It’s a breezy August 18, 2021 evening on the campus of Toms River, NJ’s Ocean County College. Music lovers in lawn chairs dot the hillside above a portable stage as they wait for the start of a live performance by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra featuring the music of George Bizet, Aaron Copland, John Williams, and more.
Some relax and others picnic as concert-goers listen to an eclectic soundtrack of piped-in pop music played while NJSO musicians warm up on the stage. Whereas percussion rolls over Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” and brasses and woodwinds play scales to Sarah McLachlin’s “Building a Mystery,” string arpeggios float high above Steely Dan’s “Gaucho.”
Before the show begins, we take a moment to chat with several members of the audience including Ray from Toms River. States Ray, “We’re looking forward to hearing live music tonight. The NJSO is outstanding! I took my son to see them at the State Theater in New Brunswick when they played the music from Star Wars live with the film and we loved it!” Noting, “It’s so convenient to see them play in Toms River — it’s such a nice setting here at the college,” Ray jokes, “and if the wind blows too hard, I’m ready to catch any stray sheet music that might blow my way!”
Adds Ray’s wife, Denise, “We are NJSO fans. We took our kids to see The Nutcracker when they were little, where my son would stand and pretend to conduct the orchestra from his seat, and I’m delighted to be out again hearing concerts! We’ve been to a few small local shows this season, but we’re definitely looking forward to hearing a full orchestra play real music tonight.”
Next, we chat with a family of four from Toms River, which includes Bob and Kencis and their adult children, Ray and Kjersten. Explains Ray, 20, “We’re all musicians in this family, so I’m really looking forward to this concert.” Acknowledging, “I enjoy all genres of music but going to a classical concert is my favorite thing to do,” Ray reveals, “I study film at Montclair, so I’m really looking forward to hearing music by John Williams tonight.”
Mom Kencis tells us, “I’m an employee at Ocean County College, but I’m also in the 63rd Army Band in Sea Girt with the National Guard. Being a musician — I play clarinet and sax — I can’t wait to hear the NJSO tonight, and I’m especially looking forward to them playing music by one of my favorite composers, Aaron Copland.”
Daughter Kjersten, 18, says, “I love music — I play guitar and bass — but classical music is not my first choice,” explaining, “I really like ’60s rock by The Beatles and ’70s music by Queen, and I also like listening to today’s artists like Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, and Machine Gun Kelly.” Adding, “I think having this event outdoors tonight is a great idea,” Kjersten notes, “and I’m sure that as long as I recognize some of the pieces, I’ll enjoy it.”
Dad Bob concludes by joking, “I agree with everything they all said.”
An announcement is made that the concert is about to begin and the crowd enthusiastically applauds as conductor José Luis Domínguez takes his place on the podium in front of the NJSO. Quoting Leo Tolstoy, Domínguez begins by telling the crowd, “Music is the shorthand of emotion,” before ending by stating, “Music is magic with a melody.”
Once the orchestra has completed tuning, drums roll, and the crowd rises for the NJSO’s spirited rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. The group follows up with a performance of Chabrier’s España, where brasses call and strings play pizzicato like the plucking of a Spanish guitar. Conjuring images of a merry-go-round, clouds billow in the breeze overhead and add to the motion of the music as it crescendos before ending with a flourish.
Large applause ensues and Domínguez exclaims, “It’s nice to have a live audience to make music together! Tonight is a celebration of the sound and power of the NJSO!” After joking, “España is a composition about Spain written by a French composer, and they say if you want to hear Spanish music, listen to the French!” Domínguez announces, “Next, we will play a symphonic version of the national dance of my own country, Chile.”
Domínguez deftly conducts the music of Soro’s Tres aires chilenos №3, which is accompanied by ad-libbed whoops and hollers by the NJSO musicians while they perform, bringing smiles to the faces of appreciative music lovers in the audience.
Violinist Naomi Youngstein takes to the microphone to introduce the NJSO’s next two pieces explaining, “For 18 months I’ve been playing from my couch. It’s a pleasure to see real people!” before adding, “Next, we will hear a piece of Bizet’s ballet music, which will be followed by a composition by George Walker, an African-American composer from Montclair, NJ. This piece is dedicated to all of those people who have suffered during the pandemic.”
Quick bowing of the strings and the bouncing of bows on lower strings creates a dance-like rhythm on Bizet’s “Farandole” from L’Arlesienne Suite №2 that sets toes to tapping.
