This Thursday, March 28 I have another band concert with the MSU Wind Symphony. The concert repertoire has proven to be quite the food for thought for me. The theme for this concert is "Angels and Demons." Each piece we're playing is slightly spiritual, and reflects on the duality of light and dark within each of us. I feel as though this is a theme Shakespeare touches on as well. Many of his plays highlight the dichotomy of light versus dark. In Midsummer Night's Dream, we saw the contrast of a light comedy set against moments of darkness discussing death. In Hamlet, we see Hamlet debating spiritual matters such as killing his uncle in prayer. Doing so would send his uncle to heaven, despite the nature of his dark deeds. In King Lear, we see the contrast in several places. One is Edgar versus Edmund. One is light and noble, the other dark and sinful. This same divergence(guess what? we're playing a piece entitled "Divergence") is seen in the sisters: Cordelia versus the two "sisty uglers." Shakespeare was an astute observer of human nature. He recognized that each human has the potential for both good and evil within them. We can choose either route, and display our choice through our actions. Sometimes there is an internal fight between dark and light. Sometimes light wins, sometimes the dark triumphs. I have been experiencing Shakespeare's reflection of this nature through his writing, and now I'm examining it through music. Both media's present the message in a different, but powerful way.
Anyone who would like to experience the musical translation of this human experience themselves is welcome to come. This is going to be an amazing concert!
Thursday, March 28
7:30
Reynolds Recital Hall (in Howard Hall on 11th)
Student cost: $5
For anyone who wants to hear a sample of the music we will be performing, here is a Youtube clip of my favorite piece.
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