A Message from the Music Director

Dear Friends,

In his book The World in Six Songs, neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explains how humans have always used music to help wage war and defend against attack, describing this as one of music's most fundamental roles since the dawn of mankind.  Conversely, music has also been part of virtually every peace movement - just think of Bob Dylan's anti-war anthem Blowin in the Wind or Joan Baez singing Where Have All the Flowers Gone?  As a composer, I dealt with this subject in 2005 when I composed War Music, a music theatre adaptation of Chrisopher Logue's retelling of The Illiad in contemporary verse, and when I appeared with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra as a guest composer and speaker on the subject of music and war.

This season, the Pioneer Valley Symphony presents Music of Peace and War, which features several compositions related to this powerful theme, culminating at our final concert on May 19th with Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage - a beautiful musical evocation of peace - and Haydn's compelling Mass in Time of War in collaboration with the Hampshire Choral Society, along with Sir William Walton's monumental choral masterpiece Belshazzar's Feast featuring the renowned baritone David Kravits. 

Enjoy the music!

                                                                                                            Paul Phillips, Music Director and Conductor