The Gabe Gallegos Experiment, a senior recital for Gabe Gallegos featuring multiple musicians and styles, deviated from usual traditions. The event took place at Robinson Theatre inide the Colorado Mesa University Moss Performing Arts Center on March 12 at 7:30 PM.
Most junior and senior recitals take place in Love Recital Hall, but due to the large audience, wide stage set and need for additional technology, the performance took place in Robinson Theatre. In addition to music performances, the event included projected videos to accompany pre-recorded pieces and dance numbers.
After a video opening, the performance began with “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” written by Solomon Burke, originally composed as a church march. The piece was performed in an ensemble with vocals interspersed.
“While our version is quite different from a church offering, the excitement, joy, and energy is definitely present,” the event’s program notes described.
The following piece was “Strasbourg/St. Denis” by trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Gallegos selected the piece to commemorate Hargrove, who passed away on Nov. 2, 2018.
“It is a simple piece yet grooves so hard,” Gallegos said in the program notes. “I would consider ‘Strasbourg/St. Denis’ a modern-day standard.”
The third piece introduced something different — the curtains closed, then reopened with fog and blue lights illuminating the stage. Gallegos had arranged and pre-recorded the song “Pure Imagination,” with Jonathon Ramos and Olivia Crochet performing a dance piece alongside it.
“I tried to play on the idea of Wonka’s factory,” Gallegos explained in the program. “The factory is manmade on the outside, but has a natural, yet other-worldly vibe.”
The following piece was familiar to the audience — “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman, variations of which are present in all three Toy Story movies. The arrangement was performed by a small ensemble on stage.
Following the piece, the projection screen was rolled out once again and a short film was shown alongside the piece “Mystic with a Credit Card,” written by Michael Colgrass. The music behind it was a trombone solo.
“This excerpt for trombone explores the instrument’s entire emotional scope, which spans from gently expressive to barbaric, including glissandos to growls,” the program notes read.
“Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap and arranged by Mike Forbes was the next piece of the night, performed by a small ensemble of low brass. The original song was recorded with a device called a vocoder, which allows a single human voice to be altered and multiplied into harmonies.
“The rich, extraterrestrial harmonies created by the vocoder were perfect to be recreated for none other than… the tuba,” the program notes explained.
Gallegos entered the stage alone for an arrangement of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a tribute to the eight years he spent with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps. As the piece progressed, more musicians entered the stage and joined in.
“Every time I hear the beautiful Battle Hymn melody, I will always remember my years with my home away from home,” Gallegos said.
The performance ended with “Binky” by Michael League, a piece that involved many musicians on stage, as well as light and sound technology to enhance the piece’s experience. Musicians took advantage of wireless connections and came offstage to interact with audience members, instruments in hand. The conclusion received a standing ovation.
Gallegos and the members of his band stood in the lobby after the performance to greet audience members.
Because Gallegos is a music business major, he could choose between performing a senior recital or doing a senior project. “The Gabe Gallegos Experiment” was his way of doing both.
