Insanity and an Intense Old Man

Review by Jack Duggan

I never thought of an old man playing a violin when I heard the word intensity… until I saw this show. At The First Monday at Jordan Hall, three separate pieces were played.  The first included pianists, and four singers, the next piece included a flutist, a pianist, and a cellist.  The final piece had a pianist, violinist, and a cellist.  While each piece shared some instruments, each was vastly different from the next. The differences in each performance such as lighting and positioning on stage made each individual piece seem just that, individual. However, the venue itself was a bit distracting.  The stage was very spacious and simple, but there was a complex design backing the musicians. This design took a little of my attention away from the artists. 

 The three musicians in the last piece were all evidently passionate about their work.  Especially the violinist. As he played his body vigorously jerked around, at times it seemed as he might even fall from his chair.  The piece matched this intensity with its fast pace and varying volume.  This piece accomplished what the other two did not, it captured my full attention.  It never felt as though the piece was stale or dragging on.  The tone and volume varied a fair amount. However, the way in which the artists kept the energy high even in times where the music itself was calm kept the performance fresh and unpredictable.  Each individual instrument could be heard, and it never felt as though any one sound was overpowered.  From start to finish the third piece in the concert was an excellent listening experience.  The third piece clearly stood out from the rest, and not only to me. As I left Jordan Hall, I heard many discussing how the third piece was their personal favorite.  All three pieces had individual successes and failures, but none left a lasting imprint like the third piece did.  All in all, the three musicians in the final piece delivered an excellent high energy performance.

A strong differentiating aspect of each piece was the emotions it made the audience feel.  While each piece produced certain feelings within the audience, these feelings were most apparent in the second piece. The piece was supposed to encapsulate the sound of a humpback whale. While the whale sounds did not personally resonate with me, the piece conveyed an unsettling and eerie vibe that could not be shaken.  The piece began with the flutist playing notes, while simultaneously humming into the microphone.  These two actions together created a unique sound.   Once this sound was combined with the piano and cello, the piece began to sound a bit disjointed.  However, instead of hurting the piece, it added to the unnerving tone the piece produced.   It genuinely felt as though I was going insane while listening to the piece.  As odd as it sounds, that is what made the piece so intriguing. 

The First Monday at Jordan Hall was such a stimulating performance because each piece was so unique compared to the others.   The songs may have shared instruments, but the pieces used the instruments in separate ways.  In one piece the piano was played by strumming the chords inside of it, and in the other two it was played conventionally.   Each piece introduces an emotion the previous had not. I would encourage anyone to go see this show and experience the pieces for themselves.