Joe Amato was inspired after watching guitarists Fareed Haque and Goran Ivanovic perform.

Haque and Ivanovic performed in the Tarble Arts Center Sunday afternoon as part of the 2007-2008 Tarble Arts Center Chamber Music Series.

Amato, a sophomore music education major, said the expertise and musicality of Haque and Ivanovic inspired him to practice more and keep at his music.

Even though Amato is studying voice, he said he takes the idea of musicianship from the guitarists and converts it into what he studies.

Amato said he planned on attending since he first saw the advertisement for the concert.

“It was a change of pace from other recitals put on here,” Amato said. “It was nice.”

Amato said he enjoyed the concert, especially the mix of cultures the two guitarists brought.

Ivanovic was born in Yugoslavia and is heavily influenced by the folk music of Eastern Europe.

Haque was born to a Chilean father and Pakistani mother, but his travels have also widely influenced his music.

These differing backgrounds help shape the music Haque and Ivanovic play.

Susan Teicher, assistant professor of piano and artistic director of the Tarble Arts Center Chamber Music Series, said there was a lot of variation in what they played. The music was a collaboration of Eastern European, Spanish, jazz, classical and more.

Teicher saw Haque and Ivanovic in Champaign at the Wall-to-Wall Guitar Festival in September and then invited the duo to Eastern.

Haque and Ivanovic performed seven songs together, and then they each played two solos, most of which were original pieces.

Haque’s fingers moved faster and faster throughout the songs, while Ivanovic hunched over and swayed.

Their passion for their music showed when they played together, feeding off one as the tempo rose or fell.

Between songs, Haque and Ivanovic joked with one another and the audience.

Haque pointed out the band-aid just above Ivanovic’s left eyebrow and joked the two had fought over the last record title.

“He beat me up last night,” Ivanovic said while the audience laughed.

Haque was the first to perform his solos, followed by Ivanovic.

This is when their individual styles of playing and music shined through.

Teicher said she was glad each played a solo because they both have such different styles and backgrounds.

Ivanovic is influenced by the folk music of Eastern Europe while Haque combines his classical training with his heritage.

“Both bring what they have to the stage,” Teicher said.

Teicher said some describe Haque and Ivanovic’s music as “world” music because it’s not completely jazz or classical and they take sources from many areas.

“It’s not music that easily fits into a category,” she said.

After their solos, the two combined for one last song, or so they said.

The audience clapped as Haque and Ivanovic bowed.

But as they walked away, the crowd stood for a standing ovation resulting in the guitarists coming back for an encore.

Haque explained the final song before the two began playing. The song, which came from the Balkans region in Eastern Europe, was counted in interesting meters.

Haque said the rhythm is not odd even though the percussion of the east is something most people would not understand.

“People do dance to this music,” said Haque, who added that they also get married and celebrate birthdays to this music.

Haque said the rhythm is articulate and is much like a dance with a step, step, leap rhythm.

Teicher said the concert went great especially since the audience seemed focused.

The moment the lights lowered, the entire audience grew quiet as they waited.

Teicher said she was focused on the music. She said she liked the unusual rhythms and the way the styles blended together.

James Johnson, dean of college of arts and humanities, said he also enjoyed the diversity of music Haque and Ivanovic brought to the concert.

“I thought it was outstanding,” Johnson said, citing the skill and talent of the two guitarists as reasons for this.

The next installment of the Chamber Music Series is April 13 and will feature Sarah and Rachel Caswell, a jazz vocal and violin duo.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7945 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.