Assistant Professor of Music Brian Krinke stepped out onto the stage of the Asteria Theatre and graced his audience with a sentimental musical performance. He performed three piano pieces, two combined piano and violin pieces and one solo violin piece with an accompanied narrator.
The stage was dressed in an incredibly simple way: a grand piano sat alone, on a stage with nothing else save for different colored lights accompanying the music in flooding the listers’ senses.
In my interview with Krinke, he expressed to me his hope that the audience would be able to focus on the music, which is why he intentionally chose the lonely piano to sit on stage.
The pieces Krinke chose all had significant sentimental value to him, with many included that his mother used to play. The audience could see how much respect Krinke had for the music he performed, as he played each piece entirely from memory, making the show feel more intimate.
The passion displayed for his craft was very palpable. It was as if Krinke was having a conversation with his instruments and the audience just happened to be there. Krinke demonstrated sincere musical integrity, playing the crescendos and marcatos with profound emotion which roped the listener into the stories being spoken.
My favorite piece was “Ferdinand the Bull” which Krinke performed on violin while Maxwell Reilly narrated. It reminded me of reading a book to a child, comforting and nostalgic.
I respect that Krinke included this piece for his Storytelling in Music performance. It shows how music can add to a story and be impactful on its own. Krinke demonstrated this again with “Carmen Fantasy,” a piece from a French opera that contains only music.
The recital was free for CMU students – a privilege that more could take advantage of.
The arts are a form of free expression that should be handled with care, just as Krinke demonstrated. His display of talent and unwavering passion for music was such a refreshing sight to behold. It seems to be increasingly harder to find in this day and age.
I encourage anyone who has an interest in the musical arts to go see a performance; not only is it a great opportunity to experience such inspiring and soulful music and talent, but also a great way to connect with our community here at CMU.
