This week has been busier than usual. I have four midterm exams next week, so I
have been studying for those. For the
music history exam, we have to be able to recognize any of 25 different pieces
of music from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic time periods (the 17th
through the 19th centuries).
The teacher uses the “drop the needle” approach, where she can start the
music anywhere in the piece. These are
symphonies, concertos, sonatas, string quartets, opera arias, oratorios, Lied
and other forms of music. I am listening
right now as I write this blog.
In addition to my school work, I am learning to play the
music for Catholic Mass, preparing for my future career as a music
minister. For a few weeks, I have been
accompanying the sung acclamations on the organ. The acclamations are the parts of the Mass
which are the same every week, like the “Holy Holy” and the “Lamb of God.” This coming Sunday evening, I will be playing
the organ for all the accompanied music for the Mass. I worked with the music Director, Dr. Kevin
Birch, to choose appropriate hymns and I have been learning those. I am excited about this!
I repeat the metaphor of music being like a sphere where
music education and practice fill in more and more of the sphere. Through school, church, and regular practice,
I feel like I am making more and more of those musical connections in my
brain. I am enjoying learning so much!
