In the Fall of 2009, the Westmont Orchestra performed at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. The performance can be viewed on "YouTube" as a pre-recorded video uploaded on January 8th of 2010. The conductor of the performance and orchestra was Michael Shasberger.
The first performance was "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," composed by Bach. No choristers sang the songs lyrics but instead, only instruments played this short piece. This piece is a hymn that is usually played as piano, but was dominantly violins and flutes in this performance by the orchestra. It was a slow and peaceful tempo, which was rather relaxing.
After the beginning piece, the conductor then introduces his orchestra and then proceeds to conduct as the orchestra begins playing "Overture to Die Fledermaus," composed by Strauss. All sixty of the performers were involved in this piece. This movement is rather uplifting, and is calming to listen to. The piece begins with two flutes playing back and forth, one note to another. The harp and violins then began to play like raindrops with a basic montone rhythm. The clarinets began playing to bring the two instruments together. Underneath all of that, the violas begin to play along with another set of violins. Then the melody begins to play, over and over, until the ending is nearing. The heightened effect by the winds and triangle brings in the end of the piece and leaves a magical effect. This overture lasts approximately ten minutes.
The next piece performed was the movement "Vltava" from the arrangement Ma Vlast composed by Smetena. The piece has a folk tone to it, brought in by the by composer's background. "Vltava" is a river in Czech, and this song has a resemblance to that of a river. The instruments flow together with a calm melody like that of a river. The movement lasted twelve minutes, then the orchestra had an intermission.
After the intermission the only performers left are the string sections and the soloists.
