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Marshall Johnston

Mrs. Diaz

World Humanities

18 April 2010

Houston Symphony performance Extra Credit Paper

On Friday April 16th, I went to the Houston Symphony performance downtown Houston at Jones

Hall. The symphony played three works: Le carnaval romain (the Roman Carnival) Opus 9 by

Hector Berlioz, Violin concerto No. 2 in G minor, Opus 63 by Sergei Prokofiev, and Symphony

in D minor by Cesar Franck. Yan Pascal Tortelier conducted all.

The first composition that was played was Le carnaval romain (the Roman Carnival)

Opus 9 by Hector Berlioz. This work was composed in 1844 as an overture for the opera

“Benvenuto cellini”, which was also written by Berlioz. The instruments that were used are pairs

of woodwinds, four horns, two trumpets, two cornets, three trombones, timpani, percussion, and

strings. While listening to this song I was reminded of the kinds of music that is used at the end

of a movie for the credits. It started out happy then slowed down and became a little sad then it

would get faster and happy again

The second composition that was played was Violin concerto No. 2 in G minor, Opus 63

by Sergei Prokofiev. . This concerto consisted of three parts. First the Allegro moderato, then the

Andante assai, and last the Allegro, ben marcato. Prokofiev composed this work when he

decided to move back to the USSR in 1935. As he was returning Prokofiev changed his

advanced style of music to a simpler style, which he includes in this concerto. A violinist by the

name of Baiba Skride plays the violin solo for this concerto. In this concerto Baiba plays the

Stradivarius “Wihelmj” violin that was made in 1725 The instruments that were used are pairs of

flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns and trumpets, percussion and strings. As this song began

I immediately began to notice that the soloist and the orchestra were battling each other in a
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since. The soloist stated out with a strong melody then the orchestra would come in smoothly.

But as the composition progressed the orchestra would begin to over take the soloist, and vica

versa.

The third and final composition was Symphony in D minor by Cesar Franck. Franck

composed this word in 1882, eight years before he died in 1890. This work was also played in

three parts: first Lento-Allegro non troppo, second Allegretto, and third Allegro non troppo. The

instruments that included this work are as follows: two flutes, two oboes, English horn, two

clarinets, bass clarinet two bassoons, four horns four trumpets, tree trombones, tuba, timpani,

harp and strings. This composition was very interesting. As it started out I began to think of old

black and white television shows from the 40’s and the 50’s. I leaned over to mention it to my

mom and to my astonishment she had recognized it to. Even though this work was composed so

long ago, people have apparently used the melody for old shows. At the very end there was a

kind of solo with a harp that was amazing. I don’t see how people are able to move their fingers

so fast.

Yan Pascal Torelier conducted all three works. Torelier is known world wide as an

amazing conductor, and is well rounded in piano and violin. The conductor was the most

distracting thing I have ever seen at a concert. The way he was jumping around like he was

trying to do an interpretive dance for the symphony. Every five minutes or so he would jump a

foot in the air and wave his arms like someone would do if they were trying to get a persons

attention at a party. But the one fact remains; it is amazing that he can lead an entire symphony

by his self.

Now that I have had the opportunity to see and hear the symphony play, I think that

everyone should go and listen to them play at least once in their lifetime. In my option the best

seats are in rows M through R, because you get a full view of the entire symphony without

having to strain your eyes. It’s about an hour drive to get there, but it’s worth it. Trust me.
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