University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 28 text:

Music can be gay or blue, full of stately magnificence or searching introspection. Tastes vary, but one thing remains certain- students must have music. And music they find to fit their moods, whether it be the emotional power of a symphony, the pulsating rhythms of Ray Charles, or the serene beauty of the Robert Shaw Chorale. It is rather fitting that music should play such an important role in students ' lives. For university life is a rough-hewn harmony which blends varied elements into a unified whole . . . perhaps not always on key, but always striving for improvement. i i.

Page 27 text:

Stately edifices provide the setting jor the host of renowned performers who visit Ann Arbor each year, bringing their talents to the eyes and ears of the university population. Artists such as Artur Rubinstein, the Budapest String Quartet and the Warsaw Symphony, highlighted this year s Hill Auditorium Concert series and consequently the Standing Room Only Sign appeared often. But culture is not a haughty word, restricted to classical music. It has hundreds of facets and forms of expression. Folk singers like the Brothers Four have their part as do lecturers and actors who give readings of poetry and drama . . . A wealth of man s noblest achievements are available to the student, waiting to enrich his heart and soul . . . 23

Page 29 text:

The Messiah takes on a special significance in Ann Arbor during Christmas time when it is magnificently performed by the University Musical Society. For this is no ordinary occasion. Parents, alumni, and friends come to the wintry campus, fusing memories of the past with the warm glow of today s college life. In another area, the Michigan Symphony Band delights the public with their own fine brand of music. Hailed the world over, the band made a triumphantly successful tour of the Soviet Union this year, again showing that American music is one of our best ambassadors. 25