Issue 48 - March 13th, 2014 - Grand Valley Lanthorn by Grand Valley Lanthorn

A11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MARCH 13, 2014 GRAND VALLEY LANTHORN

You have 60 seconds. Ready? Go! Annual competition gives composers a minute to create a musical piece

DSPECHT@LANTHORN.COM

n January, the Grand Valley State University Art Gallery unveiled “The History of Space Photography,” which features 50 noteworthy images taken during the last 50 years of space exploration. While this exhib-

it, located in the Performing Arts Center on the Allendale Campus, provides visitors with an astounding visual experience in itself, a group of students has worked to further enhance the gallery by adding a musical element to the mix. Since 2009, the Grand

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS

hether you’re ethnically Irish and proud, or have no idea what a Blarney Stone is, one thing is for sure- everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. For the 21-and-up crowd, this weekend abounds with drink specials and rowdy fun. From the infamous street party Irish on Ionia to the many pubs located in downtown Grand Rapids, everyone is sure to find something to their liking. For those who will be celebrating in a more sober fashion, there is no shortage of events to check out. LaughFest continues through Sunday, as will the GVSU International Festival. For those choosing to indulge this weekend, please drink responsibly. No one likes the idiot who decides to get behind the wheel and drive after having a few.

THURSDAY 3.13

FRIDAY 3.14

Laughter Yoga Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. 7 p.m., free admission

Improv Comedy Show MIP Library Multipurpose Room 7-8 p.m., $2 admission

College Stand-Up Showcase McFadden’s Pub 7 p.m., free admission

The Kickback Improv Dog Story Theater 7 & 9 p.m., free admission

Full Frontal Nerdity The Pyramid Scheme 7 p.m., free admission

Irish Ceili & Ice Cream Social 24 Fountain Street NE 7-9:45 p.m., $10

*Comedy with Yousef Erakat a.k.a FouseyTube Loosemore Auditorium 6-8 p.m., (LIB 100/201 approved)

Duke’s Ball 7-10:30 p.m. Grand River Room 7-10:30 p.m. (LIB 100/201- approved)

SATURDAY 3.15

MONDAY 3.17

Grand Rapids St. Patrick’s Day Parade The corner of Monroe St. and Lyon St. before heading down Monroe Center and ending at Veterans Park 11 a.m.

“The Wearin’ of the Green” Parade Kicks off at the north end of Main Street in downtown Grand Rapids and ends at The Fenian’s, which will feature live music and no cover charge 10:55 a.m.

Irish on Ionia Ionia Street. 7 a.m.-11 p.m., tickets are $15 at the door www.irishonionia.com St. Patrick’s Day Party and Reubens St. Adalbert’s Aid Society of downtown Grand Rapids 1-5 p.m. www.fifthstreethall.com *Fête de la Francophonie The Loosemore Auditorium 1-5 p.m. LIB 100/201-approved

prised of images snapped by astronauts, astronomers and data visualization experts. The performance is being held March 13 at 8 p.m. in the GVSU Art Gallery and is free and open to the public. The composers are aware of who the performing musicians are ahead of time and what instruments they will be using. This year, the ensemble will include a piano, cello, clarinet, flute, saxophone, violin and percussion. The compositions are submitted anonymously and then premiered by the ensemble among the exhibit that inspired the works. Out of the 28 submissions, three winners will be selected by the panel of judges to receive cash prizes. There are no guidelines for the judges, meaning that they will come up with their own criteria and simply choose the works that they like best. According to ensemble director Bill Ryan, the student composers aren’t just in it for the cash prizes. “This is a good opportunity for the composers to practice writing something with a fixed, brief duration,” Ryan said. “It’s very chal-

lenging to present someAccording to Joshua thing interesting when you Dreyer, the ensemble’s peronly have 60 seconds to do cussionist, the competition so.” is actually more of an educaIn prior years, the com- tional exercise. position competition was “The composers get to based on GVSU Art Gallery see how their music sounds exhibits that when it is played dealt with a vaand if they riety of topics, should’ve done such as Pueblo things differentIndian pottery ...to be able to ly,” Dreyer said. and the AmeriHe explained can Museum of switch gears that although Magic. the composers every minute are looking to Ryan added that it’s also a is difficult. the same exhibit challenge for for inspiration, students to BILL RYAN each of the 28 ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR compose a piece submissions for both acousshould sound tic instruments and elec- very different from one antronics — something that other. The concert is an opthe competition requires. By portunity that is unique to performing each of the en- GVSU. tries, the contest also allows “At many schools you for the seven performing can’t get your pieces permembers of the GVSU New formed because a lot of Music Ensemble to put their schools don’t have full enskill sets to the test. sembles,” Dreyer said. “And “For the ensemble mem- if they do, they don’t necesbers, the biggest challenge sarily have enough time to is being able to rapidly per- perform the pieces that the form the 26 works,” he said. students compose.” “Each one is very different, New music is gaining furand to be able to switch ther traction at GVSU and gears every minute is quite continues to be an inspiradifficult.” tion to its young composers.

Exploring the Music of William Henry Pommer Cook-DeWitt Center. 8-9:30 p.m., free admission

McFadden’s Irish breakfast Doors open at 7a.m and a live DJ will start at 12 p.m. www.mcfaddensgrandrapids.com *Mulligan’s Doors open at 12 p.m.

*Part of the Intercultural Festival LaughFest event

COURTESY | BILL RYAN

BY DAVID SPECHT

Valley State University New Music Ensemble has held an annual composition competition in which student composers prepare original 60-second works inspired by specific pieces found in the GVSU Art Gallery. This year’s competition boasts compositions that mesh with items organized by the California/International Arts Foundation and are com-

Making music: Grand Valley State University’s New Music Ensemble is hosting its annual Composition Competition for students to create one-minute pieces about the art exhibit.

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*Soul Food Café The Pere Marquette Room 7-9 p.m. Our Diversity Show! The Wealthy Theatre 8 p.m., $7 admission

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