The mood dramatically changes, however, with mournful strings opening over rolling tympani on Walker’s Lyric for Strings. Beautiful melodies and harmonies drift over the audience bringing a wave of emotion which unites all who have suffered during the pandemic. The melancholic strings cry and swell with compassion and healing energy, touching listeners — bringing tears to some — as the moon hangs low in the night sky and gray storm clouds breeze by occasionally obscuring its celestial glow.
Listeners pick up on the 1930's feel of Price’s “Nimble Feet” from Dances in the Canebrakes as it changes tempos, and revel in the majestic sound of John Williams’ “Superman March” from Superman. The basses keep time with the percussion, the strings and woodwinds swirl, and the rich sound of the brass punctuates the piece.
Toes tap, flip-flops flap, and some even faux-conduct with their hands to the music on this audience pleaser.
The crowd cheers and the NJSO follows up by playing another highlight of tonight’s program, a rendition of Fernández’s Batuque. Rumbling brass, low strings, and percussion start off the piece before inviting the rest of the orchestra to join in playing the infectious patterns of this dance. Trumpets call and respond and punctuate the air, setting the stage on fire with rhythms that swell, quake, and race along as the song builds in intensity to a satisfying conclusion.
The crowd responds with enthusiastic applause and Domínguez and the NJSO launch into Aaron Copland’s “Saturday Night Waltz” from Rodeo. Flutes sound like birds on this lovely piece in triple meter which brings to mind a blossoming prairie alive with nature, accompanied in this natural setting with a billowing breeze and the night sounds of crickets and cicadas.
Another highlight of tonight’s presentation is the NJSO’s rendition of John Williams’ “Raiders March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark. The triumphant trumpets and percussion open this familiar march as it bounces and jaunts along, the conductor moving with the music, and the musicians becoming one through their powerful and mesmerizing sound.
Following enthusiastic applause, Domínguez exclaims, “It’s been a pleasure to make music for you!” before inviting all of the veterans in the audience to stand as their branch of the military is called during Armed Forces Salute, a piece which includes songs for the Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force, and Navy. Audience members happily clap along and applaud for all of the men and women who have served our country.
Domínguez steps up to the mic to ask, “A little more?” and the crowd happily responds with whistles and cheers.
He and the NJSO conclude tonight’s concert with their rendition of John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever, the audience clapping along to the conductor’s cues before exploding into cheers and whistles for the beaming NJSO musicians who take a bow to a well-earned standing ovation.
As audience members gather their belongings and make their way out of the concert area, we chat with several in the crowd who share their opinions of tonight’s performance by the NJSO.
Comments Lee from Brick, “I loved this concert — it was great! When the conductor quoted Tolstoy in the beginning — saying ‘Music is the shorthand of emotion’ and ‘Music is magic with a melody’ — I was nodding my head in agreement,” before adding, “and I was so proud to stand when they played the Army theme, I almost forgot to sit back down!”
Lee’s wife, Val, remarks, “To hear live music again after everything that has gone on this past 18 months was very moving. I especially liked the piece dedicated to the people who suffered during the pandemic. It was so beautiful, I was crying for all different reasons.” Explaining, “It was sad because it felt like it included thousands of people,” Val further notes, “and it was really powerful to hear it here, outside, surrounded by nature.”
Judy from Seaside Park agrees, exclaiming, “This concert was outstanding! I like how enthusiastic the musicians were to play for us, and we were just as enthusiastic to hear them,” before asserting, “and the piece recognizing the pandemic was very emotional.”
Whereas Maryann from Toms River acknowledges, “I’ve seen the NJSO before in New Brunswick — they’re just fantastic! They played a great variety of music tonight and I especially loved the tribute to the Armed Forces,” Lissa from Ringos concurs, adding, “I appreciated hearing both the old and new music alike.”
Lastly, we chat with Cathie from Lambertville — here celebrating her birthday — who declares, “I loved the NJSO, and I loved the personality of the conductor, José Luis Domínguez,” before exclaiming, “I feel like they gave me a great birthday present tonight!”
To learn more about upcoming concerts and events by the NJSO — including Opening Weekend: The New Jersey Symphony Returns on October 8-10 and Daniil Trifonov Plays Brahms on Nov. 4–7 — please go to njsymphony.org. To find out more about upcoming programs at Ocean County College — including John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell Present ‘Billie and Blue Eyes’ on September 16 — please click on grunincenter.org.
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