Giovanni Sollima: "Ba-Rock Cello"
Charles, Susan, and I went tonight to hear Ba-Rock Cello, performed by Giovanni Sollima.
Here is the press release for his concert:
Italian Cellist and composer Giovanni Sollima, famously described as “a snarling, grieving Jimi Hendrix of the cello,” will perform a free concert, “Ba-Rock Cello.” Sollima has been captivated by every kind of music and has sought to create new blends among the most diverse genres by combining elements of classical, rock and jazz music, as well as of ethnic music - characteristic of Sicily and of others Mediterranean lands such as North Africa, Israel, the Middle East, the Balkan States, Turkey, Andalusia. Since 1992 his works have been included in important seasons in all the continents, and performed by soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma and many more.
The special concert is in honor of the Ri.MED Foundation and sponsored by Ri.MED, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
I was moved, as Susan said the Internet information described his work as "atonal." I found it lyrical, melodic atonal. He started the program with a gypsy-like piece, played solo through the first part of the program, and then was joined by his housemate and fellow cellist. The second part of the program highlighted both of them, and there was a piece in which he perambulated the aisles, pausing for a while at our third row, where we felt serenaded by his non-stop playing. Making a circuit, he returned to the stage. They played some Baroque pieces, a fast piece about Leonardo da Vinci followed by a slow-er piece about Virginia Woolf.
Their last encore featured them both playing her cello.
After the program we saw works by Liz in the hallway. Charles was impressed.
We were the first to greet the guest musicians as they entered the hallway. "Wonderful!" I exclaimed.
Labels: art, Bach, Choir, music, photos, student, talent
Meeting Your Daughter's First Boyfriend
This little guide sponsored by Grape Nuts is all about how to meet your daughter's first boyfriend. Quite entertaining!
Labels: adventure, Bach, family, meeting, parent
Joan Lippincott at the von Beckerath
Joan Lippincott performed a program of Mathias, J.S. Bach, Mozart, Copeland, Messiaen, and Widor this evening at St. Paul Cathedral. She masterfully showed off the instrument through flawless, seamless runs and selection of pieces that highlighted various stops/voices of the organ.
Karina and I spoke with Fred, Judi, Jessica, and Nancy at intermission. After the concert, Nancy, Karina, and I met Ms. Lippincott. We were thrilled by her music and Nancy purchased the latest J.S. Bach CD for her to sign. I expressed to her that I had heard her practicing yesterday mid-afternoon and about half a dozen to ten people had entered the church to pray when they were struck---held rapt---by her organ playing. We showed her our appreciation for her playing.
We circled around back to the narthex exit to talk to Doug, Judi, and Don. I made the joke William had made to me, "I'm able, so no cane!" and jockeyed around behind Don's back (because I could).
We walked Nancy to her car, and Karina and I were happy to get a ride home, too.
We had a chance to talk to Ken about their experiences sending Emily off to school.
Labels: Bach, Choir, Church, friends, games Superbowl, Mozart, music, organ, St. Paul Cathedral, talent
Lost My Voice; Ken Danchik at Heinz Chapel
This week I lost my voice--one of my students, H, noticed my voice sounded different at the beginning of Thursday afternoon, and by the end of class I was losing my voice. I did not sing in choir today. Some people attributed my getting ill/feeling under the weather to my getting my flu shot this Tuesday, but Mom indicated that if people are getting sick so soon after the inoculation, they had probably been incubating/harboring that illness before.
It was a treat to hear the choir sing from the congregation side. They sang Locus Iste for the 102nd year of the dedication of this Cathedral building. I mouthed the words for all the prayers and songs.
Nancy, Ornella and her friend, and Christof, from choir; and Jeff, the Eucharistic Minister; and I dined outside amidst the slightly gusty and brightly sunny tables outside Kiva Han for lunch. Everyone but Nancy and I departed for work, and Nancy and I headed to Ken Danchik's organ concert at Heinz Chapel. He, of course, played Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, along with other, secular pieces in his recital, including some pieces by Langlais. We sat with Mary Pat and Betty. We saw Lisa, Emily, Liz, and John; Andrew, Don, and Dan, as well as Ken's former organ instructor.
The program consisted of:
Prelude and Trumpetings (Myron Roberts)
American Suite--Boys Town, Place of Peace; Scherzo-Cats; Big Texas (Jean Langlais)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (J.S. Bach)
The Suspended Garden (Jean Alain)
Litanies (Jean Alain)
God of the Expanding Universe (Richard Feliciano)
Purcell Portraits (Joseph Wilcox Jenkins)
Omnes Sancti (Joseph Wilcox Jenkins)
Labels: Bach, Choir, dining, friends, music, organ, Pittsburgh, St. Paul Cathedral, voice
Renaissance and Baroque Society--Il Fondamento
Last night, Roseanne and I attended the Pittsburgh Renaissance and Baroque Society's presentation of the Brussels, Belgium group Il Fondamento, who play early Bach pieces. We attended as guests of Joe and Tina W., and the group consisted of up to sixteen wind and string musicians. They played J.S. Bach's
Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C Major, BWV 1066
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067
~intermission~
Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068
Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D Major, BWV 1069
I was pleased to hear movements from the second and third pieces that sounded familiar, as they were pieces to which I studied in college. Roseanne and I spoke about good restaurants to dine in Pittsburgh, and we met a couple who had hiked into Kings Canyon!
We "held the group captive" for two encores.
~~~
Early music groups remind me of the Musica Antiqua Koln. I befriended a member of that group while traveling through Europe right before the Berlin Wall came down.
Labels: Bach, international culture, music, Pittsburgh, travel
