'U' honors Mozart in annual birthday bash

The School of Music is throwing a long-awaited birthday party tonight. The University Chamber Orchestra will perform selections from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's compositions at the annual Mozart Birthday Concert.

On Wednesday Mozart turns 243 years old.

"It's kind of fun to celebrate a birthday like this," said Kenneth Kiesler, professor of conducting and director of orchestras for the School of Music. "It's not very often you get to go to a birthday for someone who's over 200 years old."

This concert tradition began seven years ago with Kiesler's predecessor Gustave Meyer after "Amadeus," the movie and play about Mozart, revived interest in the composer. "If it's possible to say that the greatest composer's popularity increased, it did at that time," Kiesler said. He has been in charge of this event for four years, and said each one has been different.

Tonight's concert features a first half with several of Mozart's vocal pieces. These include three arias from his overture to the "La Clemenza di Tito" opera, which pair instrumental and vocal soloists. Students will also perform "The Ribbon Trio," a comic piece Mozart designed for himself, his wife and a friend, Kiesler said.

"The Posthorn Serenade," a multi-movement piece, comprises the second half. "It's got a lot of variety in it," Kiesler said. Since Mozart wrote most of his serenades for special outdoor events, this piece is lighter than his symphonies.

Mozart's quantity of work allows concerts of his music to take different formats. Mozart lived for just 35 years but composed more than 700 pieces. Kiesler, however, noted that "his greatness lay not so much in the numbers, but in the imagination."

In fact, studies have shown that listening to Mozart's music helps students perform better. "The structure of Mozart and the humanity of it (his music) ... really connects with the way the human brain works," Kiesler said.

Mozart's compositions can also be enjoyed on many different levels. "If you're a musician, you tend to analyze it," Kiesler said. "If you're a lay person, you're almost better off. You can just let the music wash over you."

Due to this universal appeal, Kiesler hopes the turnout from both the community and the University will be large as in previous years. "I just want (the audience) to be imbued with the spirit of Mozart," he said. "I think Mozart just makes you feel more alive."

Before the concert, musical theory prof. Elwood Derr will give a lecture on the specific pieces in the program. This lecture will be held at 7 p.m. in Auditorium 3 of the Modern Language Building.

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