Flying time?
The last week of the year is undergo, how the semester slipped away so quickly shall forever remain a mystery. Sign of a good time? Not sure about everyone else but I definitely had a fantastic semester filled with random trips to fields, late nights watching stars go by, great vibes on the Vanburgh bowl and the occasional bit of piano practice.
With deadlines, recitals and exams rapidly approaching theres a studious buzz going around, however I’m sure if you have things approaching you will be at least somewhat stressed, and if you are don’t hesitate to reach out! It’s normal to be stressed, but we aren’t made to handle it alone. The society recently elected our new Wellbeing & Community Champion’s, Alex Bolevin and Alice Hawkins, and they are more than happy to handle any wellfare concerns so don’t hesitate to contact them :). Finally on this point, good luck! Not long left now.
Would also like to say a massive well done to everyone playing in concerts over the last few weeks, and especially to those run by students, all the ones I managed to go along to were amazing.
For this next section I’ve asked four members of committee varyingly random questions…
Q: Which composer would be a diva on social media, and who would get cancelled instantly?
Alice Hawkins:
Clara Schumann = DIVA (let’s get some day in the life’s as a woman slaying through a male dominated field) Wagner = cancelled (his ego is toooooo big)
Molly Hawes:
Gesualdo [= both?] (particularly after murdering his wife)
Grace Overvoorde:
mm, I think Clara Schumann would have been a complete diva, #newandexciting, and also juggling the men haha! and Haydn would've got cancelled - far too serious.
Joel Gallagher:
Haydn - DIVA
Schumann - CANCELLED
Q: If you were a chord what chord would you be... and why?
Alice Hawkins:
Ebmaj7… I just really like this chord… like I really really really like it. I sometimes go into a practice room and smash this chord out repeatedly to make my day even better. Yay!
Molly Hawes:
Gsus4(add6)(b7)
Grace Overvoorde:
Ooooh tricky, either Eb major or Db major, i just love the flats. but a nice simple chord, none of those crazy jazzy things too ready.
Joel Gallagher:
Eb major, first inversion (octaves in the left hand) 😛
Q: Whats the most performative piece of music?
Alice Hawkins:
Pathétique (yes… cool… we all know the piece from gcse music and you can play it on piano… great… well… it actually is great and if I could play it I would soooooo #hypocrite)
Molly Hawes:
Spain - Chick Corea
Grace Overvoorde:
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, never walked down the corridor [in the music department] without hearing it being played!
Joel Gallagher:
The Planets - Holst. the whole thing (despite Jupiter being one of my FAV pieces ever)
Q: What popular piece do you believe no-one actually likes?
Alice Hawkins:
Mr blue sky
Molly Hawes:
Pachelbel's Canon in D 🫣
Grace Overvoorde:
Any Einaudi in this music department, never heard a good word
Joel Gallagher:
Moonlight Sonata
Finally:
Music society formal!! When?: May 14th! Where?: Revs; What?: Buffet with drinks reception and GOOD VIBES.
Tickets cost: £15 for members and £20 for non members. TICKETS SELL OUT ON THE 7TH OF MAY SO BE QUICK.
Thats all from me for this blog, peace and love - Alligin.
Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto, written for his sons 19th birthday, is a phenomal piece of music (non bias). While its an easier concerto, to me its one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. This version performed by Yuja Wang is doubly beautiful as the emotion she puts into playing it is just something else.