Brazilian musicians the Assad Brothers treated a homecoming weekend audience to the year’s second performance in the Crowell Concert Hall Series last Saturday.
Crowell’s muted lighting and sleek hardwood stage created the perfect venue for the melodic music of Sergio and Odair Assad. The pieces chosen for the performance were a combination of original music composed and reworked by Sergio and an extensive classical repertoire with works by Bach, Rameau, and Scarlatti. To the delight of many musical aficionados, the brothers included one of the most popular guitar concertos in their performance, “Tonadilla Para Dos Guitarras.” This piece, written by Spanish composer J. Rodrigo in 1966, is comprised of three movements. The final movement, the upbeat “Allegro vivace,” had the audience tapping its feet to the lively rhythm. Perhaps the most moving piece of the evening was a song written by the brothers in honor of their ancestors who immigrated to Brazil while fleeing the Ottoman Empire. The song, composed by Sergio, was entitled “Tyyhhiia li Ossoulina” and literally means “homage to our roots.”
In addition to the rhythmic strumming of the guitar strings, Sergio and Odair created additional musical effects by thumping and drumming on their instruments. At times, it seemed as though the brothers were accompanied by entire band.
“It was an incredible concert,” said Alex Powar ’09. “I play guitar myself and I’ve grown up with music for most of my life, and to my knowledge guitar isn’t an instrument that can be easily synchronized.”
The brothers’ charismatic and entertaining personalities complemented their musical skill. In between sets, Sergio and Odair introduced songs and joked with the audience. They masterfully blended a compelling mix of styles, cultures, and periods, which was evident by their seamless transition from the varied genres of classical, jazz, and traditional Brazilian.
“The concert was a pleasure to attend and the two hour performance seemed to end far too soon,” said Lucia Pier ’08.
Sergio and Odair Assad are widely considered the most popular guitar duo in the world and spend the majority of their time touring the United States, South America, Europe, and the Far East. They have worked extensively with well-known artists like Yo-Yo Ma.
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