St. Patrick’s Concert

今天公交车上都站着人了,车里和大街上都是热闹而嘈杂。普通青年泡吧,二逼青年爬屋顶,文艺青年就去听音乐会了。

Boettcher Concert Hall 是个圆形的音乐厅,很有层次感。进去第一张照片拍的不好,就删了。紧接着就走来一位大妈说不给拍照。好吧,反正这个想看都能google到。

音乐会开始就很有喜感。先是简单的介绍乐队,说到首席,是个华人,可是她名字叫Yumi Hwang…

之后独奏和指挥上台。独奏那个女人比指挥这个男人身材上要大一圈,于是指挥跟着独奏走上来就特别逗。 

开始说演奏。我是拉三结束后的中场休息时看的节目单和演奏者简介。听完之后看独奏Valentina Lisitsa的介绍,特别特别有感触。这里为了讲故事方便就先摘录一点介绍(这段出自别处,但几乎是一样的):

“Valentina Lisitsa: International Woman of Mystery.” This was the title of a feature article published just a few months ago in Canada’s leading newspaper “Globe and Mail.” It would be difficult to come up with a better or more succinct description. While Ms. Lisitsa is just becoming known to mainstream concert goers, she has already been a major celebrity in alternative media circles. Her YouTube channel has attracted more than 35 million views, with an average of 50,000 listeners every single day. This is an extraordinary number for a classical musician of any rank or fame. One of her self-produced DVDs has held the coveted #1 bestselling spot on the Amazon.com music sales website – a true feat, particularly when taking into account that she has been solely relying on word-of-mouth advertisement. And, speaking of mystery… She even made a cameo appearance in the best-selling thriller “Port Mortuary” by the American novelist Patricia Cornwell!

Fearless in exploration of new means to connect with her audience, Ms. Lisitsa embraces ever newer technologies. Last summer, she installed a webcam in her practice studio, while learning new pieces from the beginning stages to performance-ready versions. It took her two weeks of 14-hour long practice sessions (interrupted only by coffee breaks and watching the World Cup) to learn approximately 25 new works – 4 hours’ worth of music. At the same time, sharing the experience with thousands of people watching the whole process was well worth it, judging by enthusiastic response she got for her effort. Her latest recording sessions were streamed “live” over the internet in their entirety; this is something that very few musicians would be brave enough to share. Over two days’ time, audiences around the world could watch how the recording of 24 Chopin Etudes was taking place. People could witness not only the perfectly edited takes, but also the real work – sweat, mistakes, frustration… It made for an invaluable experience, particularly for inspiring young musicians, who were able to see how much effort and dedication goes into making a recording.

On the subject of recordings, while Ms. Lisitsa eschewed – until now – traditional audio recording format (you can’t even find her on iTunes), that is all about to change. Being a proud contrarian, she feels that she can buck a trend of declining CD sales in the music industry. Last year, she recorded a complete set of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerti with the London Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the exciting young conductor Michael Francis. In addition to this monumental task, she has recorded a disc of solo Rachmaninoff works – his rarely heard First Sonata and “Moments Musicaux”. The Rachmaninoff discs along with the recording of 24 etudes by Chopin are planned to be released over the next year, and Ms. Lisitsa is confident that all these CDs will be a great success, in major part because of her enormous fan base.

As much as she enjoys making recordings, Ms. Lisitsa is at her best when performing in “live” concerts. She is a pianist embodying the old Romantic tradition of taking chances and embracing risk rather than being calculating and cautious. Combined with her unique command of piano colors, unrivaled touch, and dynamic range, it makes for an electrifying experience. Her latest project, a vinyl LP of Liszt masterpieces , was done in this grand old tradition – purely analog recording , no edits, live audience… a feat yet unmatched in classical music field of today…. As demand for her live appearances has grown quickly , she has appeared in the last couple of seasons with orchestras such as the Chicago, Pittsburgh Symphony , San Francisco , Seattle, West Deutsche Rundfunk, and Rotterdam Symphonies, to name just a few; collaborating with conductors such as Manfred Honeck, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Lorin Maazel and James Gaffigan.

