On March 2, Joseph Glymph conducted the NEIU String Orchestra in an hour-long concert during Activity Hour. Recital Hall, where the concert took place, was nearly full with students eagerly waiting to hear where NEIU musical talents would transport them this time. Unfortunately, many listeners were to be disappointed.
While there were no major mistakes during the concert, the harmony the string orchestra usually exhibits was missing. It seemed that either the pieces they played were too over-reaching for a 25-member string orchestra, or not practiced well enough. As it was, the audience was left feeling like there was something lacking in the performance as a whole.
The musicians often looked distant and uninterested in the music they were producing. Maybe it was the stress of the looming midterms or maybe it was that the pieces they were playing were overplayed and old, but there was definitely something lacking.
Nonetheless, the NEIU String Orchestra is full of talent and, at times, their talents truly shone. Their strongest performance was a piece called “Petite Berceuse,” a sweet and somber andante lullaby, during which listeners were whisked away to a dream land. The violins, lead by concertmaster Matt Groters, played powerfully and in wonderful harmony to produce this melancholy tune.
The waltz that the string orchestra played was another strong performance. This was in part because the piece was played in a fun and light fashion with the violins and viola sounding airily and the bass and cello providing distinct beats. During this performance the bass provided a heart-thumping beat, which seemed to wake up the orchestra and engulf the audience.
Often, when the NEIU String Orchestra play, they leave their audiences wishing there were time for an encore and, based on their past performances, they have set the bar high for themselves. They are a talented group of musicians who, perhaps with a better selection of pieces, would win over their audiences again.