Live Reaction of Niele's ABEL Listening Presentation

This is a live reaction of Niele's ABEL listening presentation. Niele chose a wide variety of pieces, many of those were from underrepresented composers. I had not heard a single piece from this playlist and I was pleasantly surprised with each one. Some surprised me with their beauty in composition and performance and others surprised me with their powerful message. These are my thoughts:

A Song for Japan by Steven Velherst performed by Tokyo Brass Symphony

    The Tokyo Brass Symphony's precision and expressiveness made this piece a compelling tribute to Japan. The precision, musicality and phrasing filled the piece with emotion and beaty. 

Princess Kaguya Suite for Trombone Quartet by Keiko Takashima performed by TINTS Trombone Quartet

    This piece is musical telling of the Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. There are three chapters with narration in between each one: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3. The TINTS Trombone Quartet was phenomenal. There were calls in the first chapter for an instance shift from bucket mute to open, and they incorporated and theatrical shift was stunning musically and visually. The stage was also set many many theatrical/visual elements such as decorative paper over the bucket mutes, a kimono set up in front of a backdrop, which hide the bells. The performance was highly musical as well. The quartet phrased and blended very well, even throughout long and strenuous sections.

Apollo: A Concert Overture for 10 Horns by Kerry Turner performed by Alexander Horn Ensemble

    This ensemble presented a great execution of technical precision and expressive power. The ensemble was able to create an awe inspiring sense of grandeur to reflect the Greek god Apollo. They performed with an amazing pallet of orchestral texture, tight coordination, and a rich tonal color. I could see this becoming a stand piece in horn ensemble literature. 

A Womand's Choice for Brass Quintet and Spoken Word by Shanyse Strickland

    This piece stuck out to me the most because of it's thought-provoking fusion of music and spoken word. This piece was released less than a month ago and includes dialogue aimed towards our current political climate in the U.S. Directly towards abortion laws. The brass supporting the narrative is aggressive, beautiful, resilient, horrifying and empowering. Shanyse Stickland did an amazing job combining the emotional weight of the topic with music. This piece deserves a moment of reflection after listening to it.

Bayou Boardwalk and Chasing Prey movements of Scenes from the Bayou by Gina Gillie performed by EGalitarian Brass Trio

    This piece immerses the listener in a reflective, almost mysterious atmosphere, with the brass trio’s warm tones painting a picture of slow, scenic beauty. In contrast, Chasing Prey bursts with energy and urgency, as the trio skillfully conveys the tension and movement of a predator’s pursuit. Together, these movements transports the listener to the heart of the bayou, full of calm and thrilling intensity. The videography also aids in the creation of this mental picture, since they filmed the trio performing outside in nature.