Music

The Star Spangled Banner, a symbol of freedom, power, and resilience, has been rewritten in a minor mode. It was rewritten as such to represent what we see in our country now; inequality, injustice, abuse of power, brutality, etc. There’s been so much in the last 200 years alone. This piece feels solemn and dark as if you are watching the US fall to its inevitable death.

The piece “Connections” is a three-movement piece inspired by the literary magazine theme, and showcases melodies of connection and disjunction.

The first movement is in Eb major and opens as a slow, tranquil piece featuring horn and flute soloists with smooth and connected melodies and chords from all instruments.

The second movement is in Eb minor and is more disconnected than the previous movement. Violins create a theme reflected throughout the remainder of the movement, and violas play a powerful melody with the flute, with countermelodies from the horns. The piece then returns to disconnection.

The end of the movement separates the main accompanying line that was originally played by the violins. Violins and violas (and eventually, cellos) each play one note from the original line to recreate it. When played separately, it may seem that the musicians are playing a random assortment of notes, but when played together with excellent rhythmic precision, the listener will be able to hear the melody clearly.

In the final movement, the accompaniment remains disconnected, but the flute and horn sections play connected melodies against the strings. The horns recall the theme played by the violins in the second movement. The strings pull the piece down to a tranquil place similar to movement one. Towards the end of the movement, the piece becomes more intense and disconnected, while retaining the connections created throughout the piece.