Classical Music Month
Turn on your Tchaikovsky and blast your Bach, it’s Classical music month! September is recognized as National Classical Music Month in the U.S, a designation that began with a proclamation by President Clinton in 1994: “Classical music is a celebration of artistic excellence. Great art endures through the ages, and in the United States we have embraced that great music and incorporated it into the American experience.” This month we honor the richness and study of this genre as well as its historical influence.
In comparison to modern standards, classical music might seem extremely different, but the artistry of this genre paved the way for the music made today. The separate eras (as shown in the chart ‘Classical Music Timeline’’) along with well over 30 instruments played classically exemplify the diversity and range that classical music allows for all types of listeners; whether you want the sentimentality of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos, filled with emotional melodies and overwhelmingly beautiful chord progressions, or the light, dance-like, contrapuntal music of George Frederic Handel, or even a Gregorian Chant!
At OHS, we celebrate classical music too! Groups like the Pixelstra allow students who are also instrumentalists to come together and perform with each other online or even at events like OHS Graduation at Stanford! And while some students are “not a big part of any of the music communities at OHS,” they “love how OHSers come together and defeat (evil) technology and distance barriers to make music together” (Peter ’24). Another place to explore this amazing genre is the Classical Music Circle, open to any and all discussions regarding classical music, composers, scores, instruments, and more! Some of these group’s favorite pieces include Chopin's Nocturne No.1 in B-flat minor, Beethoven's Pathetique sonata, Elgar's Cello Concerto, Chopin's Ballade No 4, Shostakovich's Cello Concerto, Chopin’s Nocturne op 48 no 1, and Rachmaninoff prelude in C sharp minor. Students also get to enjoy performances at events like S@S. When asked, “How do you celebrate classical music (playing a classical instrument, vocals, composing, etc.)? What inspired you to pick it? What do you enjoy about it?” An OHS piano player stated that “accompan[ying] the performance of Chopin’s nocturne op 9 no 3 at S@S talent show was gold” (Timur ’24).
So don’t forget to pull out your classical playlists and check out these OHS classical music groups, and other music events happening during the school year!
Citation:
Clinton, William. “Proclamation 6716-Classical Music Month, 1994.” Proclamation 6716-Classical Music Month, 1994 | The American Presidency Project, 22 Aug. 1994, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-6716-classical-music-month-1994#:~:text=Clinton%2C%20President%20of%20the%20United,with%20appropriate%20ceremonies%20and%20activities.
Graham, Debbie. “What Are the Different Periods of Classical Music?” Classical Music, Classical Music, 1 Aug. 2022, www.classical-music.com/features/articles/what-are-the-different-periods-of-classical-music/.