Melodies full of passion
Upon walking by and glancing at the battered door of room FA 101, one would never guess that the space inside is home to an exquisite grouping of emotion.
A small, intimate concert called “Songs of Love and Loss” was held Jan. 24, showcasing an assortment of piano, song and poetry.
Music instructor Norman Weston played piano, while former Saddleback vocal instructor Eileen O’Hern sang all lyrics. The short, but powerful, show was held in two parts.
The first half consisted of a collection of songs with poetry written by Adelbert Chamiso and music composed by Robert Schumann.
The poems follow a woman through her love life, from the moment she saw her soul mate, to her marriage and her experiences after her lover’s death.
Although these were recited in German, the raw emotion and passion seeped through the singer’s voice, greatly evident in her mannerism and tone.
When translated, the lyrics are so truthfully exact and the singer conveys emotion to make the audience think the words could have been written by the woman herself.
The first song read, “Since I have seen him, I believe I am blind; Whither I am looking, I see him alone,” explaining how she felt when she fell in love at first sight and could imagine seeing no other man.
“It was very thought-provoking,” said Seth Munsey, 20, kinesiology. “[Her] mood changed with every note.”
The second half of the show was decidedly more modern than the first half, and consisted of poetry by Dorothy Parker and music by Norman Weston.
While this group of poems also put love in the spotlight, it was accompanied by a dark downside. The lyrics were quirky and gloomy, filled with sad humor and depression.
One of the most powerful poems said, “The sun’s gone dim, and the moon’s turned black; For I loved him, and he didn’t love back.”
The songs were performed with fleeting, slippery piano notes and almost frantic vocals to portray the sort of desperation associated with unrequited love.
“Norman Weston created beautiful landscapes of sound,” said John Paul Keene, 19, music. “The melodies were able to frolic like rainbow children.”
The songs with poetry from different time periods helped to forge a tangible link between past and present melodies while showcasing the perpetuation of love through the ages.
The soulful and heartfelt melodies seemed to have a lasting impact on all who witnessed it.
“The contrast between centuries and how they relate to each other makes it that much more interesting,” said Rudy Hirsch, 19, music.
Love and loss are common themes in life, no matter the date or era, which creates a sturdy ground for musical creation and experimentation.
The “Songs of Love and Loss” proved how easy it is to relate to everyone in the human race through common emotional connections.