Music’s beauty lies in its ability to enchant someone even if they don’t have a complete understanding of every note and rhythm. It can serve as a guide, revealing hidden parts about yourself. So sit back, relax and let’s uncover what your favorite composition from the Spring Concert cycle says about you.
“Aurora Awakes” by John Mackey (performed by Wind Symphony):
The low voices of this piece serve as the main melodies and act as the sky where the high winds dance, mimicking the fleeting flickers of light during an aurora borealis. With its minimalist style, this piece doesn’t need to say a lot to draw an audience in.
If this was your favorite, you most probably liked “Magic Tree House” and “Little Einsteins” as a kid. The knowledge and whimsy you gained from these series made you ascend to a plane of existence where gravity and motion do not exist. Your autobiography will be a New York Times Bestseller because your outlook on life and humanity will become one of the great philosophical classics.
“Argent Edge” by Doug Spata (performed by Concert Orchestra):
Fiery and bold, this overture’s compound meter makes you want to skip around. With its chromatic harmonies, it breaks up and reassembles its themes before building to a final triumphant E.
If this piece left an impression on you, you were likely a medieval bard in a past life. But now, in the 21st century, your favorite comfort film is “Tangled.” You are an adventurer at heart and probably dream of studying abroad one day. But, please, stop daydreaming in class.
“Balladair” by Frank Erickson (performed by Concert Band):
“Balladair” proves that great music transcends time. This B-flat Major classic band piece is cookie-cutter perfect in every way. Erickson’s skillful doubling of parts makes the band sound full and complete in its instrumentation.
You embody this piece if you cling to the past too much and get really mushy in the feels sometimes. Loyalty is the most valuable thing to you, and you are unwilling to compromise your values due to your self-assured sense of identity.
“Into the Storm” by Robert W. Smith (performed by Symphonic Band):
The power, aggressive attack and forte of this piece will take you into the “eye of the storm.” Clearly, Symphonic Band’s rehearsals of this piece caused the school to be rained out for a week straight.
Like an onion, you have layers—while you may appear aggressive on the surface, your private playlist tells a different story. You may listen to K-pop girl groups like New Jeans or Red Velvet or you may listen to indie artists I don’t know where to find (drop the link).
“Introduction and Allegro” by Edward Elgar (performed by Philharmonic Orchestra):
“Introduction and Allegro” begins with a powerful down bow, then transitions into a captivating call-and-response section. The quartet stands out with its intensity while the rest of the orchestra still holds a powerful presence through sheer numbers.
If you liked this piece, you were probably imagining yourself in a Dark Academia Pinterest board: Striding ominously towards your sworn enemy with your sword tightly gripped in hand, fingers stained crimson with Kool-Aid, poised to exact vengeance. But slowly, over the course of your life, you become mad. In your Lady Macbeth cosplay, you cry, “Out, damned spot; out, I say!”
