John Hannagan ‘28
Staff Writer
Last Thursday, the Prior Performing Arts Center featured Grammy Award-winning violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman in a showcase of what is widely considered to be his magnum opus: This is America. Inspired by the many chaotic events that defined 2020, Gandelsman performed a series of excerpts from the work before an audience of Holy Cross students, staff, and the general public.
Born into a musical family in Moscow, Gandelsman has become very accomplished in the world of music. He was previously a member of the Silkroad Ensemble before going on to found musical quartet Brooklyn Rider. In addition to playing alongside other famous musicians like cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer Suzanne Vega, Gandelsman is also an active producer. Under his label, In a Circle Records, he has produced much of his own music, along with music for films like The U.S. and the Holocaust.
Nevertheless, Gandelsman is most known for the project he undertook in 2020: This is America. As the COVID-19 pandemic inspired fear amongst everyone, wildfires spread across the West Coast, and polarized politics created deep divisions throughout the nation. In spite of these difficulties, Gandelsman contacted a diverse group of 22 composers from across America, asking them to musically reflect on what they were living through. With the resulting 28 pieces of music, each individually unique, Gandelsman compiled his This is America project.
And it was this very project he shared with the Holy Cross and greater Worcester communities on 26 September. The Luth Concert Hall was teeming with people. In fact, the concert was a required event for students in the “Divine” cluster of the freshman Montserrat program. Also in attendance were many students involved in the College’s variety of music groups, along with professors, staff members, and many individuals from the Worcester area.
Throughout the course of the night, Gandelsman performed six excerpts from his project as a soloist. Some of the most well-received included Èbùn Oguntola’s “Reflections,” Tomeka Reid’s “Rhapsody,” and Rhiannon Giddens’ “New To The Session.” In fact, the audience was lucky enough to enjoy a quick conversation between Gandelsman and Oguntola, a composer and Harvard student who shared her experience in composing “Reflections.”
At the end of the concert, however, Gandelsman was joined by the Worcester Chamber Music Society, a group of local musicians who played a variety of instruments, ranging from flute to piano. With Worcester Chamber Music Society, Gandelsman performed a piece by experimental composer Julius Eastman. Following the final notes, each musician took a bow and exited the stage to a standing ovation from the audience.
Among Holy Cross students, reviews of the performance ranged from mixed to positive. While many were skeptical of how some pieces involved excessive pizzicato on the violin, it was widely accepted that the fiddle-style piece was his best, and many were delighted when Gandelsman was joined by fellow musicians from Worcester. Despite the rainy weather and numerous water bottles that toppled midway through the performance, the performance was overwhelmingly enjoyed by many.
In the meantime, the Prior Performing Arts Center is looking forward to hosting many others in the upcoming weeks, including poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil, jazz musician Mike Monaghan, and the Holy Cross College Choir. Though Gandelsman and This is America have left the Hill, their impact on the community here has certainly not.
Featured image courtesy of The Boston Globe
Copy Edited by Lily Wasmund ’28
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