Today proclaimed Neutrino Day in Lead

BLACK HILLS PIONEER
OPINION
O U R V O I C E S M A T T E R
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Phantom of the Homestake Opera House premiers in Lead
There were varied reviews taken
in subtle cues at the premiere of
“The Phantom of the Homestake
:pera House” Wednesday
evening. :ne spectator smiled
proudly, another wiped away tears,
while yet another slept.
We'll gauge those reactions later
on in the column, but let me
begin by saying that the
premier was a beautiful
and extraordinary gift
of music to our community's
ears and
composer Robert
Eerr, who led our
community's kids
in this effort,
couldn't have
asked for anything
better.
“I am very
proud of this piece
and my ultimate goal would be for
it to be played many more times,
by many more people,” Eerr said.
“It was done with a certain amount
of collaboration with the kids. It
includes many of their very
thoughtful ideas. Some of the best
players in the world performed the
piece tonight. It is such a thrill for
a composer to hear the :rlando
Chamber Soloists explore the
piece's sonorities.”
Consequently, a thank you of
monstrous proportions is in order
for the following musicians who
Jaci Conrad-Pearson
pooled their musical gifts to present
the Historic Homestake :pera
House and the city of Lead with
this most fabulous, beautiful and
long-lasting gift.
Local talent included 17 musically
inclined and motivated youth,
who along with Eerr, pooled their
musical gifts and wrapped them
up in the five-movement
piece titled, “Phantom of
the Homestake :pera
House.”
The gift was presented
by the
:rlando Chamber
Soloists, who
forged a commitment
to musical
education in our
community
through their summer
programming,
opening the floodgates for professional
musical opportunities on
various fronts.
“I was thrilled to work with
these up and coming composers
and help them figure out how to
develop their ideas. Music is a
journey from beginning to end. It
can be a scenic path or fraught
with danger and you can get lost
along the way. Anyone can write a
melody but it's what to do with
them once you've written them,
how to develop them, that makes a
great composer,” Eerr said.
BOONESBURY BY GARY TRUBEAU
BLACK HILLS
PIONEER
315 Seaton Circle, Spearfish, SD 57783
7 South Main, Lead, SD 57754
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Email: news@bhpioneer.com
Michael Hill of the :rlando
Chamber Soloists described their
musical journey with “The
Phantom.”
“This entire process was
inspired by the students' task of
learning to tell a story through
music. We like it. :ne percussion
student from Rapid City, Nathan
Richardson, chose rhythms that
made the fire music challenging
and difficult to rehearse,” Hill said.
“It was a great success. The parameters
involved in the composition
by students and their composer
were to represent the history of the
opera house and the city of Lead
by telling a story through music. I
believe that they have accomplished
both of the objectives they
were tasked with.”
Qelieve Will and I - they did. I
feel very strongly about imparting
musical appreciation of all shapes
and sizes to my young charges. I
said it might be scary, it might
involve a phantom and Will was
in. He joined me for the premiere.
And Will was “wowed.”
The five movements and their
flavor are as follows. “The Gold
Miners of Lead - Homestake
1876,” was a high energy introductory
piece, followed by the “Entry
of the Muse,” more of an interlude
than a movement. The phantom,
who to the delight of Will and
other young audience members,
EDITOR and PUBLISHER, Stewart Huntington
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, Letitia Lister
MANAGING EDITOR, Mark Watson
CITY EDITOR, Wendy Pitlick
AD MANAGER, Dru Thomas
PRODUCTION MANAGER, Scott Lister
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR, Charity Runnells
ACCOUNTING, Ardith Richards
appeared during the “Entrance of
the Muse,” flitted through the first
floor, addressed the audience from
above in a box seat and disappeared.
It was perfect.
The “Recreation Rag” was
again, very high energy with lots
of 1920s flapper-like musical elements.
“Reminiscence” was a beautiful,
beautiful movement. It was like
background music for daydreaming,
that kind of peaceful, harmonious
type of “music in the background”
kind of thing.
“The Disaster of 1984\ The
Great Fire of the :pera House”
was a highly dramatic piece,
inspired by a story told to the students
by :pera House Director
Jim :'Grady. He visited with them
prior to the composition and told
of the damage both to the opera
house and the community as a
result of the loss. :'Grady was
reduced to tears by the students'
efforts. “I just about couldn't make
it through the fire piece,” :'Grady
said. “I had to wipe a couple of
tears away.”
The final movement, titled
“Homestake Hoedown\ The
Tradition Shall Live :n_” was
upbeat, fun, complex and driving.
My favorite was
“Reminiscence” and Will's favorite
was “Homestake Hoedown.”
This was the first time he had
seen the chamber instruments and
heard their beautiful sounds in a
live setting - and he loved it_ He
loved it so much, I looked over
and he was fast asleep. “I'm sorry,
mommy, I just couldn't help it. It
really made me sleepy, but I still
liked it. I just couldn't stay awake.”
I've got to admit, it was relaxing.
Seeing the bow being drawn
across the instruments, listening to
the plucking of strings, and listening
to the harp live is a grand treat.
Watching the musicians work
together is a drama unto itself. So I
stayed awake. I didn't want to miss
a note. This is one beat this
reporter clearly digs.
!err$s ne(t gig could in1ol1e
getting in 2ront o2 a 2ew more
6amous 6aces
Eerr said he is currently working
with Hill to write a grand symphony
written for and inspired by
Mount Rushmore, which he envisions
being played at the footsteps
of The Faces. “I would like to
involve a choir, huge, en masse, a
huge orchestra and a narrator.
Something that just rings of
Americana for people, something
that's tuneful, memorable, that
would send them away singing,”
Eerr said.
A self-professed history buff,
See PHANTOM — Page 7
MA@@ARB 0C@@MORE BY BRUCE TCNS@EY
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