Aeolus Quartet Concert Responce PDF

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Aeolus Quartet Concert Response...

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1 Divyansh Gaur Professor John Platoff Music 101 03/13/19 The Aeolus Quartet: Concert Response The Aeolus Quartet concert was my introductory exposure to string quartet concerts. Classical music had always fascinated me and witnessing it being played in person was an illuminated event for me. Since, we had already been exposed to the concert’s music in class and in assignments, it was an interesting experience to see the same music come to life when the four musicians started to move their bows on their string instruments. The event was divided into two segments. The concert began with the String Quartet in G Major Opus 77 No. 1 by Joseph Haydn. The piece was upbeat and cheerful. Haydn used a variety of note durations and syncopation to make the song move well. Although the opening was in the G major key, the quartet moves in and out of G minor as well. The dynamic elements made me feel like moving my arms and feet to the beat. The Haydn piece was followed by a rendition of Amazing Grace by Ben Johnston which felt quite unconventional in its musical form. My initial impression of it was that the piece resembled multiple bagpipes being played at the same time as certain phrases sounded dissonant. The melodies charged the atmosphere, albeit in an eerie way. It was the use of microtonal melodies and pizzicato that made the song sound distinct from the others. Even though the piece was based on the melody of Amazing Grace, it bore very little resemblance to it Before each piece, a member of the quartet explained the source and circumstances of the conception of the composition. This gave context to pieces like Mendelssohn’s Quartet in F Minor, Opus 80 which was created with an intent to express a more melancholic mood that was

2 evident in the music. This was the piece I liked the most because it remained intense throughout the movements, expressing the tragedy that Mendelssohn went through. Throughout the concert, I felt like I was witnessing an intimate conversation between the musicians and the mode of their communication was music. I feel that this concert opened a gateway for me explore classical music in a way where I can appreciate it even more....