If we took nominations for Most Rockin' Orchestral Instrument, the clarinet probably wouldn't make the top five. But the one in the hands of Kelly Johnson claimed that title for itself at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's Beethoven & Blue Jeans concert Saturday at the Maumelle Performing Arts Center.
Johnson was the soloist in Black Dog, a Led Zeppelin-influenced rhapsody for clarinet by Scott McAllister. The clarinet, according to the program notes, "takes the role of the lead singer in a hard rock band." Johnson played from memory through a piece that showed off the instrument's range from lowest to highest notes, softest to loudest sound. It growled, it hummed, it buzzed, it howled; it sang jazz and snake-charmer.
The concert opened with Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 8, which is performed less often than some of his others but is every bit their equal, said Music Director Philip Mann, adding that the symphony contains some musical jokes.
The audience wore plenty of denim, in jeans, shirts and Levi's jackets. The musicians dressed in jeans, T-shirts and their shoes of choice -- flats, boots, high heels and sneakers, including a pair of red Chuck Taylors. Here's a study for the science humor journal Annals of Improbable Research. Hypothesis: Orchestra musicians tap their toes more often when wearing comfortable shoes.
The concert finished with a familiar favorite, the suite from Peter Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake. The noisily enthusiastic standing ovations for that and the clarinet piece sounded right at home in the venue of a high school auditorium. And the sight of the musicians standing in their jeans might have given parents a flashback to clapping for young musicians years ago. There they are, all grown up now. Rock on.
The concert will be repeated at 3 p.m. today at the high school, 100 Victory Lane, Maumelle. Tickets are $19-$58, $10 for students and active-duty military, and free for K-12 students with a paying adult. More information can be found by calling (501) 666-1761 or visiting ArkansasSymphony.org.
Metro on 11/08/2015