Flute Recital Madness (draft)

Sarah Tauchen, a music education major at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, ended her honors recital in the Music Hall of the Arts and Communication Center by playing a flute rendition of “Danny Boy” for her parents Sunday.

Tauchen wanted to name the flute recital “Legends of Beyond,” but it did not make the program. Three of the five other pieces played are influenced by classical Greek, Native American and Romantic German mythic stories, giving the intended title a fitting backdrop.

Categorized under Music 019 and worth no credits, a senior recital is necessary for the bachelor of music degree in music education.

About 40 people came to watch the recital, which began at 5 p.m. A piano sat in the center of the fully lit stage with two chairs and music stands just in front and two potted plants on stands to the right.

Tauchen, who is from the studio of Assistant Director of Flute Dr. Mihoko Watanabe, came out wearing a deep red dress with her cello accompanist, Breanna Fiedler, also a student, all in black. Immediately they began playing “Sonata in A major for flute and cello” by Giuseppe Maria Cambini, a classical Italian composer and violinist.

When the third, and fastest, movement of the piece ended the two stood, bowed and left the stage. The chairs and stands were swiftly removed to the side of the stage before Tauchen came back on and thanked everyone for coming.

Her next piece was “Kokopeli” by American Katherine Hoover. Slow and mysterious, this was done with no accompaniment.

“Chant de Linos for flute and piano” by French composer André Jolivet followed, for which Tauchen was accompanied by Thomas Willecke, whose page turner was Nancy Schmalz of Oshkosh.

The piece bursted with violence and nerviousness between slower parts before Tauchen ended on a high note. Claps and cheers erupted from the audience as intermission began.

The beginning of the second half featured a stage with a large soft spotlight on the center stage as Tauchen played Dutch flutist and composer Wil Offermans’ “Honami for flute solo.” Climaxing into a fast string of notes, the piece ended with a sudden high note aided by a quick, unexpected foot stomp and finished with a somber low tone.

For the last piece on the program, “Sonata ‘Undine,’ Opus 167 for flute and piano” by German Carl Reinecke, the stage was again fully lit. The grey-haired Schmalz accompanied Tauchen this time, with Willecke as page turner.

Once the four movement piece was finished, Tauchen and Schmalz bowed and exited to a standing ovation. Tauchen walked back on stage to bow again and received flowers.

She ended the night emotionally with “Danny Boy,” accompanied again by Schmalz. She explained excitedly how her father kept asking her, “When’re you going to play Danny Boy?” and dedicated the performance to her parents.

Friends and family awaited Tauchen’s arrival afterward outside the music hall, treated to punch, crackers, bars and brownies. Tauchen was greeted with cheers and loud “woos.”

(NOTE: more quotes to be added)
(NOTE #2: there is no actual madness - real or imagined - involved in this story)