Orchestra Concert Report Sample

For this, my second concert assignment, I attended Austin Civic Orchestra’s “One of Our Own” on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center. Being that the performance was to be held at a high school campus, I was expecting for the theater to look somewhat like a converted gym, but as I walked, in I was blown away by just how beautiful it was. While I waited for the concert to begin I read through the program, and being the concert novice that I am, saw only four pieces of music. I wondered how the concert could possibly last for more than forty five minutes. It wasn’t until intermission when I reread the program that I discovered that two of the four pieces had multiple movements, so in its entirety the concert

The first movement, Moderato assai ma molto maestoso, was the most dramatic of the three. It is described in the program as having alternating themes, “the heroic Maestoso theme and a more lyrical second theme.” The Mestoso theme was created mostly by the strong, almost harsh notes played by the trombone and fast notes played by the violins which were then followed by the violins and woodwind instruments playing much more slowly before the trombone would re-enter creating the more lyrical melody of the second theme. The second movement, Andante grave, begins with only the brass instruments and the violinists playing pizzicato before playing with their bows. The violinists playing pizzicato several other times in this movement helping to create the “chant-like” characteristic described in the program. The final movement, Finale: Maestoso – Rondo, was the most fun to listen to. It had some of the drama captured in the first movement and some of the ethereal quality from the second but the rondo form added a lightness which was missing in the other