June 19th 2011 Valentina is making her recital debut in Royal Albert Hall in London UK. An invitation like this was reserved over last century to a very few classical artists. This is a historic event not to be missed.

用红色标出来的是让我特别有印象的。从这场拉三来看,就像我当时发的状态描述的那样,这是一个各种分裂的演奏。首先,这是我有史以来听过速度最快(所有的段落)的版本。开篇的独奏呈示就很快,而乐队呈示那段(piu moso)以及后面的Piu vivo的速度并没有提上去。用的不是大号的斯坦威,所以声音并不是很响,经常被乐队盖过。但是呈示部这段十六分音符跑得可真是顺畅,到处可见女人的细腻手法。可因为音量不太够,让人对后期的力度有点担心。副部之前华彩的结尾虽然简单,但是处理得很棒,我是感觉自己一直找不到很好的方式。副部呈示依然很快,有点不太舒服。方块8那段和弦也故意奏得很弱(第三乐章方块54也是),让我有点不能理解,不要太矜持嘛~倒是后面加速的十六分音符需要弱的又不够弱。我确定这不是能力问题,不知道她为啥这么处理。

方块12开始,独奏开始上力度了,左右的低音旋律终于超过了大管和大提。方块14这块的中音部不清楚,不够爽。到后面的高潮,开始给力了,那个和弦敲得非常霸气啊!华彩,不说什么了,独奏的能耐全展示出来了,unrivaled touch, and dynamic range, it makes for an electrifying experience。 

第二乐章,乐队表现非常出色,木管和圆号的那声音真的很赞,独奏的火候也把握的不错,不算闷骚,方块30前那个低音用了八度增强,我之前怎么没想到呢!这个乐章是连接一三乐章的奇葩,真的是太煽情了!

第三乐章之前的华彩序幕就预示着这将是一个电闪雷鸣般的结尾。这个华彩弹的干净而利索,不带任何速度调制,直奔主题。只可惜,第三乐章进入后,开头那些个重音都没能听到,然后就是最大的悲剧,方块40这一段全部乱套,乐队和独奏互相听不见了,最后是独奏多弹了几小节,停了一会儿等到方块41那个和弦,才重新合上。Piu mosso那段和弦切分,最主要的问题是力度,四段下来没有那种推进的感觉,主要是开头太响,热上去了又没有及时冷下来。Meno mosso这里速度减得不是很明显,这倒是很合我的胃口,我自己弹是基本上不减速的。 中段谐谑曲,又是发挥细腻指法的地方,很漂亮。中段结尾定音鼓之后的那个几个和弦(方块59之前),我是不喜欢抠旋律的,因为那些和弦非常美妙,可是大多数演奏包括这次的都是把旋律强调出来的。后面再现没啥好说的,吸取教训,不再翻车。方块69-72,我听过最疯狂的速度,没抽筋简直是奇迹。最后那段催人泪下的高潮也没啥好说的了,直到结尾,一个字——赞!

总体的评价就是:速度足够快,但略微缺点变化。不过拉三标记出的速度变化太多了,有时乐队确实不好办,处于安全考虑,有很多版本也是忽略了一些的(包括拉赫本人演奏之后也意识到)。力度有时会莫名的弱下去,被乐队该了不少,但是有对比的地方还是很强烈。快速的小音符跑的很干净,大和弦虽然有几个明显的错,但是丝毫不影响整体的效果。真的是非常爽的演奏!就是我的目标了,努力努力!

第一场Pendulum现代音乐会

Event Description 
Featuring faculty members Jennifer Bird-Arvidsson, soprano, and Allan McMurray, conducting members of the CU Wind Symphony; along with guest artist Michael Straus, saxophones. 

Featuring premieres by CU composition students Hunter Ewen, Jess Garrett, and Cole D. Ingraham. 

