NEWS

Music faculty members to perform under Winter Night

Jan 17, 2013 | General News, Liberal Arts

While the cold brisk air blows across the water of Lady of the Mist in front of Howard Auditorium, sounds of classical instruments will be heard to add to Ruston’s winter night experience.
Louisiana Tech University department of music faculty members Randall Sorensen, who plays the trumpet, and Shayla Blake, who plays the piano, will present a free concert inspired by a winter night at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 in Howard Auditorium.
Sorenson said he enjoys performing music that is based on non-musical influence such as seasons.
“As I explored music for trumpet and piano from my library and more recently composed works a theme emerged that seemed to fit the timing of the event in the winter month of January,” Sorensen said.
The concert will feature music from British composers Howard Blake and Cecilia McDowall and American composers David Snow and Richard Peaslee.
Blake’s “The Snowman,” a children’s animated film, will be the final selection of the program.
“Howard Blake’s music from the children’s film ‘The Snowman’ was chosen due to the theme of winter and the ability to provide a multimedia experience through the inclusion of video clips from the film,” Sorensen said. “This was also one of my favorite books/films to share with my children when they were younger.”
The performance will be enhanced by dramatic lighting and multimedia videos, which will feature solo trumpet and piano.
“It is interesting to listen to the music and hear the composer’s musical interpretation of the subject,” Sorensen said. “The subject matter provides a frame of reference for the listener to either agree or disagree with the matching of music to things such as a painting.”
Sorensen said he hopes he is able to communicate the composer’s intent through music, and listeners will find something they wish to hear again.
For more information about the event, call 318-257-5473 or visit the music department’s website at music.latech.edu.
Written by Derek J. Amaya