Philharmonics: The Sacred and The Profane
The music program will start off with Darius Milhaud’s “La Creation du Monde” (The Creation of the World), a significant ballet and orchestral work composed by Milhaud in 1923. The ballet was inspired by African creation myths, reflecting the fascination with African culture in Paris during the 1920s. The work is divided into six continuous sections, representing different stages of creation according to African folklore. The piece is notable for its unique orchestration, which includes a small orchestra with prominent saxophone parts, giving it a jazz-like quality, and was part of the avant-garde movement in Paris and helped introduce jazz elements into classical music. “La Création du Monde” is considered one of the earliest and most successful fusions of jazz and classical music in a concert work. It’s one of Milhaud’s most famous works and has influenced many composers and continues to be performed and studied as an important work of 20th-century music.
The season and the concert will close with a spectacular performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Requiem”, performed by the Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra with The Allan Hancock College singers. Mozart began writing the Requiem in 1791, as commissioned by Count Franz von Walsegg, who intended to pass it off as his own composition in memory of his wife. It was left unfinished at his death that same year and was completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr, Mozart’s student, based on the composer’s sketches and instructions. The Requiem is divided into several sections following the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead. Due to the circumstances of its composition, many myths and legends have grown around the Requiem, including the story that Mozart believed he was writing it for his own funeral. The work combines elements of Baroque counterpoint with Classical era style and Mozart’s unique voice. It has had a significant influence on music and popular culture, featured in numerous films and inspiring many artistic works. It remains one of the most frequently performed choral works in the classical repertoire.
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