On Saturday, January 23, 2021 Dr. Scott Hagarty from the school of music held a Virtual Faculty Recital. Hagarty performed music for unaccompanied trumpet as well as trumpet and electronic accompaniment.
He was joined, and accompanied by Dr. Michael Adduci for the world premiere of Neil Flory’s newly composed piece, “Suite for Oboe and Trumpet.” Some of the works featured in the program were works by Peter Sacco, Meg Bowles, and Brooke Joyce.
“This is a strange year,” Hagarty said as he continued to explain the first part of the program. When performing “Song of War, Farewell” he wanted a piece that conveyed the essence of what the country is currently going through. “I wanted to choose something that was very intense. Something that could capture the anger, and sorrow that has happened in this country, and that’s what this piece was for me.”
In the last movement, the performance of “The Great Road” provided clarity in his mind for what we can do in the future.“In the last movement The Great Road to me sums up the path we all need to take to move forward,” Hagarthy said.
Hagarthy explained that performing for a virtual audience does have its share of differences when compared to performing live.
“It was a little weird to be honest. I knew there was an audience tuning in from all over the world, but not be able to see them in person made it odd. The most difficult thing about it was figuring out the etiquette for bowing when there is no applause or audience to acknowledge,” he said.
“Suite for Oboe and Trumpet,” was covered by Hagarty, and Adduci. This piece included six sections: Invocation, Novation, Elegy, Invention, Fragments, and Fanfare. There were exquisique staccatos techniques used to interpret the feelings, and atmosphere to the audience tuned in virtually.
Hagarthy knew he wanted to pursue a career in music back when he was in High School.
“When I sat down and thought about what I enjoyed and what I thought I was best at as a kid, music and trumpet playing seemed like the best fit,” he said.
The “fit” he described is alive and well today. Hagarthy is hopeful younger generations will seek out and appreciate the essence and experience of classical music.
“I hope that students are willing to experience classical music and enjoy something that they might not otherwise seek out through social media, spotify or YouTube,” he said. “All of the music I performed today was written within the last 50 years and classical music is still alive and well with new music being composed all the time.”