Music theory professors Yonatan Malin and Keith Waters
When we listen to music, there are certain pieces that we just enjoy. Whether it鈥檚 through repetition, the accessibility of the melody or even a fond memory associated with the tune, we 鈥済et鈥� it鈥攐r, in the best cases, we feel as if the composer 鈥済ets鈥� us.
But then there are those other pieces that, for whatever reason, don鈥檛 click. The melodies that don鈥檛 speak to us鈥攐r are sometimes seemingly non-existent. That鈥檚 where understanding what鈥檚 happening in the music can help us appreciate鈥攅ven begin to enjoy鈥攎usic that we otherwise wouldn鈥檛 listen to twice.
That鈥檚 the revelation our music theory faculty hope the public will experience during the CU on the Weekend event, 鈥�.鈥� Hosted by the Office of Outreach and Engagement,听CU on the Weekend听invites members of the community to campus for free lectures on some of the research happening at CU-Boulder.
Theory faculty听Yonatan Malin听补苍诲听Keith Waters听saw the series as an opportunity to bring Boulder in on the fascinating work they and their colleagues are doing. 鈥淲e wanted to be able to show the public what we do, like the other areas of music,鈥� says Malin. 鈥淧eople are curious about music theory, and this is a way to share our work with them.鈥�
The program, which will combine lecture and performances of George and Ira Gershwin鈥檚 鈥淚 Got Rhythm,鈥� two Franz Schubert songs and the baseball game mainstay 鈥淭ake Me Out to the Ballgame,鈥� is also a chance to showcase College of Music graduate student performers. The goal is to show people that art songs like Schubert鈥檚 are just as enjoyable as the more popular Gershwin. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not necessarily proposing a connection between the two, just the fact that art song is often more accessible than we might think. Conversely, popular song is a lot more sophisticated. It has a lot of interesting things going on,鈥� Malin explains.
Malin hopes the introduction to theory concepts will make them less intimidating. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easier to understand rhythm in song because it鈥檚 less abstract. It has lyrics. So we鈥檒l talk about the rhythm of the lyrics.鈥�
The theory department plans to host an event every year during CU on the Weekend. Just like with a piece of music, the hope is that repetition will lead to better understanding of theory. 鈥淵ou can hear everything we talk about if we can draw your attention to it,鈥� says Malin. 鈥淎 friend of mine asked me once, 鈥榃hat theory do you teach?鈥� The 鈥榯heory鈥� is that we can describe what we hear ... and in the act of describing it, we learn to hear it better.鈥�
鈥淕ershwin Meets Schubert: Words, Music and Song鈥� is Saturday, Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m. in the Chamber Hall (C-199). The public is invited to this free event, but seating is limited so arrive early. College of Music Dean Robert Shay will introduce Malin and Waters.
