Conductor Alan Pierson lead a memorable night as part of the LA Phil’s Brooklyn Festival series.

Brooklyn Festival, inspired by the ’70s Manhattan scene, blends art and music from various styles.

The night at Walt Disney Concert Hall started with Samuel Carl Adams: Tension Studies. It was a minimal arrangement where the focal point harmonically switched between the xylophone to drums and sometimes guitar. The music began as a slow moving crescendo only to pull it away and rebuild.

The night continued on to Matt Marks‘s Strip Mall.   This Opera was world-premiered,  and stands as the memorable piece of the night. Based on three characters, this Opera focused on a brother who wants to go to Dairy Queen,  his sister and her boyfriend who works at the Christian Bookstore in the local strip mall.

The piece could be labeled as comedic, as the story of the three characters unfolding musically. While sung operatically, the instrumentation touched upon various genres; rock, waltz and funk.

Finally,  Tyondai Braxton’s Central Market. Conducted by Pierson, the music incorporated guitar, strings and percussion layered into a unique sound.