Post-Finals Treat

For those students who actually showed up to school on the last day of school, Band Director Brad Hogarth and Orchestra Director Matthew Cmiel performed pieces for trumpet and guitar for the few students who came, Mr. Cmiel on guitar and Mr. Hogarth on trumpet. This was a real treat and a great farewell before the summer.

The pieces performed:

•  Osvaldo Golijov, Agonia from La Pasion
• Maurice Ravel, Piece In The Form Of A Habanera
• Heitor Villa-Lobos, Aria From Bachianas Brasilieras Number 5
• Manuel De Falla, Homanaje Tombeau Por La Claude Debussy
• Astor Piazzolla, Cafe 1930 from The History Of The Tango

Trumpet and guitar are two instruments that are so different that it would seem performing a piece together would not be fitting. This was, however, not the case. Of course, I was skeptical, but the belligerent harshness of the trumpet and sweet, quiet tone of the guitar produced a lovely tone. 

The pieces Mr. Hogarth and Mr. Cmiel performed weren't originally written for trumpet and guitar, but the music was so natural in fluidity that one would have never guessed that those were arrangements. 

My three favorites were Ravel's Piece In The Form Of A Habanera, Falla's Homanaje Tombeau Por La Claude Debussy, and Piazzolla's Cafe 1930 from The History Of The Tango. 

I especially enjoyed the Ravel because of the overall spirit of the piece and the performance. Homanaje Tombeau Por La Claude Debussy, Mr. Cmiel's solo, had a feel of nostalgia and respect for Debussy. For the Piazzolla piece, I felt like everyone sitting in the audience wanted to just get up and start dancing.

I look forward to next year's end of the year concert!