Visuals
through music
Stephanie Frey, posted Nov. 28, 2006
A thunderous crash followed by about a hundred voices set
the backdrop for the beginning of the world. This was the
scene in Jesse Hall auditorium on November 16 as the Choral Union, University Singers, the
MU Philharmonic and three soloists performed The Creation by Franz Josef
Haydn.
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Jesse Hall was filled with the mix of stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments and singers for the annual MU Choral Concert.
— Photo by Kyle Spradley
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The Creation is Haydn’s own written description of the
beginning of the world. The twist is that the entire story
develops through the music. Although the three guest soloists,
who sang opera style, add somewhat of a narrative to the experience,
most of the action takes place inside the audience’s
head as they use the music to help imagine the scene that
it sets. The violins are played quickly and strongly to indicate
hail and is just one example of how Haydn helped the audience
to create their own ideas of what the beginning of the world
might have been like.
“It was very intense,” said Jennifer Hacker, MU
freshman, who attended to watch a friend sing. “At first
it was hard for me to imagine what was going on, but the music
and the individual singers helped me.”
Jason Riebold, a member of the MU Philharmonic said, “We
started working on The Creation the week before the concert,
on that Tuesday. That made it really difficult to perfect
a 30+- movement masterpiece. The week of the concert we practiced
with the entire choir and soloists Monday through Thursday
from 7 to 9:30 p.m.”
The practice and hard work paid off as the entire group came
together for an exhilarating performance. “Overall I
think it was fine, we had fun and were happy to be finished,”
said Riebold.
