GRETCHEN E. MAYER | STAFF REPORTER
First Impressions
Junior Kim Busic, a violin performance major, said the music she planned to perform in her recital reflects a variety of her interests.
“[The recital] has music from all eras, so you get to hear where classic music has its roots,” Busic said.
Her words rang true throughout the show, and the pain in her left arm due to a dog bite last summer did not affect her ability to perform under pressure.
She began her concert with Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 8 in G major, Op. 30, No. 3. The sonata consisted of three movements.
The first movement (Allegro Assai) began with the violin and the piano together.
Anna Briscoe, the pianist, accompanied Busic in the performance by unifying a fast but precise tune.
The second movement (Tempo Di Minuetto), however, slowed down the pacing of the show. The pianist was given a solo to start, but sounds from the violin came roaring right after.
Briefly, in the middle of the sonata, the piano accompaniment morphed into a waltz with the violin. This was a pleasant surprise. A running theme throughout Busic’s show was dynamicism. One tune continuously raced until it was time for the next.
The third movement (Allegro Vivace), also began with the piano. It was a very fast movement full of delight.
Although many of the pieces performed had a furious pace, none of it felt rushed. The musicians breathed together at the ends of the phrases, which helped the music stay in perfect synchronization.
The sonata ended with a finality that was fitting for a Beethoven sonata. Both Busic and Briscoe ended together perfectly, concluding the act with a smile for the audience.
The violinist entered the stage a second time playing the following piece: Sonata for Violin Solo, Op. 31, No. 2 by Paul Hindemith.
This piece consisted of four movements (all with German titles). No translation was provided, but the music spoke for itself.
The first movement included double stops, trills, and extremely high notes.
The second movement had a mournful tone complete with double stops in between the melodies. The movement switched between high and low ranges from the violin.
But, when it came to the third movement, Busic casually placed her bow down on its stand and plucked and strummed the chords. This was, for my money, the most exciting and rhythmic part of the show.
Busic later picked up her bow to begin the fourth movement and this set deviated from the rest, but none of the momentum was lost.
The next piece on Busic’s program was Cèsar Franck’s Violin Sonata in A major. This sonata consisted of four movements.
Briscoe, the accompanist, reappeared to perform this piece with Busic.
The first movement (Allegretto moderato) was very peaceful. The music intensified into a beautiful climax that resolved satisfactorily.
The piano had rich chords while Busic had a melody on the violin that was pleasant to the ear throughout this movement.
The second movement (Allegro), was very fast. Briscoe’s fingers flew off the piano keys. Then the violin appeared with a full tone.
The third movement had a lot of mood changes but Busic and Briscoe stayed in sync. The two artists compliment each other well. I hope they plan to perform again as a pair in the future.
The fourth and final movement ended the show well, and, throughout the recital, Busic maintained her composure and delivered a stunning performance.
Final Thoughts
The audience at this recital was neither large or small. It consisted mostly of students, a few professors, Busic’s family members, and possibly a few people from the community.
Busic received a standing ovation at the end.
After the show, Busic said she did not feel any pain in her arm, but she laughingly said her high heel shoes caused a little discomfort.
All in all, even with an unfortunate few months due to an injury, Busic showed her audience that she could come to the stage and deliver a well-played show.
