Students Discover The ‘Magic’ Of Music

By Larissa Lytwyn

The recorder, a type of flute often introduced to students as an ideal “beginner’s” instrument, is typically not regarded on the same level as the more orchestral woodwinds such as the clarinet or oboe.

But as recorder virtuoso Horacio Franco of Mexico City proved to students during his recent performance at Middle Gate Elementary School, the recorder family is rich in sound and scope.

“The recorder is actually more difficult to play than one might think,” said Mr Franco. “It is a true challenge to control the amount of air used to create its sound.”

Several of the 30-plus fourth grade recorder players, who later performed for Mr Franco, nodded in agreement from their place in the front row section of the audience.

Mr Franco’s lively recorder performances were accompanied by American Classical Orchestra (ACO) baroque cellist Christine Gummere and Maestro Thomas Crawford (costumed as classical composer Antonio Vivaldi) on harpsichord.

One of ACO’s programs is “The Magic Recorder,” a family program and traveling in-school concert that shares the history and diversity of classical music to students in grades pre-K through 12.

Mr Crawford is “The Magic Recorder’s” artistic director.

Following a vigorous opening performance by Mr Franco, Ms Gummere guided students through the unique style and musicality of the baroque cello.

“Now, as those of you who will study orchestra later on will learn,” said Ms Gummer, “it is important to warm up every time you play by playing scales.”

She invited students to call out “No!” when she played a scale in the wrong key.

The students rose gamely to the challenge, correctly crying out “No!” when Ms Gummere purposely plucked a note off-key.

Ms Gummere ended her solo turn with a performance of a small part from of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1.

Next,  Mr Crawford took the stage as Mr Vivaldi, giddily flamboyant in full 18th Century regalia, complete with powdered wig. Speaking with the grand flourishing his decadent costuming would suggest, Mr Crawford talked about the varied roots of classical music in European countries including France, England, Italy, Russia, Germany, and the Netherlands.

“And now,” Mr Crawford-as-Mr Vivaldi boomed, “Mr Franco will perform one of my many concertos!”

Concertos, he continued, were especially created for musicians who were particularly masterful in a certain instrument, such as the flute or the recorder.

“Concertos give the performer, as well as the composer, a great opportunity to show off!” Mr Crawford exclaimed.

Mr Franco then took the stage once more.

After introducing himself as a native of Mexico City whose passion for the recorder blossomed when he was first introduced to the instrument as a young boy, Mr Franco played a sharp, upbeat five-minute long Vivaldi concerto, accompanied by Mr Crawford’s playing of the harpsichord.

He finished to the sound of enthusiastic applause from his young audience.

Next, Mr Franco introduced students to the different types of recorders in the recorder family, which differ by size and sound.

For the first time, the children saw a thick, medium-sized alto recorder as well as the impressively even-larger tenor and bass recorders. Mr Franco demonstrated the different key of each instrument to illustrate each instrument’s unique sound.

Mr Crawford drew laughs when he playfully swatted Mr Franco with a rubber chicken when the recorder virtuoso blew some more adventurous, “modern” notes on the recorder.

Mr Crawford then invited ten students from grade 1 through grade 4 to the stage to take part in some good old-fashioned 19th Century dance.

The audience burst into laughter and applause as each student looped arms with Mr Crawford to skip across the stage in a series of classic dance steps, including the well-known minuet style.

The grand finale of the performance featured Mr Franco, Mr Crawford, and Ms Gummere playing “Winter” from Vivaldi’s best-known work, The Four Seasons.

Mr Crawford encouraged the children to act out the different parts of the song, such as “the icy chards of cello [notes]” through hugging their arms tightly to their chests, then chattering their teeth in tune with the recorder’s sharp shrieks.

The students particularly enjoyed stomping their feet to the pumping chords of Ms Gummere’s climactic cello.

After the event was over, recorder player Brianna LaBlanc described the ACO’s performance as “just amazing.”

“I also really enjoyed playing for Mr Franco,” Brianna said. “We just began playing the instrument in November and had been practicing our piece in preparation for Mr Franco’s visit for a long time. It went really well.”

Students also appreciated the antics of Mr Crawford, who, despite students’ skepticism, assured his audience that he was really over 300 years old.

Mr Franco said he loved playing for audiences of all ages, though children, he said, were definitely his most enthusiastic audience.

Ms Gummere, who is experiencing her first year performing in schools, said she loved the “energy” and vitality of the students.

“This group [at Middle Gate] was particularly interactive, which made the concert even more fun!” she said.

Ms Gummere also expressed concern over what she described as a growing trend — compromising music education in times of budgetary restraints.

“There is so much value in music education across the disciplines,” she said. “It’s very frustrating when [school boards] cut music out of the budget first. It should be the last thing to go.”

Mr Franco will be performing with the full American Classical Orchestra, including members Mr Crawford and Ms Gummere on Sunday, February 6, at the Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Main Street, in Norwalk.

Tickets are $15 for general admission; $20 reserved seating.

For more information, visit the ACO website at www.amerclassorch.org.