Orchestra presents winter concert

The University of South Dakota symphony orchestra will take audience members at their winter concert on a historical journey through time.

“Generally, the orchestra features three different pieces of music, offering it only four times a year,” said Richard Rognstad, the conductor of the orchestra. “Each portion comes from different periods in history dating back to the 1300s.”

The free concert on Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. will start with an organ concerto by Josef Rheinberger, followed by a piece from George Frideric Handel’s “Water Music” and finally, a famous Georges Bizet piece:  “L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2.”

“We chose the Rheinberger piece because we wanted something that would feature the newly-renovated organ at Aalfs, “ Rognstad said.

The third and final piece, “French L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2,” is the largest orchestra piece that the symphony orchestra will be performing and includes four movements.

“Each piece will last roughly 20 minutes,” Rognstad said.

This concert differs from last year’s performance because it previously featured all American pieces.

“Drawing near the months of the symphony, it may require a lot of work for some, and others it may not,” Rognstad said.

Kate Mathews, principal bassist for the symphony and fifth year senior, said she doesn’t practice much outside of symphony rehearsal.

“For actual symphony, I don’t practice too much, just because the bass parts aren’t too tough generally,” she said. “I practice my solo music for my recital at least an hour a day. We rehearse as a group for symphony three hours a week, an hour and a half each Wednesday and Thursday nights.”

Freshman Abigail Sandberg will play the cello in the orchestra. She said she does practice more for concerts.

“Because I’m the newest member and youngest of the cello section, I am pushed in a good way to perform well so I personally practice the music every day for at least a little while to keep the challenging parts in my fingers,” Sandberg said.

Rognstad said the concert offers something for everyone and encourages students to come enjoy a different style of music than they may be used to hearing.

Reach reporter Dylan Geuther at [email protected].