Classical tunes, played by Mana Tokuno, Adjunct Instructor in Music, echoed throughout the spacious Cochran Chapel and entertained the crowd last Friday.
Prize winning and critically acclaimed pianist, Mana Tokuno, performed pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy and Gabriel Fauré.
Tokuno opened with “French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814” by Bach, a very soft and elegant piece with a medium tempo.
Seemingly playing with her eyes closed, Tokuno then moved on to her second piece, “Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110” by Beethoven. She transitioned effortlessly from quick and fleeting melodies to slower and more powerful, yet peaceful, tunes.
“It was pretty interesting how the piece started very up-tempo, then she suddenly slowed down into a more peaceful pace,” said Brian Kim ’14.
After a brief intermission, during which Tokuno left stage for only a minute, she returned with Debussy’s Suite “Bergamasque.” With a very slow and airy start, the piece set the tone for a rollercoaster of strong and melancholy melodies. As she continued on with the piece, Tokuno did not disappoint, as the score alternated between powerful fortes and tranquil melodies multiple times.
With her fingers dancing across the keys, Tokuno began her next piece powerfully, Fauré’s “Pavane, Op. 50.” Putting passion in every push of the keys, Tokuno excited the audience with this short, yet robust piece.
“The piece was a great constant after the back and forth of [Tokuno’s] previous work. It gave me a sense of relief that the tempo had steadied a little,” said Seokjun Yoon ’14.
Tokuno’s final piece, “Second Suite Bergamasque” by Debussy, ended the concert with a strong and powerful set of notes, leaving the audience satisfied with the end of the performance.
As Tokuno stood up and bowed at the conclusion of her piece, the audience erupted in applause, praising her for the outstanding performance.
“The audience’s response to her playing was well deserved,” said Brian Kim ’14.
Much like last year’s performance, Tokuno’s works clearly left the audience with a resounding impression.
The recital allowed students to connect with her music. Christopher Walter, Instructor in Music, said about last year’s performance, “The pieces are all quite common in the student repertoire, so there was nothing on the program that was rarified. They were all pieces that students hopefully had some connection to.”
