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AMBER MATTICE
Staff Writer
Rosch Recital Hall was alive with music on the evening of Nov. 3. This particular concert, however, was not a typical performance; it was Ethos New Music Society’s second student composers concert of the year.
The concert as a whole was an eclectic mix of instruments and sounds. Each piece brought something new and unique to the program. One of the most striking things was the wide array of instruments used throughout, as no piece had the same orchestration as the previous. Certain songs featured a singular instrument, while others featured multiple.
This variation added even more intrigue to the concert; everyone in the audience waited in anticipation for what the next song would bring.
The concert showcased the various sounds and styles in the music world. There were hauntingly beautiful pieces that created a somber mood directly followed by a lighthearted and energetic piece.
One moment in the concert illustrated this perfectly. “Three Dirges,” a piece composed by Tyler Marvin, was a haunting, somber piece that allowed the melodic sounds of both a piano and a violin to mingle and create something beautifully mournful.
This was followed by a more energetic piece composed by Devin Villanti Barone titled “Watch Out.” This song featured two percussionists and was unlike any of the other pieces. Drums were not a prominent instrument in the concert until that point and it was more cheerful than previous pieces.
This juxtaposition drew attention to the individual characteristics of each piece being played and forced audience members further into the music surrounding them.
A piece composed by Elena Mihajlov titled “From the Deep Silent” incorporated electronic sounds and distortions, and featured the viola. These vast ranges of musical abilities and sounds revealed the uniqueness of each piece.
The concert also showcased the talent of each individual composer. Not only did each piece receive the respect it deserved, but the audience seemed extremely invested.
After each performance, the audience would clap for the musicians who would then gesture to the composer, signaling for him or her to stand. Upon standing, audience members would erupt into even louder applause as they acknowledged the talent in their peers.
It was amazing to see the support everyone in the recital hall had for one another.
“It’s almost indescribable hearing everything that you worked to put on paper and write out and think about finally be performed and put in front of your peers, colleagues and teachers. It’s an exhilarating experience to hear all of the work you put into something be presented in such a way that everyone can hear it” said freshman music composition and sound recording technology double major Ethan Fields.
Fields’ piano piece was titled “Snowfall” and received a highly positive reaction from the audience.
Ultimately the concert showcased the wide array of talent on campus. It was amazing to hear both the pieces created by peers and the support from the audience as they listened to the performance taking place before them. Sounds that might initially seem to clash flowed together beautifully to create a melodic stream of sounds that left the audience both contemplative and inspired.