In less than an hour, I will be playing some of the first notes in the Techny Music Festival. This is a huge gathering of high school chorus groups and a few players from the Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra (I'm included in this) coming together for combined pieces. The Techny Church is a very full and echoing hall, so every piece becomes etheral. One piece I'm playing in strikes me as extremely moving and powerful. Clausen's Kyrie (from Memorial) commemorates September 11th, the final movement being a memorial for the lives lost.
Before I knew the background of the piece, I loved it for the flowing, beautiful melodic lines and weaving harmonies. After learning the background, the piece went to an entirely new level for me. My mindset while playing took a solemn and reflective turn.
Music is a fantastic way to express emotions. From having the chance to play this piece, I can show my thoughts on September 11th without having to say anything. I can play as intense and dramatically as I want to without judgment. When people get together to perform pieces of music, something incredible happens. Each person's interpretations blend together to create an overwhelming emotional projection.
A bassoonist playing in the piece shared how she had the chance to perform the entire work at its premier in New York. She said that, even though it's hard to make choir directors cry, there was not a dry eye in the venue by the time the last note was played. This piece has historical significance that every audience member high school-aged and up can reflect on. September 11th was a national tragedy, every person who heard of it has been affected in some way. Coming together to commemorate it with a powerful musical work releases overpowering emotional reactions.
No comments:
Post a Comment