throughout each movement.

As a comparison to my group this would be more like a dream come true. It would be a great experience if I could take the to hear the the ASO. It would also be great for them to observe the proper concert etiquette that these type of performances acquire. From warming-up and tuning to simply applauding appropriately. This performance surely motivated me to want one of my students to some day reach this stage.

Through observation of this performance I witnessed all six senses of Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind.The design was there with the setup of the orchestra and the chorus. The story was there with the different movements of each of the works. Symphony was there the way everything from the instruments and voices musically/harmonically producing harmonic sounds. Empathy was there from the different moods/tempos of each work. Play was there from reading the program notes and imagining the composers perceptions of the music through the transitions. Meaning was connected through the works at the concert from the detailed analysis provided and narratives of each selection.

REFLECTIVE
By listening to various works it can make us understand and appreciate music from a different perspective. It sometimes give us another way to interpret selections. Listening can also make us better teachers because we can deliver various interpretations during instructions. Now that I have heard the ASO perform again it has altered my thinking about one aspect of my teaching. Which is to seek more genres of music seeking literature for my programs repertoire. Story is one of the most influential themes I could use to connect my experience from the concert through instruction.

My band twenty questions are:
1. How can we sound like that?
2. How long do I need to practice daily to produce such a tone quality?
3. How can I get in the ASO?
4. How important is it to warm-up?
5. How much do you get paid for playing?
6. How long does it usually take to perfect a particular song?
7. Is this a year round performing ensemble?
8. Do you travel outside of the country to perform?
9. Is it required to have a certain amount of experience to make the band?
10.Why are there more string instruments than wind instruments?
11.Do the chorus perform at all of your performances?
12.How much do the conductor get paid?
13.How do you become a conductor for the ASO?
14.Do you have to play on certain kind of instrument?
15.Will you come and speak to my school program?
16.Will you perform at my school?
17.How many performances do have within a year?
18.Are you required to have a college degree/
19.Do you have an opportunity to work and continue to play with the ASO?
20.Name the various genres of music in the repertoire?