A Night with Mendelssohn, Mozart and Bach

"Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God."
Felix Mendelssohn

I've been interested in music going way back to the disco days as even I remember listening to the Bee Gees in addition to being part of the MTV generation or whatever the term that is used these days. I even branched into song-writing about a year ago as a way to get more in touch with the right side of my brain otherwise known as the creative-emotional side whereas the left-side is logical, analytical, etc...

I'm new to the world of classical music beyond hearing some of Beethoven's Symphonies (in which Symphony No. 3 is regarded as the end of the Classical Era and the beginning of the Romantic Era and doing some reading on Wolfgang Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach.

I'm still learning about the terminology and personalities instrumental in Classical music. I attended my first KSO event in October. I sat four rows from the stage, so I was able to get a very good first-hand view of the roles that each individual performs. I don't feel qualified to critique their particular performances no more than I would be qualified to provide commentary on any other subject in which I'm not familiar with.

However, in terms of just taking in the sights and sounds, it is certainly a different tune compared to attending a rock or country music concert with just as much work if not more so in order to make it come out flawless. This is a subject matter that will require of my time and effort to learn. But as the way I am, I have an eagerness to learn new things and try something at least once.

The featured performer was pianist Navah Perlman.


Afterwards, I attended the reception and was able to meet some of the people involved with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for the first time including conducter Lucas Richman, Director of Communications Stephanie Burdette and fellow blogger Frank Murphy. I personally don't like having my picture taken, but I will summon up the courage to do it here.


Afterwards, I endured the temperatures of around 15 degrees as I headed back to the warmth of the house and enjoyed a much needed sleep afterwards.