Baroque Ensemble and Collaborative Piano perform together
The University of Indianapolis Baroque Ensemble and Collaborative Piano performed in Ruth Lilly Performance Hall on Dec. 2.
The Baroque Ensemble performed seven pieces, most of which combined vocals and instruments such as the piano, harpsichord, flute and various stringed instruments. Following the Baroque Ensemble, the Collaborative Piano performed nine pieces, each of which paired a pianist with a vocalist.
Faculty adjunct and Baroque Ensemble coach Thomas Gerber opened the concert with an overview of the pieces and the Baroque period. The show began with a performance of “Divertissement.” This was an upbeat, cheery piece composed by Michel Corrette and performed on french horns.
Following “Divertissement” were various pieces covering different phases of the Baroque period. The Baroque Ensemble performed two pieces by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach next: “Sonata in C” and “Concerto in C.” A duo of harpsichords performed “Concerto in C,” a fast-paced, melodic tune, to end the Baroque Piano performance.
The Collaborative Piano portion of the performance featured a few more well-known pieces, such as “Some Things Are Meant to Be” from “Little Women,” “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music” and “If I Can’t Love Her” from “Beauty and the Beast.” This piece from “Beauty and the Beast” concluded the concert.
Sophomore chemistry major Ashley Blocker attended the performance and said she was glad to hear some of these more familiar pieces.
“I enjoyed the Collaborative Piano. ‘My Favorite Things’ comes from my favorite movie,” Blocker said.
The Collaborative Piano performance featured both piano and voice. All pianists were UIndy students under the direction of Director of Educational Outreach and Associate Professor of Music Rebecca Sorley. The vocalists were students of Music Department Chair Kathleen Hacker and Music Instructor Mitzi Westra. Two high school students studying at UIndy’s Community Music Center also joined the vocalists during the performance.
Sorley said the collaborative nature of the performance allowed listeners to appreciate the piano.
“The singer and the pianist collaborate to make a great performance. Sometimes, the pianist is called the accompanist, which denotes a lesser role,” Sorley said. “We like ‘collaboration,’ since both are important.”
Sorley said that many of the same pianists from Collaborative Piano will be in Piano Ensemble next semester, a course that focuses on duets and duos. While the Collaborative Piano consisted of a pianist and vocalist, duets consist of two pianists on one piano and duos consist of two pianists on two different pianos.
According to Sorley, the Baroque Ensemble and Collaborative Piano fit well together for the concert. Sorley was pleased with the turnout at Ruth Lilly Performance Hall.
“I was impressed,“ Blocker said. “It’s amazing to know what impressive performers are at our school.”
