Delve into the great works of Beethoven’s life by attending “The Great Beethoven Concert” presented by SUU Department of Music’s Symphony Orchestra. Listeners will have the opportunity to celebrate the 190th Anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s life by indulging in his symphonic pieces.
Beethoven is known as the man who “freed” music and is the first composer who never had an official court position. Thus, he is known as the world’s first successful freelance musician. His work is just as revolutionary now as it was in the past.
Beethoven expressed, “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electric soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.”
Jan Swafford, American composer and author of “Beethoven, Anguish and Triumph” wrote, “There was something exalted about him that was noted first in his teens and often thereafter. He was utterly sure of himself and his gift, but no less self-critical and without sentimentality concerning his work.”
SUU’s own Xun Sun, Director of Orchestral Activities, will be conducting the evening’s performance. Like Beethoven, Sun manifested distinctive musical talent at an early age. Born in Taiyuan, China, Sun began his formal music training and violin studies at age 11 through the government’s scholarship program for prodigious musical students. Sun has conducted a variety of concerts: China Philharmonic, Henan Symphony Orchestra and Hubei Symphony Orchestra in China as well as Lviv Philharmonic in Ukraine and The Orchestra of Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah.
Music scores that will be heard throughout the evening include “Egmont Overture Op. 84”, “Symphony No. 1 in C Major Op. 2” (First Movement), “Symphony No. 8 in F Major Op. 93” (Second and Third movement), “Piano Concerto No.1 in C Major Op. 15” (First movement) with guest soloist James Jolley, and “Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 61” (Second movement).
Following the concert, Douglas Ipson, assistant professor of music theory and history, will speak to the audience about his musical experiences. Ipson is an active choral composer, arranger and author whose work has been performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and BYU Singers.
For more information on SUU’s Music Department, please visit www.suu.edu/pva/music.
Story by
Alyssa Brunson
achief2@suunews.com
