Monday, April 17, 2000
NKS concert has elemental charisma
BY Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer
If listeners came to Greaves Concert Hall Saturday evening for Northern Kentucky Symphony's concert, “Earth, Wind, and Fire,” expecting to hear orchestrated versions of songs like “Shining Star” and “Lets Groove” they were in for a surprise.
But the surprise was a pleasant one.
Charismatic musical director and conductor, James R. Cassidy, chose nothing by the pop band. But the classical music repertoirefeatured works by composers as original (if not more) and sensual, as Maurice White's '70s pop ensemble.
There was a little bit of “earth” beginning with Jean-Fery Rebel's innovative Les Elemens; a little bit of “wind” with Swiss composer Frank Martin's Concerto for Seven Wind Instruments, Timpani, Percussion, and Strings; and a healthy dose of “fire,” ending the evening's concert with Stravinsky's “Suite from the Firebird.”
This was the Tistate's premiere of Baroque composer Jean-Fery Rebel's piece Les Elemens.
Imagine Vivaldi with suspense. The first chord of Les Elemens is Western music's first ever tone-cluster. Used frequently in today's thriller-movie music because the combination of notes evokes feelings of restless anticipation, in 1737, it set the stage for a truly innovative and effective work.
The orchestra debuted Les Elemens with a sense of authority. The first violin section, in particular, phrased passages well, creating elegance within the dissonance. The liberal harpsichord part never overpowered the orchestra.
It was a wise choice to showcase NKS's stellar wind section with Frank Martin's Concerto for Seven Wind Instruments.
The Swiss composer was influenced by both German and French composers, the most obvious Schoenberg and Ravel. Add the extra element of jazz to the concerto, and the result is another unusual work with texture and color.
“It felt like ants were walking all over me,” an audience member was overheard saying about Martin's composition after the concert.
Trombonist David Dunevant and clarinetist Christine Todey gave excellent interpretations of the piece.
Stravinsky's “Suite from the Firebird” was a fitting closer.
The Infernal Dance of King Kastchei and Lullaby were particularly passionate.
The symphony played enthusiastically and wholeheartedly, as if they wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The result made the audience feel likewise.
Diabetes drug may fight infertility
Fighting for right to raise money
People who need PEEPS
Results of our e-mail poll
Concert deal could turn up volume in radio wars
Athletes outpace old age
Atop his sweeper, he turns mean streets into clean streets
Exotic languages heard in court
Mental care for veterans expands
Retreat's focus: kids in Butler
Independents have leanings
Kentucky clinic to serve veterans
Library looks for more parking
Multicultural fest likely to grow
Project to relieve road backups - eventually
Church members march in Palm Sunday procession
City bans noisy car stereos, trucks
Culture festival likely to grow
Franklin Baptist Church services held at nearby school after fire
NKS concert has elemental charisma
Principal will be missed
GET TO IT
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Tristate digest
