By Daniel Leopold
Staff Writer
On Friday, Oct. 18, renowned classical guitarist Paul Galbraith played an hour-long recital at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The event was one of many visual and performance arts pieces the Quick Center hosts during the school year including concerts, plays and art exhibits open to the general public.
As a musician, I’m always willing to attend concerts to experience a performer’s ability and craft. A chance to see a respected musician perform in an intimate setting seemed like the perfect way to spend a Friday night. So, I ordered my ticket and excitedly anticipated the show throughout the week.
As Friday night rolled on, I headed to the Quick Center with my fellow concert-goer. Entering the building, we collected our tickets at the box office desk. Because we had gotten there a bit early, we had the opportunity to browse some of the galleries scattered in the many rooms and corridors of the building. My friend and I were pleased at both the antiquity and diversity of the gallery, and the self-guided tour provided an appropriate set-up for the concert.
After entering the auditorium, we both realized our tickets placed us in the middle seats of the front row. Chalking this up to my skilled pre-ordering technique, we nodded our heads in approval.
As the house lights dimmed, Galbraith, a tall man with a stoic face, holding an instrument resembling more of a stand-up jazz bass than a guitar, entered through the valance curtains. He gave a reassuring wave to the crowd before taking his seat and tuning his instrument. A broad spotlight gleamed and bounced against the varnish of the guitar and broke toward the beams of a dim floodlight near the performer’s feet. With a dramatic flourish of his arm, he placed his fingers on the top of the strings, taunting the silent audience.
He began playing. His eyes shut. His body relaxed. The sounds of Franz Haydn’s “Sonata in C# minor” reverberated through the auditorium, especially in the front row. For almost 45 straight minutes Galbraith played, stopping only to stretch his fingers and tune his guitar. He muscled through three other classical pieces in the first half. The fretwork and plucking skills he possessed were amazing, as evidenced by his Grammy nomination and other notable awards he received throughout his career.
Following a short intermission, Galbraith re-introduced himself and talked to the audience about his experiences as a classical musician. He offered a brief history on the composers and pieces he played. Afterward, he slipped into his trance-like state and completed the performance.
The room was quiet and reverent as he strummed through his last composition. The upbeat major chords clashed and swept against dramatic tremolo interludes. Before the crowd dispersed at the conclusion of the show, Galbraith thanked us for our cordial spirits and bowed. We gave him a standing ovation.
Events such as Galbraith’s concert exemplify the diversity of the Quick Center’s traveling exhibits. It presents performances that capture multiple senses of the audience. Seeing Galbraith’s fingers extend across the narrow neck of his instrument was almost as vivid as the classical-based hollow sound of his melodies heard echoing off the walls. The Quick Center proves to be an integral asset in terms of entertainment and artistic expression for both students and faculty, as well as the local community.
For upcoming events hosted by the Quick Center for the Arts, visit its website at www.sbu.edu/about-sbu/sbu-campus/quick-center-for-the-arts or call (716)-375-2494. If you want to sit in the front row, make sure to pre-order your tickets!
