Last Wednesday, Mother’s was host the Classical Coffeehouse at 6:30 pm. The next event will take place October 15. This cafe-like setting offers various Rensselaer Music Association groups the opportunity to perform classical pieces. Admission is free.
RMA is a student-run organization that promotes and supports music groups at RPI. It hosts several large concerts on- and off-campus and helps to manage the performances of smaller groups at special events. This time the group consisted of Jon Amazon ’09 (trumpet), Maureen Danskin ’10 (trumpet), Katie Dunn (French horn), Josh Elser ’10 (euphonium), Cameron Fackler ’10 (tuba), Ori Berger ’11 (trombone), Mike Faryniarz ’10 (euphonium), and Tom Wood (tuba).
The group started the evening with “Elsa’s procession to the Cathedral” composed by Richard Wagner. It was played beautifully and selected to exploit every emotion of sight and sound among the listeners and musicians alike. For me, at least, it was hard to ignore the perfect images of grace that came to mind as Wagner’s piece was played. Artfully chosen selections of “Water Music” by George Frideric Handel also proved the group’s ingenuity at working within the limits of skill sets and instrumentations. Other than the slightest of pauses to introduce each piece to the audience, the group was extremely well-coordinated. The group members are clearly passionate about music, and so take practice very seriously. They meet weekly for two hours.
The group also played “Salvation is Created” composed by Pavell Tchesnokov, “Where’er You Walk” by Handel, and “The Heavens are Telling” by Benedetto Marcello. The variety of music was pleasing to hear and I definitely recommend people come by next month and just chill as they listen to some wonderful classical music. Bring homework along and observe how much better you can concentrate on that math problem that was too tedious to attempt!
