Music Moves to a Crescendo....

I went to a concert on Saturday. And no, I didn't go and see a band. Rather I went to a night of wonderful classical music hosted by California State University at Fullerton and performed by the University Symphony Orchestra. My violin teacher was performing and my father and I went to go and see her play. Besides the University orchestra, they also had a guest star, a world renown clarinet player by the name of Richard Stoltzman, who played a clarinet concerto by Aaron Copland. It was a very strange piece; shifting between dark and moody to very jazzy movements. The full orchestra began the night with the opening theme to Star Wars and closed it with the end theme. I must say that I love Star Wars and I also greatly admire the musical achievements of John Williams, who along with James Newton Howard, I believe to be among the greatest composers of the cinematic genre. Williams' music is larger than life and, for me, invokes a feeling of triumph or heroism. There was one piece in particular though, that both my father and I loved. It was Fingal's Cave Overture (the Hebrides), Op. 26 by Mendelssohn. When I glanced over at my father during the course of the piece I thought he was falling asleep. I soon discovered that he was actually so enraptured by the beauty of the music, he had shut his eyes to better enjoy its elegant strains.

After a short intermission, we listened to an entire symphony by Antonin Dvorak (Symphony 9 in E minor) which is so gorgeous and made me incredibly happy to listen to (especially knowing the main theme from the second movement on my violin). I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, for I have not been to a concert in a long time and have been listening to too much rock and roll and soundtracks recently :) But after such a concert, I wonder why many people, including myself, do not listen to classical music more often. The passions and emotions that are invoked by classical and orchestral music are incredibly strong and powerful, and the beauty of the music itself is so stunning, it is difficult for me to see why people do not appreciate it and the great composers of the classical genre more. Music is such a wonderful way to express praise for God and express the beauty of His creation. *sigh* I hope to be going to more concerts and hearing my violin teacher play in the near future.

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