Orchestra Concert

I was unable to attend either of the two symphony orchestra concerts this semester due to my busy schedule as a rugby player, however, I had attended a symphony orchestra concert last Fall semester with my girlfriend for her St. Josephs College music class at the Stony Brook University Staller Center. I was hesitant to use this experience as it was slightly over a year ago and I fear that I may have forgotten certain important details. I can still remember certain key elements from the concert and the impact it had upon myself. I have also spoken to another friend that recently attended a Stony Brook University symphony orchestra concert in order to stimulate any dormant and preconscious thoughts I may have had in my head of my own experience.

I do not remember the exact date of the concert however I do remember it was one of the first really cold days of Winter. My girlfriend had told me about the concert weeks earlier but I had forgotten until she mentioned it that evening. I was strongly against going and suggested she bring a friend instead of myself but none of her friends could attend. I was certainly not looking forward to this event, especially since it wasn't even required for myself for any reason whatsoever. We arrived at the Stony Brook Staller Center extremely uncomfortable in the frigid weather. I was even more appalled when I found out that the concert would cost almost $20 for the two of us. We were seated in a rather large room and we waited with much anticipation and anxiety, I wanted the music to begin for the sole reason that the sooner it started, the sooner it would end. The audience was primarily made up of older people over the age of 55 years old. It was not what I would label: "my scene". The already large hall harbored a packed audience of 500 or so people. The audience was noisy and also seemed to be squirming with anticipation, probably for a varying reason than myself. The concert began and I was astonished as to how quiet the incredibly large audience became. It was so quite that I could not adjust in my seat without drawing attention to myself nor could I whisper the slightest comment to my girlfriend.

The concert was not as I expected. The orchestra played 2 or 3 pieces. Each piece, however, was incredibly long. I haven't much memory to describe the first piece except for that it seemed to return to the original beginning over and over again. The second piece varied from the first piece primarily in one way; the addition of a piano. This is what I have learned just recently to be called a concerto. The piano was not only an added instrument, it was the focus of the piece. The pianist performed many solos throughout the long performance that flowed brilliantly from full orchestral accompaniment to just the piano with a few violins in the background.

The sound of the music itself was also something that greatly sticks out in my mind. It was unlike anything I have heard of classical orchestra music in the past. The music reverberated off the walls without any apparent distortion. I am fairly certain that the dome like appearance of the recital hall was designed especially for such reason.

The amazingly distinctive sound was preserved by the concert hall itself, but it was the performers that brought it to life. The performers was apparently flawless. I am a perfectionist and I love to pick out any minor mistakes made whether it be in a movie