The Dallas County Museum Annex in Fordyce hosted a special musical presentation earlier this month.
The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Student Chamber Music Tour performed for local citizens. The hour-long presentation was divided into four different ensembles: the Nomad Brass, two zero one, SYS Trio and Rose Quartz Winds.
Katey Halbert, a professor of French harp at the university, was taking her students on a three-day whirlwind tour of Arkansas communities with stops in Sheridan and Malvern before rounding out their day in Fordyce.
The 14-member touring group began with a performance at Rison High School before traveling to Perryville for an outdoor concert in their city park. They wrapped up their tour the next day with any appearance in Alma High School before returning to Fayetteville for an evening homecoming program in the Jim & Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center at UA.
“Each of the four ensembles gives a 15-minute presentation,” Halbert said. “The first group, Nomad Brass, is a trio consisting of French horn, trombone and trumpet.”
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She went on to describe the other three chamber groups.
“Two zero one is a collection of four saxophones: alto, tenor, baritone and soprano. The third group, SYS Trio is made up of French horn, trombone and tuba while the final five players, Rose Quartz Winds are a woodwind quintet with flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet and French harp.”
The musicians were prepared for the tour.
“These students have rehearsed over the entire school year preparing for this tour. Being in small groups allows us to go into more confined spaces and give our presentations. It gives us greater accessibility to smaller audiences,” she said.
The intimate nature of their music needs no PA or amplification.
She further explained how this is only the second year of the Student Chamber Music Tour and how they have been enthusiastically received at all the stops. The tour is sponsored by contributions from donors.
The first ensemble’s repertoire ranged from a rapid, quirky syncopated synthesis to a slower, melodic melancholy mood. The unique combination of brass instruments complemented one another perfectly. The trio concluded their portion with an arrangement entitled, “Tango.” The number contained a palpable Spanish, mariachi flavor.
The next quartet, two zero one, featured a complete array of saxophones. Their offering began with “Sarajevo,” composed by contemporary artist Guillermo Logo. They then proceeded to “Sympathy,” by Florence Price followed by a medley of Danish folk songs. The traditional northern European numbers favored melodies heard in the “Fiddler on the Roof” soundtrack.
The four piece concluded the second set of the evening with a number by Jennifer Higdon titled, “Bop.” The final movement contained a flavor not unlike the rock/jazz group, “Blood, Sweat and Tears.”
The third portion of the program came from SYS Trio and featured a combination of French horn, tuba and trombone. Their segment wandered into shades of Appalachian Mountain music. They concluded with a Bach anthem that blended the distinct voices of the three very different brass instruments into a harmonious, multi-layered palette.
Rose Quartz Winds rounded out the evening. The presentation played by the quintet of talented young people ranged from soaring harmonies to individual vignettes blended to pleasant perfection, with the oboe and clarinet trading duos with the bassoon and flute while the French horn filled in with either pair.
The finale of the program were three shanties. The brooding overtures full of haunting refrains reminded one of the soundtrack from Disney’s “Fantasia.” The mix concluded with the more whimsical and familiar movement, “What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor?”
“The student ensembles were chosen for their professionalism and musical ability,” according to the program of the tour.
For details on the Student Chamber Music Tour, contact Katey Halbert at katelynh@uark.edu or #uarkchambertour.
Among the four performing groups that appeared was the Rose Quartz Woodwinds quintet, who wrapped up the hour of chamber music with the sea shanty, ‘What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor.’ (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)