Spring Break
Sax on the Stage: Joly mixes classical with contemporary
Caitlin Mazzola
Issue date: 3/18/09 Section: Focus
Saxophonist Derek Joly challenged the notions of conventional music in his recital on Tuesday in von der Mehden Recital Hall, sponsored by the School of Fine Arts' Department of Music. His array of both contemporary and classical pieces intrigued his small but enthusiastic audience.
Omitting an introduction, Joly, a 2005 UConn alum with a bachelor degree in music performance, stepped onto the stage and dove straight into the music. He opened with Christian Lauba's "Balafone," a contemporary piece that utilizes a method called circular breathing, which Joly describes as a way to draw breath and integrate that breath to "creep into the sound," creating a sub tone to underlie the saxophone's sound. Zach Schmidt, a 3rd semester management and information systems major and student of Joly's, was impressed. "He played `Balafone' for me about a year ago," said Schmidt. "It's awesome to see how far it's come."
"Balafone," the epitome of outlandish contemporary music, set the tone for the rest of the performance. This particular song was characterized by abrupt trills and bursts, quick and complicated fingering and loud blasts - not at all the jazzy feeling that saxophones have become associated with. Joly's set shifted between contemporary and classical, which not only showed he has mastered, but also helped the audience digest what they were hearing by balancing the weird with the normal.
Following this pattern, the next song was a classical piece entitled "Meditation," composed by Jules Masseent. Joly was accompanied by pianist and 6th semester music performance and education major Conor Calabro. This piece began with a majestic introduction on the piano, but mellowed into a sweet, romantic arrangement.
After "Meditation," Joly took a moment to introduce his next contemporary selection. He took Luciano Berio's "Sequenza VIIb" and made it his own, incorporating "many contemporary extensions and techniques." 5 saxophonists accompanied Joly, who switched to a soprano sax. The accompanying saxophones blared, reminiscent of a TV test alert signal, for the entire piece. Joly, always commanding the attention of the audience, despite the accompaniment, delivered a well played yet bizarre piece filled with short bursts and blasts, similar to "Balafone."
Omitting an introduction, Joly, a 2005 UConn alum with a bachelor degree in music performance, stepped onto the stage and dove straight into the music. He opened with Christian Lauba's "Balafone," a contemporary piece that utilizes a method called circular breathing, which Joly describes as a way to draw breath and integrate that breath to "creep into the sound," creating a sub tone to underlie the saxophone's sound. Zach Schmidt, a 3rd semester management and information systems major and student of Joly's, was impressed. "He played `Balafone' for me about a year ago," said Schmidt. "It's awesome to see how far it's come."
"Balafone," the epitome of outlandish contemporary music, set the tone for the rest of the performance. This particular song was characterized by abrupt trills and bursts, quick and complicated fingering and loud blasts - not at all the jazzy feeling that saxophones have become associated with. Joly's set shifted between contemporary and classical, which not only showed he has mastered, but also helped the audience digest what they were hearing by balancing the weird with the normal.
Following this pattern, the next song was a classical piece entitled "Meditation," composed by Jules Masseent. Joly was accompanied by pianist and 6th semester music performance and education major Conor Calabro. This piece began with a majestic introduction on the piano, but mellowed into a sweet, romantic arrangement.
After "Meditation," Joly took a moment to introduce his next contemporary selection. He took Luciano Berio's "Sequenza VIIb" and made it his own, incorporating "many contemporary extensions and techniques." 5 saxophonists accompanied Joly, who switched to a soprano sax. The accompanying saxophones blared, reminiscent of a TV test alert signal, for the entire piece. Joly, always commanding the attention of the audience, despite the accompaniment, delivered a well played yet bizarre piece filled with short bursts and blasts, similar to "Balafone."
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