Orchestra concert brings two famous pieces

The University of South Dakota’s orchestra will take on two classic pieces Thursday as part of the Spring Orchestra Concert.

The orchestra will play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, a piece known for its powerful opening notes, and Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf”, a Russian piece originally made to teach children about different instruments. 

Professor of music and conductor of the pieces, Richard Rognstad, said the orchestra has not performed Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony since the 1990s. 

“It was time again,” Rognstad said. 

Rognstad said a strong cello and bass section has helped the piece come to life, and that the 50-student orchestra is excited to play.

“It’s wonderful to play one of these great pieces because you can get inside it,” Rognstad said. “You really get into the interworking of the piece.”

The first movement of the symphony will be conducted by graduate student Victor Yip. 

Rognstad said parts of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony are usually played at music auditions.

“It’s that challenging and that difficult,” Rognstad said. “Beethoven was stretching the boundaries of everything.”

Sophomore Sarah Schmidt plays the role of the Bird. Schmidt, a flute player, is the only musician playing the role, unlike Peter, who is played by the strings.

Schmidt said playing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has also been difficult.

“It takes a lot of endurance because it’s such a long piece,” Schmidt said. 

Because Beethoven was innovative with the piece, it makes it harder to learn, Rognstad said.

“Beethoven broke tradition,” Rognstad said. “He ends up playing mind games with us. Sometimes he gives us what’s expected, or delays a pattern or something else.”

Rognstad said the concert should give audiences the opportunity to hear a popular piece of orchestral music.

“It’s the most famous work for a really good reason,” Rognstad said. 

Rognstad said the difficulty of “Peter and the Wolf” is directed at the woodwinds.

“I’m really lucky to have good woodwind players,” Rognstad said. 

Schmidt said the Bird has been a challenging role.

“It’s just really technical passages,” Schmidt said. “It’s a lot of notes in a short time. It’s been a lot of slow practice to get the parts down.”

The Russian piece has different instruments cast as characters while a speaker narrates the action. Rognstad said falling into character is typical for musicians.

“All musicians strive to vary the character of what we play,” Rognstad said. “We have to communicate these characters. The players are good at that.” 

Associate professor of history Dave Burrow is the narrator of Peter and the Wolf. At times, Burrow speaks while the instruments are playing, but there are other times the music stops for him to speak. 

Due to the varied moments when he must speak, Burrow has to read the score to know when his cues are.

“That’s been an interesting adjustment,” Burrow said. 

Burrow said because the piece was written for children, he has had to keep the intended audience in mind.

“The temptation is to really show off and do funny voices,” Burrow said. “You want to read it so children can understand it, you want to read it straight.”