Joseph Schwantner – Sparrows (Kobayashi Issa) (1979) 
Dan Brandt – Sleep (2011) 
Jess Garrett – Void (2011) 
Hunter Ewen – Circles on Still Water (2011) 
Cole D. Ingraham – Lattice (2011)  

首先要说的,今天在节目单的Intro里确认了Pendulum这个名字的来历确确实实的Duane物理楼下的那个Foucault Pendulum.

除了第一首是一部著名作品,其他都是学生作品的首演。每首之前都有一则简短的介绍。

Schwantner的Sparrows是指挥介绍的。去年Schwantner在Boulder住了一阵子,当时他们有很多交流,并演奏了And the mountains rising nowhere. 本来想请Sparrows世界首演的女高音来的,后来因为各种原因,Schwantner推荐了今晚的女高音Jennifer Bird-Arvidsson,她曾经是也参与了Boulder的第一次演出。 演奏相当不错。当然这部作品的难度其实也不高。美国人写的东西跟欧洲人写的有天壤之别。Sparrows中段都快整出悠扬的五声调式了。总的来说,这曲子非常悦耳,可听度很高。

接下来全是嫩作品,都是学生自己介绍。

Sleep是一首两分钟的简短钢琴曲,作曲者Dan是研一学生。构思就是五度叠置+压缩。效果不错,但没啥新意。个人认为加上一把打酱油的弦乐器会更好。

下面三首都有电子部分。

Void一听就是个女孩儿写的。她介绍说这部作品源于小时候经常梦见的怪物。小提琴也没拉几个音,电子部分有音效和反馈,整体没啥特点。

Circles on the Still Water的谱面是一个Spiral,很像Crumb的Macrocosmics. 中提琴演奏时还要朗诵作者写的一首诗。其实演奏的音也不多,不过还比较有诗意,因为文字不错。

最后的Cole是个博士,他的作品果然就高级一些,萨克斯和ipad合奏,属于比较嘈杂的类型,17音系统。从标题Lattice和音效不难发现频谱音乐的痕迹。结束后我从他那里确认了我的判断,他是Grisey的徒孙。

出席现代音乐会的人就少一些,音乐厅坐了一半,大多是年轻人。音乐家们也希望跟听众交流,所以结束后设了reception. 作曲系总共就十几个人,我跟今天到场的人都聊了几句,基本上打入一半。总结一下,现在美国人写的这些玩意儿都跟配乐似的,喜欢构造呼呼呼呼的音效。我没玩过电子音乐,看了一下他们的乐谱,就是一些简短的程序,无非就是echo这些,增强一些织体。我其实还是跟喜欢欧洲那种在乐器上下功夫的,细致新颖的作品。

911 Memorial & TUE Concert

9-11-2011, MST 2:00 pm, CU音乐学院的Grusin Hall,911纪念音乐会正在进行。

Event Description 
This concert is in tribute to those we lost at the 9/11 disaster ten years ago. Faculty from all areas of the College will join together to celebrate life. A special performance will end the concert that is sure to inspire everyone who attends. 

Bach – Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052 
Steven Bruns – Ravensbrück Prayer 
Shostakovich – Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 147 
Jeffrey Nytch – Epilogue 
Richard Pearson Thomas – Race for the Sky 
Larry Grossman – “Just One Person” fromSnoopy! The Musical 

Performers include Hsing-ay Hsu, piano; Patrick Mason, baritone; Steven Bruns, piano; Geraldine Walther, viola; Margaret McDonald, piano; Julie Simson, mezzo-soprano; Lina Bahn, violin; Alexandra Nguyen, piano; and others.

