Music is one of the most unique performing arts due to the way it has evolved. Styles and melodies considered unfit in one era are displayed prominently in another. The two concerts previewed in this report have two different and distinct techniques. The first performance that I attended was a symphonic concert playing a mix of contemporary and early 20th century works at Carnegie Hall. The second performance was an organ recital highlighted by the live performance of Bach's most well-known pieces. Hopefully, this term paper will objectively and subjectively critique and compare the two performances.
             An orchestra is a collection of a variety of instruments usually consisting of brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion sections. In the concert at Carnegie Hall, the music was abundant in tone color and a variety of pitches and moods. While the Bach music played by the organist could only demonstrate one type of sound, the multitude of instruments at the conductor's disposal can flood the listener with a variety of sounds. The key pieces of music performed were "Music for Violin and Orchestra" by Maazel and "Symphony No. 1 in D major" by Mahler. Maazal's piece pits the virtuoso, Maazel, against the entire orchestra. It seems to be a sophisticated concerto with the violinist and the orchestra dueling with each other. Unlike Baroque music, the mood changes constantly, at one moment the violin conveys a tranquil image only to be shattered by the dissonance created by the orchestra. While Toccata and Fugue in D minor is a piece of absolute music, Maazal's music is program music. The main theme is sort of a violinist's journey and struggles with the much more powerful monster-like orchestra.
             Objectively, the odd notes from the percussion coupled with the frequent use of low tone color instruments (e.g. bassoon, bass) created tension. The trills provided by the virtuoso and the strings section displayed a tension reserved only for the sh...