Quintet Inspires Students

Akron Beacon Journal - September 27, 2005

by Elaine Gureglan

Imani Winds perform, encourage love of music during visit to school

Classical and more.

That's what about 180 musicians from the Akron and Barberton school districts (mostly high school students, some middle-schoolers) got at a lecture-demonstration Monday.

The Imani Winds ("Imani" is Swhili for "faith") are in town to open Tuesday Musical's season tonight at E.J. Thomas Hall. The ensemble consist of five African-American and Hispanic musicians. Monday, the woodwind quintet had two half-day residencies at Perkins.

"Their interest in African and Latin music is something completely different. That's not your everyday woodwind quintet. That's great for our students." said Sally Chikia, coordinator of fine arts for the Akron Public Schools.

Down-to earth explanations, interspersed with playing and dialogue with the audience, made for a fast moving morning session. Among other things, the quintet (flute,oboe,clarinet,bassoon and French horn) previewed music composed by the renowned jazz clarinetist/saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, who will perform with them at tonight's concert.

Branching out was on flutist Valerie Coleman's mind when she started forming the New York based group in 1997. Coleman wanted musicians of color. And she wanted them to play classical music, but repertoire that would build bridges between European, African and other cultures. Tonight, the group will play music by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla (famous for reinventing the tango), as well as by classic French composer Maurice Kavel.

"some of the fun of playing music in 2005 is that you don't have to be limited in styles. Sometimes I like to play a little polka with my friends,"said clarinetist Marian Adam, demonstrating during her turn speaking to the students.

Coleman got students to listen intently to a New Orleans-themed piece by composer Lalo Schifrin (Mission Impossible). What did it have to with current events, she asked. (A whirling figure reminded her of a hurricane.)

The students were full of questions. Where had the musicians studied? They hold degrees from top Conservatories, among them, the Oberlin Conservatory, Mannes College of Music, the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School.

The Fench hornist, Jeff Scott, was asked what it's like to be the only man playing in "an all-girl group." Smart man. He focused on a theme of mutual respect and support, rather than male/female policies.

By the end of this easygoing program, the clarinetist had slipped off her sandals as the quintet played African-American composer William Grant Still's peaceful Summerland.

But it wasn't over when the program ended. Students came up to the stage to talk shop and ask more questions. The players continued in the same encouraging tone. When clarinetist Adam showed students a copy of the first score the quintet had played, a Scherzo by Eugene Bozza, they gasped at how many notes were on the page.

"It's got a lot of notes but it's all a chromatic scale," Adam said encouragingly. "Can you play a chromatic scale?" She then demonstrated one, half step by half step.

Tuesday Musical provided the students with vouchers to get into tonight's concert. "You guys come to the concert (tonight) and I'll play some bass clarinet," Adam promised, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.

From the looks on the student's faces, it seemed she might have a sale.