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(02/09/14 9:20pm)
On Jan. 27, Bruce Adolphe, an accomplished composer, educator, performer and author, gave a lecture on creative musicianship in Fickling Hall at the Townsend School of Music. His compositions have been performed by world class artists including Yo-Yo Ma, the Chicago Chamber Musicians and the Brentano String Quartet. He has currently published three books on music and has taught at Yale, Juilliard and New York University.
Adolphe makes a weekly appearance on public radio’s Performances Today, hosted by Fred Child, in which he combines the traits of music by composers such as Beethoven or Bach with a popular tune in a segment called Piano Puzzlers.
He chose to begin his lecture with a piano puzzler, combining the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with compositional characteristics of Hungarian composer Béla Bartok. The piano puzzlers were originally theory homework assignments Adolphe gave to his students while teaching in New York.
Adolphe had a unique and easy way of connecting to his audience, whether students, faculty or visitors from the community. He was a clear and relatable lecturer, keeping the audience engaged. The day of the lecture was Mozart’s birthday, and Adolphe spent time discussing Mozart’s musical humor. He explained the repetitive conversational aspects of Mozart’s music, comparing them to that “annoying person we all know who talks too much.” Adolphe illustrated this concept by breaking down and reconstructing one phrase of Mozart’s work.
The main focus of the lecture was creative musicianship, a musician’s ability to create and understand music and composition. He explained how he applied creative musicianship to a piece of music he was commissioned to compose.
Adolphe was asked to take an unfinished musical phrase by Franz Schubert and use it to create a complete musical composition. He used this example to explain the importance of personal attachment when a musician approaches a musical piece.
The piece was not his own when he tried to approach its composition “like a homework assignment.” His frustration with the sterile approach to his composition ultimately resulted in his final aspiration. “It was driving me crazy,” said Adolphe. He used the music to represent his frustrations. The piece was titled “Franzgmentation.”
The story of “Franzgmentation” lead Adolphe to ask a highly debated question to the audience: “Is music about anything? Does music have to be about anything?” His answer, yes. He continued to expound on this opinion by playing a number of his songs for the audience. He played pieces after explaining the intended themes to the audience. He did, however, conclude by playing a piece called “Crossing Broadway” without sharing the title or explaining its inspiration.
When he questioned the audience about their initial impressions he received responses such as “reminds me of West Side Story” or “I would call it traffic jam.” Adolphe explained that discerning musical ideas goes beyond casual listening experiences.
Recognizing the character of music is different than simply hearing it. “Inspiration is a lifestyle,” Adolphe explained regarding composition. “The way to be inspired is to be ready and willing to be excited.”
(02/06/14 9:35pm)
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and for all the happy couples around campus that means date nights, romance and, of course, gifts. We all know the staples of Valentine’s Day gift giving - chocolate and flowers. But maybe you’re looking to put a little bit more into your gift than just a trip to the store this year. Or maybe you’re running a little low on cash, still waiting on your refund check, but still wanting a special something for your significant other. In that case, try something new with these homemade Valentine’s Day gift ideas.
Does your significant other love movies? Try making a personalized movie basket for a gift and date night all in one. This works as a gift for both ladies and gentlemen. First, find a movie that your significant other does not own but has mentioned wanting to see or having loved in theaters and buy it. Do not assume the movie has to be romantic just because it’s Valentine’s Day - just choose something you will both enjoy. The movie can be part of the main gift portion, and if you would like a movie marathon, buy or bring others movies, too. Then, place the movie (or movies) in a basket or gift bag before filling it with other items to make the perfect movie date night. For example, remember to bring unpopped bags of popcorn, your date’s favorite kind of soda and plenty of his or her favorite movie candies. This gift is entirely customizable for each couple’s tastes, and the effort you make remembering and finding the things your date loves will matter.
For those whose significant other has a serious sweet tooth, consider gifting a recipe jar. Does your significant other love your homemade brownies? Or maybe they love your homemade hot chocolate mix. Take a clean, empty Mason jar with a working lid and tie a string around the neck of the jar. Attach your recipe for homemade brownies, hot chocolate or cookies to the string. Then, fill the jar with the mix, and your gift is ready to go. For a little something sweet for the actual day, you can go ahead and make a plateful of your brownies to satisfy your special someone’s sweet tooth.
