University Daily Kansan
Monday, Sept. 14, 1970
5
New York Rock Ensemble
. . . perfecting a combination of classical and rock
PORT ARTHUR, Tex. (UPI)—A tug pushing three barges loaded with fuel oil bounced against the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge and exploded Sunday night, engulfing the bridge in flames.
Tug Pushing Fuel Oil Hits Bridge, Explodes
Friction apparently caused sparks which touched the fuel oil, causing the explosion. Flaming oil spread over the water and the bridge.
The Coast Guard station in Sabine Pass said one of the barges rubbed against the lower pillars of the drawbridge. The bridge was raised at the time.
Early in the evening the ensemble brought the audience to the point of wanting to participate. Unfortunately, the group didn't give the final push that would have brought performers and audience together in the same spontaneous interaction that excited those who attended their performance at last year's Festival of the Arts.
was it known if they were on the tug or the barge. The tug had a crew of eight.
The captain of the tug pushed the barges through the flames away from the bridge, then dove into the water. He swam to shore, unhurt.
Starting with "Don't Wait Too Long," and moving on to such greats as "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "Fields of Joy," the group established the rock theme of a concert which just missed being great.
Fireboats from local oil companies and the Sabine Pass Coast Guard fought the fire on the south side of the bridge and land units from the Port Arthur Fire Department fought the fire on the bridge.
One person was killed and five were injured.
The New York Rock Ensemble blasted into town Saturday night to give a concert that alternately rocked and carressed the walls of Hoch Auditorium.
"They can't get to the south side from the land. That's where the barge apparently hit. The fire boats are fighting the barge and tug fire there," said Chief W. O. Robert Rhoads of the Sabine Pass Coast Guard.
By STEVE SHERMAN
Kansan Reviewer
The much heralded return of the group was highlighted by the performance of such rock numbers as "Ride Ride My Lady," "The King is Dead" and "Anaconda." "Beside You" and "Winter Child" were beautiful but in a different, softer vein.
Ensemble Fails to Establish Rapport with Audience
In contrast to the rock numbers, the Ensemble slipped in three Baroque pieces written for two oboes and cello and an oboe duet. These classical numbers were exceptionally well done, receiving more applause than most of the other offerings.
"People on land are fighting the bridge fire . . . the utility boats are helping out there too," he said.
Two of the burned men were under intensive care at the Port Arthur Hospital. The other two were not seriously burned.
Many times the transitions from one musical period to the other were so excellent and subtle that they were hardly noticeable. This ability to synthesize different types of music into an integrated and beautiful performance is the secret of the group's style.
The dead man and injured persons were not identified, nor
This ability is partly a result of the musical training of three group members, Martin Fulterman, Mike Kamen and Dorian Rudnytsky who are graduates of the Juliard Conservatory of Music.
Although the classical numbers were well received, the group, especially Fulterman, felt the need to give "humorous" introductions to them. This gave the
feeling that they were apologizing for the fact that they were playing classical music. Certainly no apology was needed for some of the most successful numbers on the program.
arts & reviews
When the four performers moved to rock, their training was also apparent. Many of the numbers had classical derivations. Mike Kamen, with his jazz oriented organ solos and heavy vocals exhibited the more recent orientations of the group. Kamen's performance carried the group most of the time. Although his talent appeared to outweigh that of the other three members of the group, it was his energetic approach that made the performance move.
In contrast to Kamen's performance, it seemed that the rest of the group was holding back most of the time. The two guitarists, Rudnytsky and Clifton Nivison, seemed reluctant to improvise and too shy to loosen up
even on planned melodic patterns.
The highlight of the performance was "A Whiter Shade of Pale." The group's interpretation of this great piece of rock music was exciting and impeccable. "Gravedigger" was more interesting because of its unusual subject matter, necrophilia (a compulsion to copulate with corpses), than because of its melodic content.
The concert, with its varied character, was excellent musically and provided enjoyable entertainment. Perhaps it missed being great because for some reason the group couldn't fully communicate with the audience. Perhaps it was because the legend of last year's performances had become greater than reality.
OU Committee To Pick President
NORMAN (UPI)—The University of Oklahoma regents are expected to name a committee Thursday to look for a new OU president.
The regents will meet at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the president's office.
Dr. Peter Kyle McCarter has been OU's acting president since the resignation Sept. 1 of Dr. J. Herbert Hollomon.
Hollomon had announced his resignation in July, following a lengthy dispute with Gov. Dewey Bartlett.
The presidential search committee is expected to include faculty members, students, alumni and non-teaching university employees.
5 Arrested Possessing LSD. Pot
GRAND PRAIRIE, Tex. (UPI)
—Narcotics agents late Saturday night arrested five young persons and confiscated 7,000 LSD tablets, marijuana and liquid speed at a residence. Charges were expected to be filed Monday against the five.
The five persons, ranging in age from 20 to 22, were placed in the Dallas County jail.
The agents, led by Department of Public Safety agent Bill Bessett, began an investigation in Arlington, then moved to Grand Prairie and the house. Both cities are suburbs of Dallas.
INSURANCE TAXES
NEW YORK—Insurance companies paid more than $2.75 billion in taxes and fees to the federal and state governments in 1968, reports the Insurance Information Institute. Of that total, some $924.2 million went to the states in the form of premium taxes.
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