Presenting a recital for the public is a daunting task. It exacts from the performer a number of skills which must come together at the exact hour of the performance. I like to think of the solo recital as the musical equivalent to the athletic triathlon. In the case of the recital, the three areas that must come into complete alignment by the recital date are musical expression, mental focus, and physical preparedness.
In this article, a systematic approach is used to address these components. The suggestions are not exclusive but have been used to good success with both my own recitals and those of my students. Many of these ideas are simply practical ones with which the reader may already well be familiar. Other ideas might be new, and could be considered for improved recital preparation by the recitalist.
1. Choose a Program
In previous years, choosing a recital program was largely a historically based paradigm in order to showcase the performer’s skill in three or four primary stylistic periods. These types of programs are still presented today and are preferred for competitions, especially for younger performers. Today, however, recitalists could choose from a broader palette of types of programs, including music by a single composer, a program of music by composers of a certain country or geographic part of the world, or a program of music from a single period.
Choose a program of high quality music that will keep the listener engaged. The world is full of great music both old and new. Master and present the standard works in your repertoire first, then explore less often heard gems. As you progress in your career and make contacts, commission works from emerging composers to present in your recitals. ...
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...standing that it is one of the pinnacles of musical expression, endurance and concentration for all musicians, will allow the recitalist to create a musical event of lasting beauty resonating in the collective memory of an audience.
Scott Locke has given numerous clarinet recitals throughout the U. S., including the University of Georgia, Arkansas State University, Anderson University, Ball State University, Western Illinois State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Purdue University, the University of Mississippi, Murray State University, and the American University, Washington, D. C. He has also presented solo recitals at the World Bank, the Coolfont Manor House, the Sligel Music Club, the Pacific Rim Summer Music Festival, Canada, and at the American Church in Paris. He is currently Associate Professor of Music at Murray State University.
The approximate size of the performance space in relation to our classroom was about double the size with about 322 seats. The performer was in the center of the stage with a fortepiano. The stage was completely empty besides the instrument and a bench for the musician. The whole audience was facing the performer. There were about 300 audience members. The audience was split up in three sections: left, middle, right. The
According to Cambridge Online Dictionary, a performance is the action of entertaining other people by dancing singing, acting, or playing music. In a performance, performer(s) execute their act while audiences watch and critique. Performance of the human body changes depending on various factors such as the format, venue, and dynamics between the performer and spectators. In Anna Deavere Smith’s Never Giving’ Up, which is a live performance, and The Pianist, which is a film, there are differences and similarities on how the performance of the human body alters.
The 17th annual Sphinx Orchestra Finals Competition Concert has changed my perspective on classical music. I fully enjoyed the performance and might even consider going to next year’s performance. The young musician upheld incredible talent and the orchestra was just as unbelievable. I applaud the Sphinx Orchestra for putting on such a miraculous performance that anyone would enjoy a classical concert.
Akins, M. L. 1982 An analysis and Evaluation of selected methods for the beginning Private Piano student. PhD, Peabody College for Teachers, Vanderbilt University, USA.
On Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. the Charlotte Symphony performed seven compositions by various “maverick” composers. Halton Theatre at Central Piedmont Community College’s central campus was pack to near full capacity. The program included the Molto Allegro from Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G-Minor, Warehouse Medicine by Mason Bates, Apotheosis by Austin Wintory, Cielito Lindo a traditional Spanish copla, Oaken Sky by Chris Rogerson, Le Tombeau de Couperin by Maurice Ravel, and the 4th movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Charlotte Symphony’s Assistant Conductor, Roger Kalia, conducted and Juan Cajero appeared as a soloist. Although there were several pieces that had a more lasting impression on me, each composition performed
TitleAuthor/ EditorPublisherDate James Galways’ Music in TimeWilliam MannMichael Beazley Publishers1982 The Concise Oxford History of MusicGerald AbrahamOxford University Press1979 Music in Western CivilizationPaul Henry LangW. W. Norton and Company1941 The Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Classical MusicRobert AinsleyCarlton Books Limited1995 The Cambridge Music GuideStanley SadieCambridge University Press1985 School text: Western European Orchestral MusicMary AllenHamilton Girls’ High School1999 History of MusicRoy BennettCambridge University Press1982 Classical Music for DummiesDavid PogueIDG Books Worldwide,Inc1997
In conclusion, the programmatic symphony has been used to create some of the greatest works of musical literature in the past two hundred years. In the next century composers will probably follow in these composers’ footsteps and expand the size of the orchestra to create new timbres and tell stories through tone painting in symphonies.
Pogue, David and Scott Speck. “Classical Music for Dummies.” Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1997. Print.
I have found the process of choosing a musical topic about which to write a difficult one. My musical interests have never been concentrated in a singular area. To aid myself in this search, I will list the areas in which I hold an interest: music education, tuba performance practices, music pedagogy, tuba pedagogy, psychological development through music, and the history of music.
I attended the Los Angeles Philharmonic classical music concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday 29 November 2013. The classical concert started at 8:00pm to the enjoyment of the huge audience that had been waiting for this amazing music extravaganza. Classical music concerts always offer magnificent entertainment and the audience in this concert was expectant to derive such entertainment or more. In attendance were Christian Zacharias who was the conductor and Martin Chalifour who was the LA Phil commanding Principal Concertmaster and Bach violin player. In readiness for the concert, I enjoyed a special dinner prepared for the audience. More specifically, LA Phil staffer introduced us to the evening classical concert amidst cheers from the audience. It was such a refreshing and joyous feeling to be part of this audience.
As the piano started to sound in the Four Season Theater, the crowd would turn silence in just a second. That was the impression that piano gave me when I attended to Richard Clayderman’s concert last month. The power of the piano is not just shown by the sound itself but also the unshakable social standing as the “King of the instruments”.
Dance is my favorite hobby when I was a child. I used to watch dance concerts on TV shows, but I had not even watch it on stage. On April 08th, 2016, I attended a dance concert called Make Your Move like an audience. It was performed at John Anthony Theatre – Spring Creek Campus of Collin College. The concert consists of many styles of dancing from different College and University such as Collin College, West Texas A&M University, and Illinois State University. Three performances that I like best were Intus, 9.28.11 and Havana Dream.
A ballet dancer’s general intention when performing any piece is to convey a message to the audience. A message is relayed through the dancer’s strategic facial expressions and body movements. Each movement has a purpose in articulating the dancer’s energy, and confidence within themselves to express the emotions and inspire the audience (Lucas). A dancer’s energy and
At the movies, in stores, on the radio, many of the places you go to that have music playing have music that was written from the Classical Period. The Classical Period harbored famous and renowned composers and performers. Two composers who stand out are Mozart himself who composed many pieces including the famous piece Piano Concerto No. 22 and Ludwig van Beethoven who composed his astounding 5th Symphony. Through the centuries the Classical Period has still been honored and commemorated for its style beauty.
The category chosen to carry out our topic is, a Group Performance. Why a group performance? We want people to know and see in their own visual aid how the ceremony is performed. We also want to state for a fact that our generation knows what the ceremony is and the process of the performance.