Aaron Steckelberg/DN i
Trio marks anniversary
with concert, workshops
From Staff Reports
The Samaris Piano Trio brings
its blend of chamber and contem
porary music to Sheldon Art
Gallery tonight.
The group’s concert, present
ed by the Research Council and
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
School of Music, begins at 8 p.m.
Admission is free.
Cellist Bryan Dumm, violinist
Molly Fung and pianist Sylvia
Wang comprise the Samaris Piano
Trip. The three musicians trained
at the Eastman School of Music
and are celebrating their 10th
anniversary together.
Deriving its name from the
Samaris Manor House in the
Jersey Channel Isles, the trio per
forms standard chamber music
and 20th-century composers like
Aaron Copland, Paul Schoenfield,
Bright Sheng, Lou Harrison, Paul
Dresher and Leon Kirchner.
Tonight's concert will include
a talk by the three musicians about
their collaboration with various
composers.
The trio has performed in
Cleveland, Washington, D.C., and
London. It also was a finalist for
the Naumburg chamber music
award and winner of the Chamber
Music Yellow Springs
Competition. The trio's perfor
mances have been broadcast
throughout the United States.
Next spring, the musicians will
release their first album on the
Newport Classic label.
In addition to tonight's con
cert, the trio will teach two master
classes today.. Dumm will teach a
cello master class from 3:30 p.m.
tO/5 p.m. in Westbrook Music
Building, Room 110. Wang will
teach a piano master class at the
same time in Room 119 of,
Westbrook, ^::
p?
‘A Life Less Ordinary’
holds romantic appeal
By Chris Thomas
Film Critic
In an overdone and generally tired
genre, the makers of “Trainspotting”
add their two cents with “A Life Less
Ordinary.”
As your atypical love story, it
combines the light-hearted nature of
an average romance with the dark
humor found in “Shallow
Grave.”
Ewan McGregor
plays Robert, anoth
er loser in the game
of life. Dreaming of
something bigger
than his janitor’s mop
bucket, he writes a
Great American Trash
Novel in the hope of free
ing himself from mid
dle-class slavery. In the
ensuing chain of
events, his life takes a
critical and tragic down
ward turn, including los
ing his job, being
dumped by his girl
friend for an aerobics
instructor and having his
house and car repossessed.
In a desperate attempt to
change his plight, Robert
- storms into the office of his
boss, Naville (Ian Holm),
demanding his job with whatev
er force is necessary. After an
exchange of words, the arrival
of security and some minor
gunplay, Robert kidnaps
Naville’s daughter, Celine
(Cameron Diaz). Celine is the
poster child for bored, pampered
adolescents, as the grossest indignity
she can think of is having her credit
card rejected.
The movie really takes off from
this point as sparks fly between
Robert’s lovable screw-up character
and Celine’s sharp-tongued wit.>
Being an affable and inexperienced
Tin Facts ^
TW*: *A Life Less Ordinary*
Stare: Ewan McGregor, Cameron Diaz,
HoHy Hunter, Deiroy Undo, Ian Hofan
Director: Danny Boyte
Rating: R (violence, language, adult
content)
Grade: B
Five Words: Love is kidnapping and
karaoke.
kidnapper, Robert is walked through
the proper steps in Kidnapping 101
by the accomplished kidnappee
Celine. Their series of magical
adventures - including a cross-coun
try odyssey of guns, bank rolling and
the always romantic implement of
karaoke - draws them closer.
Thrown into the mix are celestial
law enforcement officers O’Reilly
and Jackson (Holly Hunter and
Deiroy Lindo), who are charged by
Gabriel (Dan Hedaya) with the task
of keeping Robert and Celine togeth
er to prove that true love does exist in
a world of divorce and unfaithful
ness.
Written shortly after completing
“Shallow Grave,” writer John Hodge
clarifies his choice of mediums for
this deviant romantic comedy.
“Although the reality of kidnapping
is protty brutal and murderous,”
Hodge explains, “what I wanted to do
was use it as a device, a conceit with
in which I would explore a romantic
relationship. The rest of the story
grew incrementally out of that.”
With incredibly inventive and
original visuals, first evidenced in
“Trainspotting,” Boyle creates the
backdrop of a simple equation for
love with infinitely complex subsets.
An air of epic destiny and fated lovers
fills the screen, yet retains a fresh and
exciting style.
“A Life Less Ordinary,” is a less
than ordinary love story that enter
tains as well as renews faith for any
one who dreams of something more.
___
h2o
“Thicker Than Water”
Epitaph Records
Grade: B+
Most people who listen to music
have little chance to give back to the
sounds that have inspired them. Toby
Morse is thankful he had the desire
and opportunity to do just that.
Morse was a roadie for hardcore
legends Sick Of It All and was given
the chance to shine during a break at
one of the band’s shows. When his
performance of “My Love is Real”
became an expected occurrence at
Sick Of It All shows, Morse decided
to form a band of his own.
After some lineup changes, H20
became a quintet, and its self-titled
debut drew tremendous raves from
critics, and fans alike. Its second
album, “Thicker Than Water,”j
promises to keep this trend alive.
Overall, the album lyrically is a
message of optimism, survival and
loyalty. Its first song, “Universal
Language " displays Toby Morse’s
explanation of his love for music,
and like the other tracks on the
album, H20 keeps the tunes nice and
short.
The pounding drums of Todd
Friend and the hectic guitar play of
Rusty Pistachio and Toby’s brother,
Todd Morse, form the backbone of
the band. The three also proved back
up vocals throughout, complement
ing Toby Morse’s aggressive singing
style.
With the recent addition of
bassist Adam Blake, formerly of
Shelter, the sound contributes to one
of the best melodic hardcore bands
around.
You can picture a mosh pit active
in “This Time,” and things calm
down for “No Tears,” although Toby
Morse’s vocals are dramatically
inspiring. The melody aid back-chat
of “Thicker Than Water,” and
“Universal Language” form die best
songs here.
The band has sold out numerous
shows along the East Coast and has
played with such notables as
Murphy ’s Law, as well as Social
Distortion and Sick Of It All on and
off the ’97 Vans Warped Tour.
Currently, H20 is on a nation
wide tour and will play at Liberty
Hall in Lawrence, Kan., Nov. 9,
opening for the newly reassembled
Misfits.
It’s hoped that the live show will
prove longer than “Thicker Than
Water,” with the length of the record
- less than 30 minutes - leaving
something to be desired. However,
H20 achieves plenty of excitement in
a jam-packed jolt of an album.
-Patrick Miner
