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Wednesday October 5, 2011
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
City Stars
By: Jenniffer Jennings
Favorite album: Nicki Minaj, “Pink Friday� Favorite song: Romans Revenge Review: “It’s really creative. It’s easy for anyone to listen to. I enjoy it.� Dropping almost a year ago, “Pink Friday� is still buzzing in the streets amongst her Barbie and Ken dolls.
Deshawn Williams Undecided Favorite album: Jay-Z and Kanye West, “Watch the Throne� Favorite song: N****s in Paris Review: “I love every song. [It’s] two major artists collaborating and showing teamwork.� Two of the greatest rappers in the industry come together to produce what is anticipated to be one of the greatest albums in Hip-Hop history, selling 436,000 during the first week.
Cassandra Blake Nursing Favorite album: Drake, “Thank Me Later Favorite song: Fireworks feat. Alicia keys Review: “I completely feel like he’s speaking what I am living. I feel like I’m in tune with everything he is saying.� Using a mix of rapping and singing, Drake debuts with an incredible album with features from Jay_Z, Young Jeezy and Jhene, creating a feel that various music lovers can listen too.
Music Series Gets Audience By Richard Martinez
This past Thursday, I headed out to the Music Department’s eighth concert of the semester and realized I did not know who was playing that afternoon. The identities of the musicians were not yet announced. There definitely was a sense of excitement buzzing around as the crowd waited to gather into the room that the Music Department had commandeered as the new auditorium for the concert series. Bassist Tony Grosso introduced himself and his fellow musician pianist Mary Au to the crowd. Grosso, who had dropped out of the music scene for 25 years, was determined to demonstrate just how much potential the double bass had as a solo instrument. I was not quite sure what to expect, so I sat back and watched as they performed Henry Eccles’ beautifully somber sonata for double bass and piano. They surprised everyone in attendance, when Au told the
story of how she injured her arm months prior to the concert and how she contacted Grosso to teach her ways to rehabilitate her arm allowing the injury to heal. Grosso got the audience to stand, and he performed several relaxation exercises encouraging everyone to join. We bounced on our feet while shaking our hands, rubbed our arms and legs to in effort to intake and expel energy. It was profoundly silly and uplifting. You really could not help but smile as everyone around you participated along. Both performers did an outstanding job interacting with the audience. After they performed a few more songs, Au convinced Grosso to demonstrate a Tai Chi sequence along with her musical accompaniment. While the sequence was forgettable, it allowed me to appreciate Au’s playing ability, because Grosso’s double bass previously overshadowed her
accompaniment. The melody she played was lovely and Grosso moved fluidly with the music. The best number of the night was “Moses Variations,� by Niccolo Paganini for double bass and piano. The song stood out, demonstrating how beautiful Au’s playing was. It did justice to Grosso’s message about the double bass and its potential to stand alone in a piece. As their last performance, Grosso and Au performed the world premiere of “A Simple Ditty� an upbeat song by composer Carol Worthey who transcribed the original for this engagement. Worthey is creating children’s choirs on the belief that “music can untie people throughout the world.� Au had hoped her performance demonstrated “that music is fun and relaxing.� Ultimately, a feat I believe was accomplished.
Tania Carpena Liberal Arts Favorite album: The Weeknd, “Thursday� Favorite song: Rolling Stone Review: “Aggressive but subtle. I give it 9 out of 10 stars. He’s not there yet, but you can tell he is on his way.� Introduced by Drake to the world through twitter, The Weeknd is still an upcoming artist who uses his music to touch on heavy subjects like drugs and sex, delivered with an R&B feel.
Photos by Patrick Chong/Collegian Tony Grosso plays his double bass for the Music Department’s presentation of its concert series.
Mohamed Aziz Business Administration
Mary Au accompanies Grosso’s distinctive bass playing during the concert series presentation by the Music Department.
Music Department October Events
Events
Tuesday, October 11th Ruben Gideon, pianist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Thursday, October 13th Yoshi Masuda, cellist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Tuesday, October 18th Ayse Taspinar, pianist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm
REVIEW
Photo by Rocio Maya/Collegian
Mrs. Appleyard (Kelsey Murray) on left and Irish Tom (Wes Myers) on the right are planning a horse getaway at the dress rehearsal for the “Picnic at Hanging� Rock.
“I’m hoping that the audience will be captivated and get hooked by the troubled events; I hope everyone will start to follow along and become engaged in how it will all turn out.�- Louie Piday The sun sets just as gentle whispers and heavy tension mixed with anticipation surround the theater room in the world-renowned Camino Theater. Actors and actresses quickly read though lines, while costume and set designers make finishing touches on their current projects. It is official - in just two hours the doors will open, curtains will rise, and audience members will be seated. It is time for the Theater Academy to present their charming production of “Picnic at Hanging Rock�. “Picnic at Hanging Rock,� written by Laura Annawyn Shames, takes place during the Victorian era. An extravagate piece of work lead under the direction of Louie Piday, and based on a book by Joan Lindsay, the play depicts a mystery involving a group girls from Appleyard College boarding school who go missing after a field trip. Hanging Rock sets the stage as the audience is sucked into the lives of the girls from Appleyard College. The first scene, greets the audience as the girls are preparing for their field trip, dressed in long white linen
dresses with ruffle trim covering their necks, the girls become images of innocence and purity. As they embrace nature around Hanging Rock four girls decide to venture off from the group and explore. Miranda played by Neva McIntosh, Marion played by Rene Aranda, Irma played by Rylin Knox and Edith played by Gabrielle Lamb soon find themselves at the top of Hanging Rock. After embracing the nature of the mountain they lie down and as if taken over by the ghostly spirits that haunt Hanging Rock the girls (Miranda, Marion, and Irma) walk away ignoring the cries of Edith, who runs in horror back to the basin of the daunting mountain. What follows next is an engrossing series of events. Imagery is let loose as the audience follows characters though split stage sets, dim lights, conjoined scenery, and extravagate costumes that explode with color to symbolize the importance of many characters such as Head Mistress Mrs. Appleyard played by Kelsey Jean Murray and Albert Crundall played by Daniel Button. It is with
this tragedy the truth of the characters personality unfolds. As Louie Piday says, “When tragedy happens, people either pull together or fall apart.� When the alarming news of the disappearance emerge many of the characters dynamics change. The characters that once seemed confident become insecure and unaware. Some characters become eager to learn the facts, others are more concern with accusation, and others are still left to wonder if they will ever really know the truth. The truth that leads to an unbelievable ending that will astonish and electrify the audience. When asked what she hopes the audience will gain from watching the play Piday says, “I’m hoping that the audience will be captivated and get hooked by the troubled events; I hope everyone will start to follow along and become engaged in how it will all turn out.� Theater Academy has done it once again and brought a wonderful production to LACC. If this is a preview of what is to come this semester, we have a lot to look forward to.
Thursday, October 20th Eric Alan Foster, guitarist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Tuesday, October 25th Laszlo Cser, pianist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Thursday, October 27th LACC Musical Theater, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm
Dianne Depoities on left (Catherine Boily) is discussing Sara’s wellbeing with Mrs. Appleyard (Kelsey Murray) at the dress rehearsal for “Picnic at Hanging Rock.�
Photo by Rocio Maya/Collegian
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
Object of Art Music without the Middleman By Lauren Arevalo
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