“The performance was so good. The music seemed very light and airy. Each song that they did was a little different and had its own vibe. I still saw the similarities in style between each one and can tell that both performers have good chemistry together. They really do love what they do,” said senior Gabriella Lotardo.
On Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., Sacred Heart University hosted part two of the three-day Guitar Festival, The Art of the Duo and the Diálogos Duo. The event took place on campus at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and featured Sacred Heart faculty and world-renowned musicians. The third and final part of this festival will be on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in the same location.
Director of Academic Music Programs Prof. Joe Carter stated with the exception of last year due to Covid-19, the Academic Music Program has presented a Guitar Festival every fall for the past few years. The purpose of the concert is to present the guitar in a variety of settings and showcase different genres of music.
“In the past we’ve had solo guitar, duos, trios and quartets performing Jazz, Classical and World Music styles. This year we’re focusing on Duos and showcasing how special that format is, allowing the musicians to perform in an intimate and empathetic setting,” said Carter.
Many other Sacred Heart students attended as well. The second night of the festival was about an hour long and featured clarinetist and bass clarinetist Louis Arques from Grenoble, France, and guitarist-composer Richard Boukas. Each movement was a tribute to an illustrious Brazilian composer.
“The first evening was guitar and acoustic bass performing Jazz, the second evening is guitar and clarinet performing Brazilian music and the last evening is a mix of two guitars, vocals and piano performing a mix of original music and Jazz,” said Carter.
Music is influential and impactful. It can help people express themselves and often times give them an outlet to be who they are.
According to the North Shore University Health System, music can improve mood as well as decrease pain and anxiety. It can also benefit our physical and mental health while facilitating opportunities for emotional expression.
“For me personally, music is a big part of my life and brings balance to my life. I feel I have one foot in the ‘lab’ and one foot in the ‘field.’ The lab is the classroom where I teach about music, the field is where I’m able to take those things that I teach and put them into play. I have the best of both worlds; I wouldn’t want to be strictly a teacher and I also wouldn’t want to just perform. I enjoy both and I get a lot out of doing both,” said Carter.
The second part of the show exhibited all aspects of an instrument being used. They showed how music is not just playing the instrument. During one movement, Boukas began plucking his strings, tapping the base of his guitar and even singing.
“The type of music I listen to depends on how I am feeling. Listening to the type of music that was performed at the festival was very uplifting and made me feel at ease,” said senior Brianna Goldy. “It’s not something you see every day and you can tell just how creative they are. You can also just tell how they feel the music with every piece they play.”