Is your significant other obsessed with coffee or tea? Try making a personalized mug for your favorite coffee-holic. It’s easy. All you’ll need is a porcelain mug, a sharpie and an oven. Draw or write on your significant other’s cup. Whether you choose to doodle or write is entirely up to you. Then, simply bake the cup for 30 minutes at 350 degrees in your oven. Finally, wait until it has completely cooled to wash or use. Just make sure to let your significant other know that their gift is hand wash only.
These are just a few ideas about how to make your Valentine’s Day gift a little more personal this year. Countless other homemade gift ideas are out there too, including classics, like coupon books and thoughtful poems. However, only you can decide what your significant other would enjoy most.
(01/23/14 2:56am)
Steve Hussung is a senior at Mercer University pursuing a double major in Computational Science and Math. Although his choice in majors does not reflect his passion for music, Hussung is a diverse artist, proficient at the piano, the bass guitar and the mandolin. His first instrument was the piano, after being influenced by his father, a piano professor at Carson Newman University. Hussung began his classical piano lessons at the age of six and has been playing for 15 years. He is self-taught on both the bass guitar and the mandolin.
“I learned bass because I wanted to play with other people,” Hussung said. He also admits that he wanted to learn an instrument that was “cooler” than piano. He has since outgrown that opinion of piano playing. He was inspired to learn mandolin after listening to bands like The Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek. Both bands incorporate the mandolin into their music. “And it is just a really pretty instrument,” said Hussung.
Hussung has been part of various musical ensembles at Mercer, including playing bass for RUF, Wesley Foundation and the Mercer Jazz Ensemble. He also took piano lessons with Dr. Ian Altman through the Townsend School of Music. He admits that during his sophomore year, his musical involvement on campus suffered due to increased class load. He has, however, continued his involvement with the Wesley Foundation praise band.
Hussung explained that being self-taught on both the bass guitar and mandolin is difficult at times. “I had the benefit of being classically trained on piano,” he said, “so I already had the knowledge of music theory and respect for proper technique.” Hussung admits that taking lessons can be better for learning an instrument, such as piano or guitar. It is, however, completely possible to learn online, though it does require adequate research to learn to play the instrument properly. He recommends reading “The Music Lesson” by Victor Wooten to anyone looking to teach themselves to play an instrument.
His favorite genres of music include motown music, which influenced his proficiency in bass guitar, and progressive bluegrass. Hussung defines progressive bluegrass as “bluegrass music that has moved in any direction from the tradition.” Bands such as The Punch Brothers, Crooked Still or Trampled by Turtles are included in the progressive bluegrass genre. He explained, however, that because people grow up listening to “their parents music,” he had only listened to classical and christian music until high school. He had to branch out and familiarize himself with different music because “most contemporary church music doesn’t have a very good bass line.” He then began his musical journey with Led Zeppelin and motown music. His current favorite music to play is Mumford & Sons on his mandolin.
“After college, music will probably remain a hobby for me,” said Hussung. “I love playing with people. And I’d love to keep getting better.” Hussung admits that, despite his current career path, if the opportunity arose for a career in music he would definitely take it.
(12/04/13 1:28am)
Dustin Murdock is a sophomore at Mercer University majoring in music performance with an emphasis in classical guitar. His first experience with guitar was with his grandfather, who taught him how to play old gospel music. Since then he has not only learned to play guitar but also piano, drums and trumpet. Murdock admits that he has always wanted to learn to play the cello and has even purchased one in the hopes of beginning to play. He has been incredibly involved with music, although he admits that there are no professional musicians in his family. When asked what he would be doing if he was not pursuing a music degree, he said, “Music is the only thing I’m good at. There were no other options.” He admits, however, that he enjoys writing poetry, which often become lyrics in his original songs. He is also considering graduate studies in music composition.
Murdock has released four albums to date, that can be found on Macon Noise, and is working on a new solo album that should be available early next year. He has been playing live shows with bands since he was 13 years old. Murdock is currently active in two bands, Trufflelina and Nomenclature, and toured the east coast with them a year and a half ago. He was also previously part of a band called Xavii, whose music can also be found through Macon Noise. He has won the 11th Hour Award for Most Experimental Band twice, and hopes to have a career touring with a band playing his own compositions. His favorite styles of music include free jazz, progressive rock and classical Indian music. When asked about his favorite band or artist he had some trouble narrowing it down. He resolved to answer Vic Chesnutt, a songwriter from Georgia, as his most influential musician.
