Students and community members were treated to a diverse recital by the Lincoln Trio on Sept. 14 in the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts.
Pieces performed varied from classics by Beethoven and Brahms to more contemporary pieces by Garrop and Schenfeld. Students said they were impressed by the variety of the pieces as well as the energy and perfection displayed by the Lincoln Trio.
“As a student, it is just so inspiring to hear someone play like that because we sit in the practice rooms for hours every day and I’ve never sounded like that no matter what I play or how much I practice,” said Mark Hartvigsen, junior piano performance major. “It’s inspiring to see where it could lead, to see someone who’s worked hard and you know you can go through that same process.”
The value of the diversity of the pieces performed did not fall on deaf ears. Jude Streicher, sophomore composition major, said he really appreciated this aspect of the recital.
“I think as a culture, in a broad sense, there are certain groups. You get the pop culture and the old fashion culture. People from all different ages are branching apart,” he said. “I think sometimes there are a lot of prejudices between them. I don’t know about some of the people in the audience but certain people may have been offended that they played a jazzy piece like the Café piece which is beyond the 19th century.”
Streicher said he believes more students should take advantage of the aspect of diversity in music, especially by going to recitals like the one the Lincoln Trio did on Friday.
“To understand music today we have to understand music from long ago and one of the most exciting ways to do that is to listen to live performances,” Streicher said. “It’s so different from listening to a CD. I think students should be more open to it and should come and experience it in order to get that well-rounded education that they’re trying to get here at Boise State.”
The Lincoln Trio is composed of pianist Marta Aznavoorian, violinist Desiree Ruhstrat and cellist David Cunliff.
This was the first of four Boise Chamber Music Series performances put on by the Boise Chamber Music Society and the Boise State Department of Music.
In addition to the recital, students and community members were able to attend a Master Class with Aznavoorian.
Ryan Wight, junior piano performance major, was able to attend both events and said he enjoyed the experience.
“It was really cool to go to the performance the night before, to see them in action and then to have the pianist come the next day to do the clinic,” Wight said. “It was a pretty neat experience. You have to take advantage of it while you have it.”
As part of the Master Class, Aznavoorian listened to two groups play and then gave critiques and encouragement after each performance.
Jessica Tweedie, sophomore piano performance major, said she respected Aznavoorian’s input.
“I really appreciate that she wasn’t nit-picking on the notes that I was failing, that she focused more on concepts,” Tweedie said. “She’s such a wonderful, encouraging person and just amazing in everything she did with the playing and teaching.”
Students can look forward to future recitals and master classes in the Boise Chamber Music Series. Details on upcoming performances can be found at Boise Chamber Music’s website.
