By Alexis Jefferson, Contributing Writer
Classical music filled the air in Stretansky Concert Hall on Dec. 3. The Student Chamber Music Concert featured four groups of musicians playing chamber music, which is instrumental music composed for a small ensemble.
The first group consisted of sophomore Julia Campbell on the trumpet, junior Benjamin Jenner on the trombone, junior Thomas Kissinger on the trumpet and sophomore Joseph Konopke on the tenor trombone.
Their selections in order were “Toccata” by Edmund Haines, “Allegro and Air” from King Arthur by Henry Purcell and “Quarter” by Arthur Frackenpohl. The songs gave off a very heroic sound like it could be used in the background of a movie.
The second group consisted of senior Jonathan Deysher on the alto saxophone, first-year Eve Gonzalez Domenech on the baritone saxophone, junior Kirby Leitz on the soprano saxophone and sophomore John LaRotonda on the tenor saxophone.
The songs they played in order were “Andante et Scherzetto” by Pierre Lantier, “Spells” by Ian Clarke, and “Greensleeves Fantasia” by Anne McGinty. The music from this ensemble really resonated with the audience by creating a completely different atmosphere from the previous ensemble. It was also interesting seeing how the group communicated without speaking, all it took to was eye contact between them.
The third group was comprised of woodwind musicians including first-years Rae Carroll, Madelyn Correllus and Emily Kirsch, sophomore Maragaret Hinkel, junior Kathleen Owens and seniors Olivia Bodner and Addy Wolfe.
In order, they played “Spells” by Ian Clarke and “Greensleeves Fantasia” by Anne McGinty.
Their first selection sounded as though it came right out of “Psycho” directed by Alfred Hitchcock; every note was Norman Bates stepping closer and closer to his inevitable crime.
The last group to perform was sophomore John Bentz on the viola, junior Dusin Dicely on the cello, sophomore Kaitlynn O’Hanlon on the piano and both senior Briana Heinley and sophomore Greta Polsky playing the violin. Their selections were “Piano Quintet” in E-flat major, “Op.44” and IV. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo, both by Robert Schumann.
President Jonathan Green said, “I thought it was lovely. It’s great to see young musicians engage in chamber music; that’s a great test of being true, that you’re listening carefully to others and playing off of each other, I think it’s great.”