RIANNA SEELIG
Special to The Leader
September is National Classical Music Month. However, the celebration is not limited to music composed in the late 1700s and early 1800s — it’s open to all music from Medieval to Romantic and beyond. To celebrate, a handful of faculty members — and one alumni — were asked about their classical music preferences. Two professors were faculty members in the Music Department, one a faculty member of the English Department, and the last was an alumnus who graduated from the School of Music last Spring.
When asked what names come to mind when one hears the term “classical music,” a handful of key names are common: Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, just to name a few. These are the names many likely encountered in high school and names that are familiar to a great deal of individuals. However, the professors interviewed proved there is much more to the classical music world than the “Big Three.”
Dr. Gerald Gray, a professor in the School of Music, was excited to share various composers he continues to listen to for enjoyment. Among his favorites were Shütz (a German composer and organist), Gorecki (a Polish composer of contemporary classical music), Bach (the German composer), Verdi (an Italian composer of operas) and Dufay (a Franco-French composer of the Early Renaissance).
All offer a unique listening experience and are worth exploring. After recommending his favorites, Gray remarked, “when I’m not listening to those, I’m listening to bluegrass!”
Professor Brent Weber, another faculty member of the School of Music, stated he did most of his listening of classical music via Sirius Radio (numerous classical stations are offered). His favorite composer to listen to is Verdi, also a favorite of Gray.
Weber also records in his spare time. His most recent project is titled, “The Selfish Giant” (Stephen Collanti). Weber concluded with, “I’m a big fan of classic vinyl as well.”
Vaughn Faison, a recent graduate from the applied music program, had two favorites: Poulenc (the French composer and pianist) and Copland (the American composer). Nicole Brendel, a nearby senior vocal performance major, quickly added, “don’t forget Mozart!”
Lastly, the perspective of a professor outside the School of Music seemed necessary; the love for classical music spreads across majors. Dr. Iclal Vanwesenbeeck of the English Department gave a number of composers she enjoys listening to regularly.
“The Baroque and the Romantic Eras are endlessly fascinating to me,” she said.
Her favorite composers include Bach, Telemann (a German Baroque composer), Purcell (the English composer), Vivaldi (the Italian Baroque composer), Boieldieu (a French composer, often of operas), Hummel (an Austrian composer), Dvořák (a Czech composer), Beethoven (the German composer and pianist), Rachmaninoff (a Russian composer, pianist and conductor) and Chopin (the Polish composer).
Take advantage of National Classical Music Month: go explore some classical music that strays from what you may have been taught in high school, and find a new favorite. There is an abundance of classical music out there, whether it is contemporary or not.
There is bound to be something you connect to. The crowd favorites, specifically in reference to the interviews conducted for this article, appear to be Bach and Verdi. Perhaps this is the best place to start in your quest for a new Pandora station. Happy listening!