Move Over Beethoven

It is late spring in Korea and that means concert time for our students as the semester winds down.  Last night we experienced KNU music at its best.  Concertos were the order of the evening with piano, clarinet, flute, and violin all having the spotlight.  I must congratulate our director and various instrumental professors who put together an outstanding night of virtuoso compositions for the students to conquer.

Having been to the Seoul Art Center and hearing some of the best professionals play, I can honestly say that the concert last night was equal to the task.  The students played with poise and precision as they literally tamed the music of Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens, Weber, and Reinecke.  All of the pieces consisted of a flurry of note playing that challenged finger and lip movement so as to dazzle the listener.  How does one play so fast and cover the entire scope of a chord progression that in an instant the instrument has been fully engaged from one end to the other?  The fingers and bow movements become literal blurs as the music is tamed seemingly without effort.   It is difficult to describe the feeling one gets as the eyes and ears are fastened on those who dare to challenge the masters.  One is tempted to stand up and yell "bravo" as the young musicians flawlessly journey through the memorized pages as if born to do so.   Mozart and company would have been proud of the youth of today who brought their music to life once again on the stage.  I know I was, and it never sounded better, anywhere!