Music 100 Concert Report

Music 100-05 Orchestra Concert Report 1 The piece preformed was Clarinet Quintet in b minor, OP. 115 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). The piece had four movements: Allegro, Adagio, Andantino, Con moto and because it was a quintet, there were five musicians. There were two violins, played by Gregory Maytan and Oleg Bezuglov. There was one viola and one cello, played respectively by Paul Swantek and Pablo Mahave-Veglia. The clarinet was played by Arthur Campbell. Allegro, as the first movement is named, means to have a quick paced tempo. This movement starts with the first and second violins playing followed by the cello and viola, then finally the clarinet comes in over the rest of the musicians. This movement may be fast paced, but the tone of the movement is melancholy in some areas. The theme of the movement is played several times over. The theme of Allegro is the opening phrases where the first and second violins start, then add in the cello and viola, then the clarinet. This repeating phrase throughout the first movement helps create a pattern and a story. What is interesting in this movement is that the opening theme sets up the rest of the piece. Brahms changes the theme in each movement, but this original theme is still present in each movement after. The end of Allegro is built up into a large climax by using crescendo, a heavier and more violent bow stroke, and more rapid notes than are present in the rest of the piece.
The Adagio, in contrast to the first movement, is slower paced and softer. The tone of this movement is in great contrast to the first as well. The mood is dark and full of anguish and despair, whereas in the first the mood was lighter. This mood is created by the difference in the style in which the musicians are playing. The clarinet in this movement plays lower notes that are sustained for long periods of time while the violin plays the melody over it.
The first two movements of the piece are much lengthier than the last