Revived Antiquit
The contraption on stage appeared to have tumbled out of time. At first glance, it was a piano. But a creeping wave of idiosyncrasies eventually dissolved that initial judgment. Two rows of parallel obsidian keys stretched end to end, falling short of the expected eighty-eight. Stage lights descended with no gleam on its timeworn wooden exterior. And when the doors sealed the room in darkness and the audience eventually settled into a reverent hush, the sounds emanating from the device could only be described as dreamlike. This performance was part of Santa Clara’s Music @ Noon series, a weekly showing of free concerts, hosted on Wednesdays in the Music Recital Hall.
Arthur Haas, a world-renowned harpsichordist and celebrated music lecturer, performed a remarkable rendition of three Baroque pieces at Santa Clara on Jan. 10. Accompanied by Ray Furuta, a Santa Clara music professor, the pair led the audience through a storied musical journey, reaching through time and reminding each listener to appreciate a world of rich cultural context.
The two musicians took turns enthusiastically trading musical figures and mutual appreciation, discussing their shared history between mesmerizing renditions of Bach flute sonatas. As Haas’s harpsichord weaved an intricate backdrop of plucked notes with mathematical precision, Furuta’s flute responded effortlessly, playfully bouncing in and out with graceful intonation and movement.
After several minutes of this masterful musical relay, Haas seized the chance to reveal his great deceit. His sheet music consisted of suggested harmonies, but no instructions were given for the complex melodic motion witnessed on stage. The elaborate performance was largely improvised.
Haas was quick to note the clearly startling parallels to jazz and touched on how it would oftentimes be considered offensive for Baroque compositions to feature detailed melodic instruction, seemingly undervaluing the expertise of the performer. These musicians simply needed a venue to tap freely into the work of dreams.
Next week will feature Daniel Lippel, a seasoned guitarist whose solo and ensemble works have entranced festival-goers worldwide. Music @ Noon invites students to broaden their musical horizons and deepen their appreciation of genres through a diverse array of performance masterclasses. To stay updated on future Music @ Noon shows and campus culture events, be sure to visit the Events Calendar at events.scu.edu.