Concerts over lunch break

The prickling piano and its maestro, Magnus Martensson, flaunted their bubbly sense of humor at the Brown Bag Concert Series on Nov. 1.

Now in its seventh year, the Brown Bag Concert Series offers free concerts during lunchtime in Lippes Concert Hall from 12 to 1 p.m. at Slee Hall.

The Brown Bag Concert Series is significantly different from other concerts because it is conducive to listener interaction. The immense talent of the artist is no longer intimidating or frighteningly extraordinary. The music becomes something approachable and meant for sharing.

The Brown Bag Concert Series is meant to personalize music while showcasing the startling variety that UB's music department has to offer. Even though the music is energetic, the crowd is encouraged to guzzle down complementary Starbuck's coffee to keep things moving.

Cheryl Gobbetti Hoffman, a flutist, assistant professor of music at UB, and coordinator of the Brown Bag Series, described the all-encompassing intention of the concerts.

"This series eliminates the formal divide between performers and audience by bringing music and listeners together onstage," she said. "Listening, by definition, is active."

The next concert on Dec. 6 features UB's Raymond Scott Ensemble, directed by Jon Nelson, an assistant professor of music at UB. The ensemble specializes in the music of Raymond Scott, who has been dubbed "the most influential unknown composer since the 16th century" by music enthusiasts. Scott has helped mother the invention of cartoon melodies while renovating the sounds of bebop, electronic music and Motown.

"Expect the unexpected," Hoffman said.

UB's collaborative chamber ensemble, "HEARD in the wild," including music faculty members Alexander Hurd, Tony Arnold, Jacob Greenberg, Cheryl Gobbetti Hoffman, Stephen Manes, Jonathan Golove and others, will perform Feb. 7. Each concert includes a lecture given by a UB musicologist and a Q&A session with the performers.

Combining both traditional and contemporary music, "HEARD" explores sundry sounds plucked right out of nature. The program dabbles in the creation of sound and attempts to make music out of spring, rain, wind, rivers and animals.

Free vouchers for formal concerts are passed out upon the completion of the Brown Bag Series so that attendees will not shy away from sampling the buffet of sound offered through UB's music department.

"Music as a creative and expressive art is altogether a human activity," Hoffman said. "It promises meaning and mystery for all who dare to explore. My hope is that student minds are open and curious, and willing to join us in the music department as we live our art."