Essay Sample on Attending Hamburg NDR Symphony Concert: A Listening Experience

Last week I attended a concert held at the performing art center of New Jersey by the Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra. During the presentation, I was mainly a perceptive listener. Therefore, I paid attention to the pieces performed to describe various musical terminologies and styles applied. My concentration helped to analyze the performances and write a good report about the pieces presented. The concert comprised of two pieces only accomplished with enthusiastic praise and applause.

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Violin Concerto by Piotr Tchaikovsky was the first piece to analyze as it was performed. It featured a famous violinist as the soloist known as Midori. The style used was a contemporary symphony. It was classified into three movements, the first being introduced with an orchestra playing a crescendo followed by the soloist appearance. From this position, the texture ranged between the homophony coming from the full orchestra and the solo violin monophony.

Melody violin was repeated in different instruments with high tempo and contrast in dynamics. The first movement demonstrated Midori's talent and ability on the instrument. Also, the movement relaxed the minds of the audience as the majority stayed calm and focused. The soloist produced a high pitch slowing down to a brisk pace. The movement closed with a full orchestra of a steady beat from fortissimo.

The next movement started in the woodwinds with a melody of legato punctuated by horns note. It was an alarming experience suited to prepare for applause and celebration of a particular victory. The movement stayed somber with an excitement period noted by an active orchestra playing. The violins added pizzicato note scales as the melody changed to a legato solo with basses. Later, the violin took over the solo, raising the pace for the whole orchestra. I think the piece's movements were meant to show applause and celebration of peace, love, and unity felt across the country.

The second music piece to analyze was the Symphony of Gustav Mahler, Titan. It took a longer time than the first one. It was special in a way that it incorporated daily sounds like bird songs, bulge calls, and dance tunes that offered a wide variety of tone colors. It started with an undertone that was thick-textured. The introduction also included a kind of woodwinds hunting call that persisted throughout the music.

Another tone present was the trumpets' bright fanfare accompanied by a light falling melody produced by the full orchestra. The piece mainly revealed an appreciation of nature and the gifts associated with it. The melody was intended to calm the audience's thoughts. It was gratifying such that one would feel passion and love in the hall. After a while, all music instruments started playing a steady beat, gradually raising the tension.

Also, drum-like beats were played tuning the audience from a relaxed to a jovial mood. The beats made me feel like getting up from the chair to join the dancing group. The rhythm had consistent beats accompanying sweet love lyrics that made me feel excited and jovial.

At the point, the entire performance was meant to boost listeners' moods and create fun as the performance of the two pieces came to an end. The experience was heartwarming and enjoyable. I experienced a vast play of musical instruments such as violin, piano, trumpets, horn, flute, hard, double bass, among others.

Reference

Ponte Singers. (2020, April). P.Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (Ponte Orchestra). YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ9ozbfQyuk