One of my favourite thing being in this class is more exposure to music events happening inside the UBC School of Music. Every season the School of Music have a series of concerts on selected Friday nights for Music on the Point, as a music class student, we had free access to these concert. On March. 1st, the Concerts with Personality features two UBC professors: clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester and pianist Jane Coop.
The concert started with 3 Intermezzi, Op.13 by Standord (1852-1924). It started simultaneously with the sound of the piano and the clarinet, and in perfect pitch, as if these two instruments talking in one form. I didn’t have exposure to clarinet concerto before, and being in the Barnett Hall allows the audience to watch the performances in an intimate distance. I was amazed by the clarinetist exquisite skills of delivering a smooth and entertaining piece.
The second piece was Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet and piano, Op. 48 by Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). This was truly a virtuosic work for both instrument, my favourite movement was the first movement: Andante espressivo. You can hear both instrument dance in a lively and enthusiastic manner as if they made the best team. The movement was also very well demonstrated by these two musicians, they played with enthusiasm and it influenced me as an audience as well. I once heard a conductor spoke in a concert that live music is played by two parties, the performers on the stage and the audience that is receiving the music. Together as one community, that’s how music is being received and appreciated. I felt like if I was part of the music as well, together with the rest of the audiences and the musicians.
The third piece was Four Pieces for clarinet and piano, Op. 5 by Alban Berg. To me, the most unconventional thing about this piece was the intentional left blanks and silence. It left the audiences wonder and eager to hear the following part, and it repeated the same pattern several times later.
The concert concluded with Sonata No.1 in F minor, OP.120 by Johannes Brahms. It was in a minor key and I felt it wasn’t as bright as the first two pieces we heard. The tempo was always changing, and each movement brought a different feeling. As described in the movements: i. Allegro appassionato, ii. Andante un poco adagio, iii. Allegretto grazioso, iv. Vivace, the last movement was the most lively and it was a gradual process which kept the audience excited and awaited. I loved the smoothness and the beautiful melodies in this piece.
As a piano player and a violin learner, I was certain that the violin and the piano are the best combinations in Duo. After this concert, I realize that my perspective is limited because of the little exposure I had for other Duos. I am convinced that piano and clarinet are a good combination as well, and there are so many more great pieces in Duo or Trio that I can explore.