Thursday, 5/8/97 Remarkable conductor leads UCLA flutists
Students perform own compositions in upcoming performance
By Kathleen Rhames Daily Bruin Staff Aristotle once said that
the flute is an instrument with no moral effect – it is too
exciting. Its varied tones and likeness to the human voice can
produce a distinct sound that separates it from other instruments.
Today, the flute is still a major part of mainstream music and
happens to be one of the many celebrated artforms of the UCLA music
department. This Thursday, the music department will present the
UCLA Flute Consort at the Jan Popper Theater in Schoenberg Hall.
Conducted by Sheridan Stokes, the concert will feature the world
premieres of three student-composed works and a piece written by
Stokes himself. "In the 25 years that I’ve been here, UCLA has
given a lot of flute concerts," Stokes says. "This year I’m trying
out a new format which involves students writing their own pieces
and it’s working out very well." The majority of the pieces are
contemporary and push the limits of traditional flute music. From
the accompaniment of an audio tape to medieval dance and
percussion, these pieces are proof that the flute is an instrument
that is capable of transcending time and audiences. One of the
works, titled "Schism," is composed by third-year music student
Jared Ferguson and is performed in a pitch-black theater. A tape
loop that he arranged on his computer blares out over the
auditorium loudspeakers. Helicopters buzz and voices carry. Then,
suddenly, over the chaotic whir of the tape, the pure melodious
tone of a flute pierces the darkness. "I have an idea in my head of
what I want to play but it’s really just structured improvisation,"
Ferguson says. "People have an expectation that a concert like this
is going to be boring, so I try to make it a different experience
for them. Playing in the darkness allows the audience to
concentrate on what’s (recorded on) the tape and listen to me
without any distractions." While Ferguson’s "Schism" is a
contemporary mix of flute music and external sounds, other pieces
in the show are more traditional. "Medieval," composed by
first-year student Mary Fukushima, incorporates dancers and
elaborate costumes into her flute playing. Stokes believes in
integrating the music with the audience as much as possible. To
create a surround-sound effect, students play in the aisles of the
auditorium as well as as on stage. While he does conduct parts of
the concert, Stokes feels the students learn more from listening to
each other and reacting to each other’s music than from following a
regimented repertoire. "Conductors are an unnecessary evil and
should be avoided whenever possible," Stokes says. "It’s much
better for the students to interpret the music by listening to each
other. This is an in-house production (in which) everyone’s
involved. Rather than just playing standard works, students learn
from composing their own pieces and it generates a lot of
enthusiasm from them." And Stokes should know. With flute
composition credits to his name like the 1960s original score of
the television series "Mission Impossible," and 25 years as a UCLA
faculty member, he has a lifetime of experience to give to a
performance. This Thursday, Stokes hopes his enthusiasm will rub
off on concert goers. "My students love to perform and so for me,
this is the ideal platform for that," Stokes says. MUSIC: The UCLA
Flute Consort premieres May 8 at the Jan Popper Theater at 8 p.m.
Admission is free. For more information call 825-4761. "Rather than
just playing standard works, students learn from composing their
own pieces …" Sheridan Stokes Conductor Related Links: UCLA Music
Dept.