A local Maconite, he stayed in Macon and chose to attend Mercer University because he wanted to stay close to the bands he had taken a part in starting. Through his research, he found Mercer was the best option for receiving a Bachelor’s in music performance locally. He enjoys attending Mercer University and is currently the guitarist, and at times the pianist, for the Mercer University Jazz Ensemble. He is currently hoping to start a band, most likely a jazz influenced rock group with diverse instrumentation, with his fellow Townsend School of Music peers. He shared that due to their intense solo repertoire it is very unusual for the students to collaborate musically with each other. Murdock’s albums and bands, past and current, can be found at http://maconnoisepresents.bandcamp.com. When asked why he believes music is important he said, “It’s the most effective medium to communicate beyond the spoken language.” Make sure to check out Dustin Murdock’s bands on Macon Noise and keep an eye out for his upcoming solo album.
(11/10/13 3:38am)
From the creators of ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” comes a fantastically new take on Lewis Carroll’s classic story of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. “Once Upon a Time: In Wonderland” opens in Victorian England with Alice returning to her father after her trip down the rabbit hole. Her tales of incredible, unfathomable creatures and events prove unbelievable to her father and physician. Young Alice, now determined to prove that she is not a liar, makes it her mission to bring back proof for her father.
The story continues to unfold with flashbacks to an older Alice and her second trip to Wonderland, this time on a journey to prove to her father she wasn’t lying about the talking rabbit or the evil Red Queen. She becomes distracted from that cause, however, when she meets a handsome genie and falls in love, only to have him torn away from her by the Red Queen. Later episodes promise to unfold more of Alice’s love story with her genie, Cyrus, as well as how he came to be in Wonderland.
Back in Victorian England, Alice is heartbroken and has given up hope, having been sent to an insane asylum after her return from Wonderland. She agrees to a painful and uncertain surgery to remove her memories of her adventures and her lost love. Before she can go through with the surgery, however, she is rescued by the Knave of Hearts and the White Rabbit. With rumors of Cyrus surviving the Red Queen’s attempt at murder Alice once again follows her old friends down the rabbit hole into Wonderland.
For fans of ABC’s original “Once Upon a Time” series, the shows have many similarities in their composition. The action in both shows alternate between the human world, whether Victorian England or modern-day, and the fantasy world, full of its unusual characters. Both shows also utilize flashbacks to explain parts of the story. Although the Knave first appears in Granny’s diner, from the original “Once Upon a Time” series, there are no current plans to cross characters between the two shows. The White Rabbit does mention the Mad Hatter’s abandoned house and his disappearance from Wonderland to which the Knave responds that “he ain’t never coming back.”
If you haven’t watched the original “Once Upon a Time” there are no major plots that carry over from the original to the spin off, which guarantees no confusion for a new audience member. This unique representation of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland promises twists and new takes on some of the most iconic characters, including the villain Jafar who comes from the world of Agrabah and teams up with the Red Queen to find Cyrus. The audience can look forward to appearances of many original Wonderland characters. The show has already included mentions of the Cheshire Cat and the Door Mouse. The show airs Thursday nights at 8 on ABC.
(10/26/13 3:16am)
The Townsend School of Music continued their Guest Artist concert series with Benjamin Altman, a renowned classical guitarist. Altman performs as both a soloist and collaborative artist, having played with a variety of groups including the Macon Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Guitar Quartet. He has also performed numerous pieces in orchestral and chamber settings on mandolin. In addition to his success as a performer, Altman has taught for ten years on faculty at different music schools and centers. He currently runs his own private studio in Denver, Colo., Altman’s performance at Mercer was especially exciting to the faculty and staff of the Townsend School of Music, because he is the son of a Townsend piano professor, Dr. Ian Altman.
The concert was unique, unlike anything scheduled for the remainder of the school’s current concert season. Classical guitar repertoire is incredibly uncommon and complex to a listener accustomed to the more contemporary guitar hits of today. Classical guitar differs not only in the immense variations in repertoire but also in parts of its construction. Classical guitars use strings of polymer, while acoustic and electric guitars, heard in today’s popular music, use metal strings. This detail alone drastically changes the sound that results when a string is plucked. Classical guitarists also pluck very precisely, with their fingernails or fingertips instead of using picks. The variety of sounds a classical guitarist can make with a single guitar is impressive and incredibly unique.
