Get ready for a spooky musical treat! The Princeton University Sinfonia is hosting its annual Halloween concert at Richardson Auditorium on October 30 at 7:30 p.m. This 75-minute performance promises to be filled with ghostly tunes and eerie sounds, making it perfect for the Halloween spirit.
The concert will highlight Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre. This famous piece is all about skeletons dancing at midnight, guided by a haunting violin. It explores a unique musical interval known as the “devil’s interval” thanks to its special tuning.
Another gem on the program is Emilie Mayer’s Faust Overture. Mayer was a talented composer in 19th-century Germany, though not much is known about her life and work anymore.
Excitingly, the concert will also present a new composition by Eric Rucker, a second-year physics student at Princeton. His piece, On Harmony as a Timbral Quality, offers a fresh take on orchestra sounds, mixing innovative orchestration with his unique harmonic style. Rucker’s enthusiasm adds a youthful edge to this spooky event.
Audiences can also expect a selection from Luigi Boccherini’s less-known Symphony in D minor, “La casa del diavolo”, a lively medley from the musical Wicked, and pieces from Aram Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite.
The Sinfonia features over 80 talented students, both undergraduate and graduate. Tickets are priced at $16 for general admission and $6 for students. They can be bought online or at the auditorium, starting 45 minutes before the show. For more details, check out the music department’s website or the Sinfonia page.
This concert represents not just a celebration of Halloween but also a unique collaboration between music and student creativity. Such events often draw larger crowds during Halloween, highlighting the community’s love for themed performances. Jazz and classical music, intertwined with elements from popular culture, reflect a modern approach to traditional music, engaging both seasoned concert-goers and newcomers alike.
For those interested in the cultural impact of music on holidays, it’s worth noting that events like this have gained traction in recent years. According to a survey by the National Endowment for the Arts, participation in live music events has increased, especially around holidays. This concert is a perfect example of that trend, drawing more people to appreciate the arts in a festive atmosphere.
