This past weekend, member ensembles of the Rensselaer Music Association displayed their talents in two concerts held in the McNeil Room of the Union. These groups had been preparing for these performances since the beginning of the semester, working diligently to put together enjoyable and diverse programs.
RMA President Desh Nandedkar said that musicians who performed in the concerts “dedicate a great deal of time out of their very busy schedules to make the Rensselaer music program something we can all enjoy and be proud of.”
Friday evening’s performance, billed as “A Night to Remember with the Rensselaer Music Association,” featured the Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble. The Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Rich Albagli, performed a wide range of selections, including both rhythmic and melodic pieces. The most unusual selection was certainly the last, which could be best described as an aural montage.
The Symphonic Band, led by director Robert Pettis, and outgoing senior and band manager Carrie Brewer, showed prowess with selections that featured difficult rhythmic patterns and frequent time signature changes. The band opened its program with “American Rhapsody,” a piece based on the tunes “America” and “America the Beautiful” and written by composer Anne McGinty. “Four Norfolk Dances,” a collection written by Philip Sparke, featured several individuals in different sections of the band performing solos.
The RPI Jazz Ensemble wrapped up Friday evening’s concert with a blend of big band swing and slow ballads. The band impressed the nearly-full house with its powerful brass section and smooth-fingered saxophone melodies. It performed several standards, including “Ornithology” by Charlie Parker and “Harlem Airshaft” by Duke Ellington.
Following the successful Friday night concert, RMA also sponsored “A Classical Concert” featuring the Concert Choir, Brass Quintet, and Symphony Orchestra. The choir opened the afternoon concert in the McNeil Room. Its selections included “Four Slovak Folk Songs” by Bela Bartok, as well as “Wade in the Water” by Moses Hogan, which featured choral director Steven Marking as a soloist.
The Brass Quintet followed the Concert Choir. The ensemble, made up of two trumpets, one French horn, one trombone, and one tuba, delighted the audience with its harmony and intonation. Selections included Pachelbel’s “Kanon,” a tune made famous by its performance at weddings and other such ceremonies.
The Rensselaer Symphony Orchestra closed out the evening with a performance of Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 4.” Led by Professor David Gibson, the orchestra presented an intriguing program of widely varying volume, intensity, and expression. “Night On Bald Mountain,” known by many as part of the conclusion to Walt Disney’s 1940 masterpiece Fantasia, tested the technical ability of the woodwinds and strings, while the Dvorak symphony required a great deal of musicality from all members of the orchestra.
Nandedkar, who also serves as manager of the Symphony Orchestra, was pleased with the outcome of all of the weekend’s performances. “All of the groups performed very well, and were well received by the visiting families and members of the RPI community. It is remarkable the amount of talent and dedication that is demonstrated by all of the musicians.”