Hsing-ay Hsu演奏的第一首巴赫基本上就是她不久之后一场演出的预演。选取了第二乐章,慢板,重复音,增四度跳进,模糊调性,这几样就决定了这个乐章的凝重的气质,非常适合音乐会主题。

第二首是声乐作品,我没啥感觉,不做评论。

第三首我认为是音乐会的亮点,这是老肖去世之前刚刚完成的作品,演奏的是最后一乐章。人在临死的病痛中表现的反而很平静,并不会哭天抢地的抒发痛苦。中提琴的特性发挥的很好,整体让人非常淡定。

Epilogue这个作品我不欣赏,感觉属于那种谁都会写的,三段体,慢-快-慢,几把弦乐轮流作沉思状。

Race for the sky是一部感天动地的作品,选取了几首煽情文学作品作为歌词,加上钢琴和小提琴的伴奏,让现场出现了鼻涕声。但是我一直徘徊在被感动和被其手法恶心之间,确实,这似乎属于那种用比较贱的手法赚眼泪的作品。

最后一首是童声合唱,各种肤色的4-6年级小学生在一起,挺可爱的。

总之,一场没有政治色彩的纪念活动还是很有意义的,正如description所说,我们在一起庆祝生活,而不是无休止的怀念并沉浸在伤痛之中。Race for the sky中最后一首就是Don’t look for me anymore. 当然,这对于遭遇灾难的家庭来说,说的容易做起来难。但这确实是一个强者应有的姿态,跟这个强大的集体相称。

纽约爱乐那边的音乐会就只有一部巨大的作品,马勒第二“复活”。正值今年马勒逝世100周年,这个曲目的选择也是让人惊叹。

需要吐槽的是description最后一句没做到。

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今晚的音乐会则是我写这篇日志的主要原因。在音乐会开始前20分钟踢球扭伤脚踝并且没吃晚饭的情况下,最后的决定让我饿而无憾。

Event Description 
“Music Inspired by Children” 

Allan McMurray, conductor 
Matthew Roeder, conductor 
Ingrid Larragoity, guest conductor 
Jeffrey Lehman, guest conductor 
Joel Puckett, guest composer 
Christina Jennings, flute 

Wind Symphony: 
Eugene Bozza – Children’s Overture 
Joel Puckett – The Shadow of Sirius 
David Maslanka – A Child’s Garden of Dreams 

Symphonic Band: 
Percy Grainger / arr. Larry Daehn – I’m Seventeen Come Sunday  
Joel Puckett – Avelynn¹s Lullaby 
David Delle Cese / ed. John Bourgeois –Inglesina (The Little English Girl) 
Frank Ticheli – Angels in the Architecture 
Henry Fillmore / ed. Schissel – Circus Bee  

这场音乐会主题是跟孩子有关,也许是这个标题吸引来了更多的年轻人,而音乐会曲目则主要是现代风格的。所以我觉得美国人或多或少都了解现在的“古典作曲家”们在干些什么,至少一般不会认为贝多芬这样的人是过去的流行歌手。在这里接触新作品的机会是相当多的,当然这种公共演出的新作品基本上也是美国派,那种融合后现代和后浪漫的作品,理论上没有欧洲那拨人高级和细致。主要是配器新颖,打击乐尤其丰富,调性神马的都还是有一点的。

第一首很通俗,就是个fanfare.

第二首是首长笛协奏曲,非常棒。作曲家本人到现场解说,是他失去一个孩子后所作的。特别的是有六支长笛被安排在二层的观众席上,一边三支。在某些段落轮番演奏,构筑一个特殊的音场。

第三首是五个乐章组成的套曲,描述五个梦。每首都是色彩丰富,眼花缭乱。总的来说还是不错的。

下半场由Symphonic Band交接,可依然是个管乐团+打击乐。反正我就注意了那五把Tuba.

上半场出现的作曲家Joel Puckett再次带来一部很不错的作品,这首是得到孩子之后写的,lullaby嘛~

Ticholi的Angels in the Architecture也是部很好的作品。有个女高音站在二层,在引子和结尾处传来遥远的歌声。乐曲由两个个性相反的动机组成,张弛有度。

另外三首都是新年音乐会类型的进行曲。总得来说,下半场的音乐略微通俗形象一点。

最后需要狂赞的是,有chocolate cookies在剧院门厅里等着我!!!!!