By PJ Carmody
TPA’s annual Cantamus and Sinfonia concert was formed years ago after TPA’s own “symphony” was created. It was called Varsity Strings back then and now goes by Sinfonia. On Tuesday, the spring concert for Cantamus and Sinfonia was held, and a new musical group performed their first performance ever.
Cantamus and Sinfonia are adapted to the routine of concerts. Every year they merge to perform a fall concert and a spring concert. Both groups perform numerous pieces and have even collaborated on pieces in the past.
For the concert that occurred this week, TPA’s Cantamus choir prepared “quite a variety of music,” Dr. Wolfe explains, “from two 20th century beautiful pieces of choral art and a renaissance villancico to a spiritual and also a kind of fun piece that I wrote.”
In the same manner, Sinfonia worked hard to prepare pieces for performance, including a premier with Cantamus of a piece written by TPA’s own Erik Bolt. Both groups rehearse early in the morning on scheduled mornings around 7 a.m.
The knock-off from this concert tradition occurred as the newly formed Percussion Club cut in on the action. Mr. Tripoli created Percussion Club this year and they hit the ground running. They dove into learning basic percussion skills and were able to use their skills to cheer on the basketball team.
Most recently, they had been preparing for their concert. “This is a really great step for us,” Mr. Tripoli says. Deciding on a piece for the concert was difficult. Percussion is very loud and rhythmic, while the Cantamus choir along with Sinfonia is more flowing and graceful. It would have been a bit jarring to have Percussion play cadences such as those performed at the sporting events amidst this night of harmonization.
Rather, Mr. Tripoli decided to tone it down by preparing a “chamber-style piece, but with elements of stomp or forms of percussion that use alternate instruments.” Mr. Tripoli wrote it himself and the group experimented with it a lot during morning rehearsal. “It’s been fun seeing the kids build up the theatrical aspects of it,” Mr. Tripoli added. The Percussion Club sees promise in collaboration with the other groups. This may prevail in future concerts.
The Percussion Club hopes to hit the ground running toward the end of the summer and then perform at football games. They hope to eventually have their own additional performance night. If percussion interests you, make sure to contact Dr. Wolfe (head of extracurricular activities) or any member of the club. You can also stop by any rehearsal on Wednesday or Friday morning before school at 7 a.m. in room 507.
The students drive the spring concert and the instructors thoroughly enjoy their roles. This growing concert proves the expansion of the music department at TPA.