The University of Indianapolis Faculty Artist Concert Series presented a concert with guest composer and pianist Gabriela Lena Frank and guest soprano Tony Arnold. The concert was held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall in Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.
(Photo by Kyle Weidner)
The concert consisted of different works composed by Frank, who is an American pianist and composer of contemporary classical music. With a Peruvian and Chinese heritage and Latin American studies background, Frank has incorporated her travel experiences into her work.
The concert included 17 different pieces composed by Frank and one piece by Greek composer Georges Aperghis. Performing in the program were university faculty members pianist and Associate Adjunct Professor Minju Choi and flutist and Professor Anne Reynolds. Also performing were pianist and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra member Sylvia Patterson-Scott, violinist and Principal Second Violin of the Louisville Orchestra Robert Simonds and percussionist and internationally-known artist and innovator in the field of new music Bonnie Whiting, as well as Arnold and Frank.
The first performance began with a piano and flute ensemble from Frank called “Suenos de Chambi,” “IV. P’asna Marcha,” “V. Adoracion para Angelitos,” “VI. Harawi de Chambi,” “VII. Marinera” performed on the piano by Patterson-Scott and on the flute by Reynolds. These pieces were introduced as being inspired by a variety of photographs of the Peruvian culture.
The audience was then led into the second arrangement, which consisted of a piano piece composed by Frank. The performance consisted of four pieces from “Sonata Andina,” “I. Allegro Aymara,” “II. Himno Inca,” “III. Adagio Illariy” and “IV. Finale Saqsampillo,” performed on the piano by Choi.
Listening to the various pieces had freshman sports management major Cara Carrion intrigued.
“The different pieces played by the different artists has definitely opened my eyes to the intricacy of music,” Carrion said.
The third arrangement consisted of one of the four-hand piano pieces composed by Frank, “Sonata Serrana No. 1,” “Adagio para el Anochecer (Adagio for Dusk),” which was performed on the piano by Choi and Frank.
The four-hand piano piece was a favorite of freshman nursing major Julia Kozubowski.
“I really enjoyed the intensity of the piece. Seeing both of them play at the same time on the piano was something new for me,” Kozubowski said.
The fourth arrangement consisted of two of the “Recitations for Solo Voice,” by Greek composer Georges Aperghis, “Recitation 9” and “Recitation 10b,” which were performed by Arnold.
The program concluded with the “Seven Armenian Songs” composed by Frank. The seven pieces consisted of “I. A Spotless Lamb,” “II. Wild Bird,” “III. Feet and Wings,” “IV. Silken Blouse,” “V. A Monk and His Peas,” “VI. Peach Seeding” and “VII. Adorning.” The seven pieces were performed by vocalist Arnold singing soprano, Whiting on percussion and Simonds playing violin.
“I really enjoyed the program,” Carrion said, “and the different pieces that were performed.”
