February 20, 1997

William Strang
Music 6
Concert Paper #3

On Feb 20,1997, I attended a piano concert that was performed by Barbara

Wieman. The performance was held at the American River College Music Department
choir room. The choir room holds about 100 people and every seat was taken and
students were seated on the floor. The audience was dressed casual as everyone was
students trying to do their concert papers. Barbara Weiman was also dressed casual
but nice. The piano concert started at 12:20pm and was finished at 1:05pm.
The program started with a piece from L.V. Beethoven called Sonata in F
minor, Op.57. This piece can be characterized by an intense, dramatic use of
fluctuating dynamics. It was as if the crescendo was not allowed to climax, then is
aborted by a sudden change to pianissimo. The so called Beethoven motif was used
throughout the piece, very effectively I might add. Barbara Wieman was very
animated performing this piece and seemed to be very emotional while playing. This
piece was very distinct and there was an effective use of rests that was displayed.
I would call this piece very serious. After Beethoven we were treated to
F. Schuberts Impromptu in G flat Major, Op. 90, No.3. This piece was very pleasing
to the ear so we could call this consonant. The music seemed to flow and had a
great rhythm. This piece was romantic in nature and probably that is why it was
written in the romantic era. C. Debussy 's Feux
d'artifice (fireworks) was the next piece played. The harmony was very obscured in
this piece of music. The theme trying to be presented in this piece was as if
fireworks were going off. The notes were ever changing and there was a very good
uses of all the keys of the piano. This piece was not very pleasing at all and I
did not care for it at all. From looking around the room it seemed other people
would agree. After that unpleasant piece was played we were lead into La Cathedrale
engloutie (The Sunken Cathedral). It was very slow starting but eventually started
building the tempo and then seemed to drop off and become very slow in tempo. This
piece seemed as if it were trying to tell a story. Alot of people seemed as if the
were going to sleep. The last piece was changed from S.
Prokofieff to Chopin's Ocean Atrium piece. This piece had rhapsodic melodies giving
the illusion that the piece might have been improvised. It was very moving and
flowing using melody and harmony. Very pleasing and also from the romantic era.
What a great way to end the piano concert. Everyone enjoyed the music so much that
she provided us with an encore. She played another piece by Chopin. I would
definitely recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about music to take your
class. This has been a great experience for me.
February 17, 1997
William Strang
Music 6
Concert Paper #2

On Feb 15,1997, I attended a concert put on by the Sacramento Chamber

Orchestra. The performance was held at the Dietrich Threatre, Sierra College in
Rocklin. Dietrich Threatre seats about 500 people, and on that evening there was
about 300 people present. The concert dress was casual for the audience but the
Sacramento Chamber Orchestra performers were dressed in tuxedo's for the men and
black outfits for the women. The performers consisted of 8 women and 10 men. The
orchestra was conducted by Zvonimir Hacko. Programs were provided and the concert
followed the printed program very well. The starting time was 8:00pm and finished
at 10:00pm.
The style of music played varied because of all the different musical era's
represented. Mozart from the classical era, Dvorak from the romantic era, Bartok
from the early 20th century, and Copland from our present. The Sacramento Chamber
Orchestra consisted of Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass, Piano,
and Harp. When combined, the performance was outstanding and uplifting.
The concert opened with Mozart's marvelous miniature, "Eine Kleine
Nachtmusik" which stands for ("A Little Serenade"). Mozart's Serenade, which is
like a tiny symphony, was conducted and played with exemplary care. The tempo of
the music was upbeat, it's dynamics were managed thoughtfully, and the musical form
presented consisted of alterations that were superb. The "romance" of the second
movement was hushed and tender, the finale was as light as air.
After the finale of Mozart's we were treated to the Dvorak Serenade in E opus
22. The Dvorak was in five movements lasting a little over half an hour. The
waltzes of the second were a bit of folk flavor, and were quite beautiful. The
third movement, Scherzo, was dance like and soulfully romantic. The fourth
movement,Larghetto, was even more soulful in mood, which deepened as its melody
passed from the violas to the cellos. The finale brought us back with a touching
recollection of the very beginning of the work. The Bartok Divertimento was
in three movements. It can be best described as continuous, fascinating, exciting
and full of action. The melodies were strong, as were the rhythmic pulses and
dissonance's. So much was happening that all you could do was go for the ride and
enjoy it. The last major piece was by Copland, called Concerto for Clarinet and
String Orchestra with Harp and Piano.
The Copland piece was in two movements bridged by an unusually long
cadenza(Soloist), that lasted over three minutes. The soloist seemed to dwell on
the lyric sweetness of the first movement and then signaled the merriment of the
second movement. The first part struck me as very slow but the second part was very
rhythmic,very perky, and was passed around appreciatively by all, while the piano
and clarinet were trading ideas with each other. All in all, this piece signaled
excitement and was made very enjoyable with the clarinet and piano. As this was my
first Chamber Concert I was not sure what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed myself
and I'm looking forward to my next concert.