On Thursday, October 7, 2021, I attended the Live At Staples 28th Annual Endowment Concert featuring the Aizuri Quartet, in a show entitled “expanse” as part of my PDP experience.

 

I was interested in this event for embracing the creative life of the university category because I am a music double major. I believe that music and the arts have been on a steady decline, especially with the importance and support of STEM fields. To be able to see all that university life has to offer is very important, and to experience the performers' creativity and expression was very meaningful to me. 

 

The show, “expanse,” is meant to signify the growth one experiences once they’ve viewed beyond the horizon and can observe the broader perspectives around them. Aizuri opened with a recent contemporary piece composed by Tom Morrison entitled “Sea Change.” The work, which was strong, moving, and yet still wary and somewhat melancholy, seemed to have a greater meaning. After the piece concluded, the members of the quartet explained the composer’s reason for writing the song was to spread awareness of the rising tides caused by global climate change. The somber tone carried well into the next piece, Eleanor Alberga’s String Quartet No. 1 to show the intrigue and caution associated with new discovery. The movements, both simple, flowing, sometimes frantic, and other times almost prophetic, were remarkably elegant and captivating to the audience. After a brief intermission, the quartet concluded with Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127 from 1825. It seemed as though the liquidity and lack of conformity dominating the first two works and their search for a cause was replaced with a structure, form, and direction from Beethoven’s work. It seemed to symbolize hope and guidance towards a stronger future. 

 

The experience felt almost transcending at the moment. The performance was deliberately shaped and articulated to elicit a connection with the audience that relinquished the highest purpose of music- to encapsulate pure human dignity. The surreal experience was not felt by myself, but by all of those around me, some of whom were brought to tears by the introspective production. I would recommend to anyone else looking to get the most from their college to take it upon themselves to attend at least one live performance during their time in college.