On Wednesday, March 20th, I attended Noon Hours at the Barnett Hall at UBC. The performers on stage that day were Mark Takeshi McGregor on the flute, and Adrian Verdejo on guitar. Takeshi McGregor provided a vivid experience on the versatility of the flute and the different voicings it presents. Verdejo, as well presented a style and technique in guitar playing, of which I have never fully witnessed before. It is safe to remark that both of these individuals are world class talents, and together they created a very scenic and moving performance.
An interesting segment of the pieces which they picked, were that each composer/arranger was from a different country. It is evident that these two performers take pride in having knowledge and repertoire from their own respective backgrounds and cultures, and was brilliant that they aimed to provide more cultural repertoire to the audience. The pieces not only take the audience across borders, but across time as well, as we can witness the development of styles within the postmodern classical genre from specific points in history. The composers of the four pieces were Toru Takemistu 1930-96 (Japan), Ignacio Baca-Lobera b. 1957 (Mexico), Jocelyn Marlock b. 1969 (Canada), and Astor Piazzolla 1921-92 (Argentina).
The first piece was Toward the Sea for alto flute and guitar, by Takemistu (1981). The contrast and journey taken between the movements, really painted a picture of a ship or crew’s quiet voyage across the waters, and the moments they interact with their surroundings. A featured technique which Takeshi McGregor utilized on flute, was a breathing a puffing noise, which made replicated water shooting from a wales’ spout. The interaction between the flute and guitar was moving, as they acted like a collective. There seemed to be one line moving in the song, and they would pick up where the other left off, while at times play together. The sound they created was distinct from one another, yet created an image of where they were taking you on the waters, ultimately making it a very visual and interactive piece.
Moving to their last piece, Histoire du Tango, by Piazzolla (1986), Takeshi McGregor and Verdejo presented the history and development of the tango, through a four-movement spectacle. The opening movement stood out to me the most, as the classical guitar techniques used by Verdejo to explore the rhythms and the tango, truly took me to a visual place, as if I were in the streets of Buenos Aires, at night.
I was fortunate enough to coincidentally run into the both of them at the bus stop later that day, and was able to thank them for their performance, of which they were most appreciative. I expressed to them that their last piece made me envision that I was in the same geography as the country of origin for their pieces. They were both glad to hear that, and commented that this was their hope and wish for how audiences would interpret their set. This concert journal stood out to me the most, as it brought me to a different place musically, than I had experienced before.