Chase Malcom
Honors 201-5
Cultural Event Essay
Organ Celebration: More Than Meets the Eye I have always had an affinity in my heart for local symphony orchestras. Of course it makes sense now because I am studying music to make it a profession, but even when I was young, there was something special about seeing a live orchestra concert. All throughout my childhood, my grandma would take me to musical events, such as Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concerts. I asssume this is a major contributor to my love of music in general, but there is just something special about hearing a piece of music that is hundreds of years old being brought back to life by local musicians right in front of your eyes—or ears. It should come as no surprise then that when I heard that the Muncie Symphony Orchestra was going to be performing in Sursa Hall in September, for free, no less, I jumped right on it. My trumpet professor is sitting principle so I was already intrigued at hearing her play in a professional setting. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was the amazing program that featured the organ and the unbelievable organist Raúl Ramírez. The Organ Celebration by the Muncie Symphony Orchestra revealed a great …show more content…
The organ at Sursa has 4 separate wings and, between them, over 2,000 pipes. Ramírez showed pictures of each of the sections and explained that most of the tubes that an organ uses, you can’t even see. He also demonstrated what each section of tubes sounds like. I also learned that the organ contains metal, wood, and PVC pipes to access different timbres. After the presentation, Ramírez and the symphony finished off the rest of their program. At the conclusion of the final piece, Raúl left the stage only to be called back by thunderous applause from the all-standing audience. The crowd remained cheering after he left the second time, prompting an impromptu performance that involved him using only his feet and the foot pedals to
Honors 201-5
Cultural Event Essay
Organ Celebration: More Than Meets the Eye I have always had an affinity in my heart for local symphony orchestras. Of course it makes sense now because I am studying music to make it a profession, but even when I was young, there was something special about seeing a live orchestra concert. All throughout my childhood, my grandma would take me to musical events, such as Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concerts. I asssume this is a major contributor to my love of music in general, but there is just something special about hearing a piece of music that is hundreds of years old being brought back to life by local musicians right in front of your eyes—or ears. It should come as no surprise then that when I heard that the Muncie Symphony Orchestra was going to be performing in Sursa Hall in September, for free, no less, I jumped right on it. My trumpet professor is sitting principle so I was already intrigued at hearing her play in a professional setting. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was the amazing program that featured the organ and the unbelievable organist Raúl Ramírez. The Organ Celebration by the Muncie Symphony Orchestra revealed a great …show more content…
The organ at Sursa has 4 separate wings and, between them, over 2,000 pipes. Ramírez showed pictures of each of the sections and explained that most of the tubes that an organ uses, you can’t even see. He also demonstrated what each section of tubes sounds like. I also learned that the organ contains metal, wood, and PVC pipes to access different timbres. After the presentation, Ramírez and the symphony finished off the rest of their program. At the conclusion of the final piece, Raúl left the stage only to be called back by thunderous applause from the all-standing audience. The crowd remained cheering after he left the second time, prompting an impromptu performance that involved him using only his feet and the foot pedals to