Live Performance Review

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This paper will concentrate on the analysis and the review of three major performances, Missa Mirabilis, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43 and Dona Nobis Pacem. These pieces are generally based on religious settings that are very detailed and are represented in a very organized way. This whole idea of this piece was associated with the Eucharist and focused mainly on the body of Christ. Prior to my attendance; I was able to access a recording of Missa Mirabilis, just to get a feel for what I was about to experience. Although the recording was not as good as what I heard first hand at the live performance it was still beautiful. I could only imagine how beautiful it was on the very first day of the performance at the Westminster Cathedral.
Missa Mirabilis
To begin, Missa Mirabilis is a piece that was celebrated at the Westminster Cathedral for the feast of Corpus Christi on 10 June 2007. This gave a new setting of the Mass by world-renowned pianist, Stephen Hough. He named the piece Missa Mirabilis that is translated to Miracle Mass in English. While writing this script, he was involved in a car crash while driving at about 80 mph, but the script and Hough survived the crash. After the accident, Hough completed all the compositions while in laid up his hospital bed. Hough said this is where it ended up in a confusing mess, creating the visual in his mind of the crowd scampering for safety, much like the trauma that had befallen the composer during the time of his accident. This brings forth a miracle of salvation that is clearly shown in this piece.
The work is bound by melodic lines with some choral structure that gives the piece a form of inner strength plus some unique harmonic cushion. The piece was well organized to give ...

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...s may be seen to be worth some risk of believing. This is because the risk is honorable in terms the song being sung in order to make some incantation to the men themselves. This work is based on the book of Revelations in the Bible in order to introduce the mystery associated with the work in a much more mysterious manner and way.
Overall, the live performance was extraordinary and not what I had envisioned at the start of this class. I have learned over the weeks how to hear the beauty in the music and not to just listen. That it takes going to a live performance to get the full concept of what the music portrays; the uplifting experiences that it brings and the calmness and serenity it speaks to the soul. I will definitely be attending many more live performances as my schedule allows as I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

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