BENNETT: Series was special to the ears, heart

The Odessa College Music Master Series has succeeded in presenting one of the most memorable piano concerts I have had the privilege of hearing.

They brought the Steinway Artist pianist Richard Dowling in concert at the Globe of the Great Southwest on Thursday night.

I must confess that I have known Richard for about three years. He now owns the store in Houston where I have bought my sheet music for my music studio for many years. I have seen him at the Texas Music Teachers Association conferences. In fact I have been a “featured Texas composer” at his booth during the “Meet the Composer” sessions for the last three years. I have visited his store inside Steinway Hall in New York City. I have heard him give extraordinary workshops on the music of Gershwin. I have bought and used his editions of Debussy and Ravel but nothing prepared me for this amazing performance.

Richard is a nice guy.

Richard loves to play the piano.

Therefore this nice guy gave a performance characterized by his affable nature that was displayed when he gave enlightening background comments on the pieces about to be played and proceeded to do so with blazing facility.

He connected the syncopation of the opening Beethoven Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No.1 with the syncopation we were to hear late in the program, which was devoted to Ragtime.

This consummate artist can easily play the most difficult technical passages and fit them into the context of the music, standing in stark contrast to the performer who would play them just for show. This is the difference between a seasoned artist as opposed to one who has just recently acquired the ability to play such daunting passages. 

I reiterate: he has amazing blazing facility.

I was introduced to some pieces I did not know. His second number was the Earl Wild transcription of the Larghetto from Chopin’s Concerto 64 No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21. This was an interesting arrangement of a piece written for solo piano and orchestra in which the intricate piano part has the orchestral parts integrated into the solo piano.

Sometimes you get so tired of genius! Just when you think you have done something outstanding you realize that one of the great masters did something better at age five!

The “Introduction and Variations in B-Flat Major, Op.2 ,”on Mozart’s “La ci darem la mano,” from Don Giovanni was written as a piece that Chopin wrote at age 16 to introduce himself to Viennese music circles. Mr,Dowling confessed that it was not performed very often because it was so difficult. Then he proceeded to play it and prove that, indeed, it was difficult and also that he could play it with elegant ease!

It brought the audience to its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation to end the first half.

Mr. Dowling has devoted much of his career to promoting American music. He started the second half with giving information on Louis Moreau Gottschalk, the New Orleans born pianist who was America’s first superstar. He was a prodigy who music gained international recognition. The first piece heard was his “Tournament Gallop” (154) followed by “the Dying Poet” one of his most famous and  profitable pieces, having been played at many funerals during the time of the Civil War. The third piece in the set was “The Banjo_Fantasie grotesquie” on Camptown Races, Op. 15.

It has been many a day since I have heard this piece. It is a difficult piece with dazzling repeated notes and made efficient use of the Steinway grand’s quick pedal response for a “banjo” effect.

Eubie Blake, who died in 1983 at the age of 96, was the last of the original ragtime artists. HIs “Rhapsody in Ragtime” showed his interest in classical music style while remaining true to his ragtime roots and was deftly played. This led us into the “Graceful Ghost Rag” by the contemporary composer William Bolcom.

The program ended with Mr. Dowling’s transcription of the Variations on “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin. It was another piece in which the orchestra parts were incorporated into the solo line.

It showed in seven variations Gershwin’s inventive genius and the pianist’s outstanding     ability.

The Steinway grand itself was a treasure to behold. Following the concert many in the audience went to the stage to investigate the instrument itself. This was a concert in which it was announced that Odessa College, with its outstanding music faculty, was beginning a campaign to replace the aging pianos on the campus with pianos that would qualify it to be an “All Steinway” school, joining the ranks of Midland College and UTPB.

This was a concert that was the epitome of what a piano concert should be. It was entertaining, informative and enjoyable.

Richard Dowling’s name can now be added to the illustrious concerts that have made this series a monumental success!