Adding musical weight to the notion that there’s much more to do at U of T aside from going to class, the Gryphon Trio performed at Walter Hall at the Faculty of Music last Tuesday night. Appearing as part of the faculty-sponsored Chamber Music Series, the internationally renowned Canadian chamber group delighted its audience with a diverse trio of works.
Playing in front of an attentive mix of seasoned concert-goers and enthusiastic students were Annalee Patipatanakoon on violin, Roman Borys on cello, and James Parker on piano. The concert opened with a Haydn piano trio described as “charming” by Parker, who recently assumed the R. E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance at the Faculty of Music and was warmly received by his students in the audience. This spirited piece set the tone for what was to be a wonderful evening of sound.
Composer Chan Ka Nin was called to the stage, recognizable from his music theory and composition classes at U of T, to introduce a work he composed for the Gryphon Trio. “and the masks evoke…” is a musical interpretation of the culture and lifestyle of Canada’s Native peoples (specifically those in northern B.C.) presented with the use of ceremonial masks.
During the performance, images of Native masks created by contemporary Vancouver artists were projected onto a screen, adding atmosphere and colour to what was already a very evocative piece. The innovative work was designed to emulate the sounds of nature and the supernatural. The musicians were challenged in the performance, just as the audience was in the listening, to draw meaning from the seemingly random sounds. One section saw pianist Parker plunge deep into the innards of the massive Steinway piano to pluck its bare strings, while cellist Borys took his bow to the blade of a saw, producing an ethereal, haunting sound.
For its final selection, a piano quartet by Brahms, the trio called upon another U of T music prof, violist Scott St. John, to add depth and strength to the strings. This substantial work showcased the exhilarating talent and interpretive skills of the group, especially Parker, whose fingers flew with such blinding speed it was a wonder he didn’t fall off his chair. A rousing first movement drew out some beautifully lyrical melodic moments, carried by Patipatanakoon’s expressive bowing and underscored by Borys’ sonorous bass.
The group seemed to lose its focus somewhat during the second and third movements. While their impressive technical skill never faltered, it seemed as though the captivating hold they had had on the audience thus far was beginning to fade. But they roared back with a breathtaking fourth movement that brought the concert to a fever pitch. Energy crackled from the instruments as the performers went all out for a dynamic, dazzlingly theatrical finish to the evening.
Having been guided through three substantial works of chamber music, the audience was left struck not only by the skill and poised coordination of the Gryphon Trio, but especially by the connection forged between music, ensemble and audience. These talented musicians are very genuine performers who throw themselves into the music (physically and emotionally) and aren’t afraid to show audiences that they are having a great time playing.
The Faculty of Music offers events like this regularly-this two-hour concert cost only $11 for students, well worth it for a night of great live music. For more information on upcoming Faculty of Music events, call the box office at 416-978-3744, or visit www.utoronto.ca/music.