The concert lasted just over an hour and was separated into two parts by a short intermission. This intermission served as a very distinct break in the kinds of classical guitar repertoire presented. The concert began with “Variations on a Theme by Mozart” (Op. 9) and the first half of the concert continued with music from 18th and 19th century composers. These pieces were highly expressive, and the resulting timbre resounded effortlessly throughout Fickling Recital Hall. The songs of the first half, while more elegant and classical in quality, were incredibly entertaining. The audience remained incredibly engaged and quiet throughout the performance, as not to miss a single pluck of a string.
The second half of the concert contained more recent classical guitar pieces from composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. These pieces had more modern musical qualities. Altman, an individual guitarist, accomplished incredible musical feats and ideas that are rarely realized by multiple guitars simultaneously. These pieces not only contained incredibly precise plucking of strings, but also included strummed chords as well as beating on the drum for a percussive effect. These pieces tended to be more fast-paced and shorter in length compared to the more elegant, elaborated pieces at the beginning of the concert. The audience appeared to have enjoyed the variety between sets, particularly “Birds” (Op. 66) by John Duarte, which contained three movements each portraying a different kind of bird. The concert itself was incredible and stood out from other concerts held in Fickling this semester. Classical guitar is individual in its variety of repertoire and its unique performance. This individuality was evident in Altman’s concert.
(10/01/13 8:33pm)
Last week the Townsend School of Music welcomed nationally acclaimed baritone player Timothy Lefebvre onto Mercer University’s campus. Dr. Lefebvre is currently an Associate Professor of Singing at Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. He has performed with various opera companies, symphonies and music festivals across the nation, even appearing in concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Shortly after his arrival on campus, Lefebvre conducted a master class for the vocal students of the Townsend School of Music. Tuesday, Sept. 17th Lefebvre gave a solo recital, part of Townsend’s Guest Artist program, accompanied by Townsend’s own Dr. Carol Goff on piano.
A master class is a constructive, interactive workshop in which music students perform songs for a guest teacher and are given critiques and advice in front of their peers. Lefebvre’s master class took place on Monday, September 16th and featured eight vocalists, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Each vocalist, after performing their piece, was given specific advice and exercises to help with the issues Lefebvre observed during their performance. Master classes are constructive for the observing students as well as the performing students, as the varying advice can be applied to their own vocal repertoire.
Lefebvre focused on a few specific pieces of advice, applying them to many of the vocalists who sang in the master class. Although there were many technical aspects critiqued within the two-hour class, Lefebvre focused distinctly on the emotional portrayal of the songs. He emphasized the importance of knowing how the musical accompaniment drives the performer’s character and their actions. He stated that you must be intentional in your explanation of a song, encouraging the use of “active words” to describe emotions when portraying a character or singing a song. He explained that it can be hard to portray words like “sad” or “angry” without becoming inactive in movements and performance. However, when put with a verb, such as “crying” or an action such as “slapping him out of anger,” it becomes easier for the audience to see the emotion of the character. Lefebvre explained, “You should never perform an aria the same way twice.”
Possibly the most compelling and honest piece of advice was to ask the questions, “What is your character’s driving motivation? What do you want in this song?” Lefebvre emphasized the importance of truly knowing a character and developing a backstory that can connect with and honestly convey to the audience. The ability to form a connection between the music, the performer, and the audience is one of the differences that make a good performer into a great performer. Kate Kasmier, a junior vocalist who performed in Lefebvre's master class, said, “I really enjoyed working with Dr. Lefebvre. It is truly a pleasure to receive feedback from someone who is so passionate and skilled in the art of singing.”
Lefebvre’s recital cemented the validity of his advice to the master class participants. McKinley Starks, a junior who performed in Lefebvre's master class, summed his reaction to the concert into three words, “Inspired. Terrified. Awestruck.” The concert contained 18 pieces of repertoire of varying styles in English, German and Italian. The concert lasted roughly 90 minutes and featured the works of 5 different composers. Lefebvre’s expertise in the portrayal of his characters was evident through the variety of expression in each performance. He took a moment before each piece to collect himself and adopt the new character. The audience genuinely enjoyed not only his amazing musical ability but also his beautiful and fun representations of his characters and their stories. The students of the Townsend School of Music, as well as all those who attended the recital Tuesday night, greatly appreciated Dr. Lefebvre's expertise and passion for singing.