Written by: Emily White
On Sunday, Oct. 6, Southern’s Symphony Orchestra performed their first concert of the year. The program began with Giuseppe Verdi’s overture to La Forza del Destino, followed by Giovanni Bottesini’s Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor. After a brief intermission, the orchestra played their final piece, Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor. The concert was highly praised, described as “gorgeous” by Instagram user @eliyah_sprenkle and “amazing” by Instagram user @abdiel_v07. Ariana Anderson, freshman psychology major, said, “I would 100% go to another orchestra concert because it was such an amazing experience.”
However, as one might assume, the concert experience is very different as a performer.
Have you ever wondered what the musicians themselves think about their performance? Question no longer! Some delightful orchestra members and I (the timpanist) are happy to share our thoughts on the concert.
Many of us, myself included, were intrigued when we received our music for the double bass concerto because double basses don’t project sound very well. Because of this, some were concerned that we would drown out the bass soloist. The concert featured Taylor Brown, principal double bass of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. Micah Norwood, second violinist, said, “I really liked listening to the performer because he was really amazing, but playing it was stressful to try to stay on time and hear what was going on.” Caitlin Cordero, cellist, expressed similar sentiments: “My least favorite part was the second movement of the bass concerto because I felt that we may have been too loud, and the bassist may have felt that he had to play out more which can sometimes cause strain in tone.”
However, despite these worries, everything turned out fine at the concert. Aliyah Cox, second violinist, said, “What surprised me most was the volume of our talented double bass soloist; he was able to soar above the sound of nearly a hundred orchestra members despite the many rehearsals that made us worry he would not be heard.”
Lyndi Brenton, first violin, said, “It was very cool to be able to see the full range of the instrument, especially since it rarely receives the spotlight. My favorite parts were the cadenzas, where the bass could really show off its richness. The harmonics [he played] were also very beautiful.” A final thought about the bass concerto comes from Soren Pang, second violinist: “[It] was nice, but the second movement was really slow, which made me sleepy.”
Most people I know in the orchestra were excited to start the year with the Mendelssohn symphony. As the timpanist, my favorite part was the brisk second movement, when I was able to hit the drums quickly and loudly, something that every percussionist looks forward to. However, many orchestra members had tricky, rapid passages in that movement that they spent hours agonizing over. Cordero said, “I felt like my [cello] bow and my brain required all of my energy in order to stay in sync.” Stay in sync we did, thanks to our wonderful conductor, Mrs. Cadwallader.
The Mendelssohn symphony finished with a joyful, exhilarating allegro maestoso assai at the end of the fourth movement, a fantastic conclusion to our first concert of the year. Eric Marsollier, concertmaster, said, “In the finale of the fourth movement, I couldn’t help but take a glance at everyone in the strings, and they were beaming with delight, so as we finished, many caught my eye and my smile and couldn’t help but grin.”
Reflecting on the concert as a whole, Marsollier remarked, “I’m very proud of the group for performing this concert so well . . . I knew that we were capable of such a performance and I look forward to seeing how this group grows and matures as we play throughout the rest of the year.”
