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International Solo Concert #5
By Dean | August 7, 2008
Paul: This is the final solo concert of the international symposium.
Dean: The first piece was performed by the Handbell Ringers of Japan Team One(Japan) under the direction of Yukiko Suzuki. They are playing Regal Procession by Douglas E Wagner. A different piece was introduced. This group looks like they are having a blast playing this piece. Its a very up beat song. They got everyone clapping with them. A fun piece. Great for a concert opener.
Paul: This is a group of older Japanese ringers all in blue striped shirts.
Dean: The second piece was performed by Tapestry(USA). They played The Entertainer by Scott Joplin arranged by Michael Helman. A piece I know. Tapestry is a quartet. There are hands moving everywhere. It would be like playing this piece on the piano without using your thumbs. Bell Toss. One of the ringers played a note in one hand and tossed it to the other to damp. What a great performance. The four of them were really working hard to bring out the music. Flawless.
Paul: This is a quartet arranged by Michael Helman. The quartet of women are very well rehearsed and are really doing an amazing job with this song. This quintessential piano rag is none too easy for the pianist who attempts it let alone trying to play it on handbells. So far I have not heard one missed note. These women are really making it seem like one instrument is playing the song.
Dean: The third piece was performed by Paya Lebar Methodist Girls School Handbell Ensemble(Singapore) under the direction of Helimmi Ahmad Ibrahim. The played Lenggang KangKong by Dr. Christopher Fong. This group is playing with out music. The tones coming from the bells are very strange and wonderful. The composer has mixed bells, chimes, and techniques to create a very unique sound. This performance was filled with dance, movement and such wonderful playing I could not stop watching. I think this will be the piece I will remember from this week.
Paul: Jenny informs us that through this song we will be transported to Southeast Aisa. It’s true. Using mostly pentatonic notes gives this song a uniquely Asian flavor. This is what I enjoy most about the Symposium…hearing music written for handbells using scales and sonorities that are not Western. I think it really fits the instrument well.
Dean: The fourth piece was performed by The Carilloneers(USA) under the direction of Bill Waggener. They played Gold Rush Gals by William L Waggener. Rubin Mendoza is subbing in this group. The song is a collection of old west tunes. The composer did a wonderful job of blending the different tunes together.
Paul: Time for a hokey song! Or I should say, time for a traditional American type song. This is a medley. It begins with “O Susanna” then “My Darlin’ Clementine” then “Cindy”, now it’s time for a layering of songs we have O Susanna and Cindy layered on top of each other which is pretty cool.
Dean: The fifth piece was performed by Capanas Universitarias(Puerto Rico) under the direction of Nelida Munoz. They played Our Latin Passion by Cheyla Marrero. I have been waiting for this piece. It starts with them marching in to their spot in the room while playing drums. Wow, this is a fast and festive piece. The group is moving and dancing to the music. Paul went to catch a little on video. For anyone looking for a lesson on how to feel the music, you need only to look the Puerto Rican groups. They are playing and spinning around dancing and they don’t miss a beat. The whole room is getting charged up. I see many people moving along with them. Standing ovation from parts of the crowd. OK, now I have two pieces that will be my favorites from this week.
Paul: Song begins with the choir dancing down the aisle clapping and then WOW. The sonorities that sound forth from this group are like nothing I’ve ever heard before. It’s so full of passion and emotion. The addition of conga and electric bass really fill out the sound in this room and it gets rocking. There is a standing ovation and a mighty cheer from the crowd when this song is over.
Dean: The Sixth piece was performed by Barbara Brocker(USA). She played Classical Tree-O by Bach, Grieg, Debussy arranged by Barbara Brocker. Barbara is playing a number of bell trees with piano accompaniment. She has two mallets in each hand. I am glad this is something so completely different from the last piece. She is doing an amazing job playing. I have played a bell tree in the past. One of the hardest things about a tree is keeping it from spinning away while you play. Barbara not only keeps the control, but also has amazing dynamics. This reminds me of someone playing a harp. Her arms are wrapped around the bell trees and playing notes on each of 4 trees at the same time.
Paul: It looks as if this next soloist is going to be playing the entire song on bell trees! How unique! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a song played exclusively on bell trees. Barbara is using 2 mallets in each hand and is sometimes playing 2 bells with each hand at one time. This is a very interesting medley. It began with a Bach piece and now it has moved on to Grieg’s “Morning” song, then it moves into a Debussy song. All the songs are very ethereal in nature which makes the bell trees work really well. Wow, the arpeggios at the end are amazing and include very well done crescendo’s.
Dean: The last piece was performed by Kinjo Gakuin Senior High School Handbell Choir(Japan) under the direction of Yasushi Kamai. They played Seven Bridges by Kazuko Okamoto. There are two rows of ringers. Seven Bridges means Rainbow. The performers have on colored shirts that form a rainbow. This is a fun song. I would love to play this song someday. This is the third piece we have heard from this composer this week. The others were Cantilena and So-Lan-Bushi. The tune is very catchy. From the looks of the group, it keeps everyone busy.
Paul: 2 groups play the next song at the same time. It’s a very lovely song in 6/8. At one point the bass becomes a bit too heavy and begins to rush the thumb damped treble melody, but they recover and end the piece with a beautiful restatement of the melody in a faster tempo. I have to say that the melody is quite catchy and will probably be stuck in my head for the rest of the night. Delightful.
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