Composers mix language, music for recital
More than 100 people got to see some upperclassmen and women go out in musical style Sunday afternoon.
One of the most well-received pieces during a compostition recital in Staples Family Concert Hall was “Tres Poemas de Amore, Muerte y Vida” composed by graduate assistant Neil Anderson-Himmelspach and conducted by Erika Johnson, Texas graduate student.
Johnson commissioned the piece to use for completion of her masters degree for conducting.
The piece featured a choir, piano, marimba and poems spoken by Jessica Swisher, Battle Creek senior, and Jeremy Sheckell, Redford sophomore.
“I really liked the three Spanish poems,” said Amy Sarow, Saginaw sophomore. “It was interesting the way they tied speaking and singing, using the marimba made it very haunting.”
The program opened with an original piece titled “Prelude and Madness,” by James Fusik, Muskegon senior.
The CMU Recital Choir and CMU World Premiere Band then performed four original pieces.
“It went well; we’ve been working on it since January,” said Jessica Livernois, choir member and White Lake senior. “It was a very difficult piece.”
Connecticut graduate student Ben Aldridge, Mount Pleasant graduate student Scott Kosloski and Illinois graduate student Sarah Whitlock, all CMU conductors, put the program together.
“Everyone here spent time and hours they don’t have to make this possible,” Anderson-Himmelspach said.
The second half of the program included pieces about Lake Superior and one by Aldridge, inspired by the five steps of grief.
The program closed with a fast and lively piece conducted by Kosloski called “ADHD,” written by Jordan M. Eismeier.
Michelle Hartwig, Carleton junior, performed on tuba with the World Premier Band during the event.
“This program is a great opportunity for composers and performers,” she said.
