Sequenza21/The Contemporary Classical Music Weekly

Last Night in L.A. - Branca's 100 Guitars

The program for the Minimalist Festival concerts, available last month, included quotations from Kyle Gann�s review of Glenn Branca�s Symphony No. 13, Hallucination City (2001/2006). Among these, Gann said: �Starting at a deafening level, the work got louder almost throughout.� While this turned out to be an exceptionally accurate example of Truth in Advertising, I thought it was a tactical error on the part of the Phil to publish such a comment ahead of time; I thought it was a statement designed to keep most of the subscribers I know far away from the concert. I was right about that. I could see hardly anyone I recognized from the regular Philharmonic concerts.

On the other hand, the forewarning apparently didn't deter many non-regulars. The tickets for the concert seemed to be completely sold out, with people visible in the most remote seats in the auditorium. People in their 20s and 30s. People who don�t attend Philharmonic concerts. The volunteer players among the 100 electric guitars included several with cameras who were taking pictures of the audience, and I�m sure they felt their work was worth it to get to perform before so many people who were so enthusiastic at the result. Management priced this concert at $10 a ticket, the same price they are charging for tonight�s piano recital. Bravo. Hurrah for the Philharmonic.

And hurrah for the musicians. The program named the 100 performers (40 alto guitars, 30 tenor guitars, 10 baritone guitars, 20 basses) who gave their time and training and attention to this performance. While I doubt that Disney Hall has had an audience like this before, I also doubt that this stage has seen such a set of performers. It was fun to watch individuals and to speculate on individual histories and amount of performance background. Some were counting beats and measures diligently. Some had difficulty looking up from the score (or directions). Some were loose. All were concentrating. All seemed very pleased at the end, pleased with what they had accomplished, and pleased with the standing ovations from the audience. John Myers was conductor, and Virgil Moorefield was drummer. The work was the version in four movements, performed at Montclair State in February.

The ushers were distributing free ear plugs at the doors. I took a pair. I wasn�t sure I�d use them, but I got them ready when I saw several of the musicians inserting theirs. One musician wore a set of ear phones. I was glad to have the plugs to dampen the volume. I occasionally removed the ear plugs so that I could appreciate the wider range of pitch and timbre but I quickly put them back. I really did appreciate the times when the conductor led the musicians in long diminuendo, down to forte. Sorry to be such a wuss.

posted by Jerry Zinser 3/30/2006