Performance Report: Chamber Music Event Featuring Joan La Barbara and Members of the SFS
On 11th March, the San Francisco Symphony with Joan La Barbara introduced a new music concert called American Mavericks. The program represented a chamber music event and included selections for Solo Piano by Henry Cowell, the songs by Terry Riley for String Quartet, selected works by Harry Partch, and the world’s known Jacob’s Room: Monodrama by Morton Subotnick. I have always been fond of the classical genre, but this particular performance surpassed my utmost expectations because it sophisticatedly blended classical textures with contemporary sounding. I should also mention a few words about the marvelous vocalist of the performance.
She is acknowledged as an outstanding composer and the master of the contemporary music genre. I should also give credit to the conduct of the performance – Jeffrey Milarsky – the leading conductor of contemporary music, as well as to marvelous piano solos performed by Jeremy Denk. Though no place for improvisation was left, the performers and vocalists still managed to surprise the audience and present those with unexpected rhythms and contrasting tempos.
The authors of the musical pieces belonged to the music period of the first half of the past century. This is of particular concern to Henry Cowell, who was the pioneer in experimenting with untraditional musical instruments for creating fascinating-sounding. Using other means of sounding than mere notes and chords was also discovered by this stunning composer. I was especially impressed with the technique that Jeremy Denk used while presenting Cowell musical pieces. Hence, pressing several buttons at a time, Denk managed to produce unusual and striking sounding, which I had never heard before and that was genius.
The play of contrast during the performance was shocking, especially when I heard the pieces made by a famous composer Harry Partch. Using the custom-made instruments, the SF Symphony skillfully rendered the spirit and the main idea of the musical pieces. I was mesmerized by Sextet from Castor and Pollux and Barstow. Unexpected rhythms and contrasting tones accompanied by the gorgeous voice of Joan La Barbara provided me with invaluable experiences and expanded my vision of music and its role in the lives of people. Tom Riley’s musical pieces were similar to Partch’s style in terms of a minimalistic approach to music, but with significant differences in sounding.
This contemporary composer has also introduced a fresh insight into sounding of the modern music. While listening to the G Song, I enjoyed the harmony of notes, as well as the great performance of the SF Symphony ensemble. The final accord of the concert was Subotnick’s masterpieces called Jacob’s Room. This is a brilliant ending of the musical event because the audience presented the concert with a storm of applause. The piece was accompanied by the marvelous signing of the vocalist and had a great impression on the listeners. Besides, the overall performance of Subotnick’s composition looked like a material representation of the song.
Regarding the list of composers whose music was performed, I should confess that this cohort of musicians reflected the period of minimalism and contemporary music in the second half of the past century. Therefore, music interested people of different age categories.
The music event took place at the Davies Symphony Hall, a spacious and gorgeous premise that could capture many viewers. It was remarkable to watch the performance from any point of the hall and, therefore, space was another feature complementing the event. Besides, the setting completely fits the overall spirit of the chamber music concert where space was fully used by the musicians to render the splendor and the overall idea of the contemporary style of classical music.
While watching the performance, I noticed the way the scene was used during the performance of Subotnick’s Jacob’s Room. The floating flat stage was balancing with people signing on it. I was mesmerized by the entire acting, as well as the rest of the audience in the hall. This was, probably, the most memorable moment of the whole concert. I was paid attention to the way the audience reacted to specific moments of Partch’s piece performance. There was total science so that it was possible to hear the drop of a pin. In contrast, the musicians behave in a completely different way, which makes the audience more attached to the action on the scene.
Unfortunately, I did not have an opportunity to talk to the performer after the event, but that was not necessary because I got the idea of the actions taking place on the scene. The music was so versatile that it was not important whether the sounding was contrasting or smooth. The only that mattered was the way the conductor, along with the other participants, rendered their spirit through tones and tempos.
Overall, I enjoyed the music even and I would gladly visit other chamber music performances to refresh my knowledge on chamber music. Besides, I am eager to attend other performances of the SF Symphony.