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By Dr. Matthew Saunders, Music Dept. Chair

Goodwell, Okla. — The combined forces of the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Department of Music and several special guests will present a Musicircus from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Student Union Ballroom on the OPSU campus in Goodwell. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

The Musicircus is a “happening” combining a variety of musical styles, genres and forms in an hour-long collage of sight and sound in which each of the approximately thirty pieces of music becomes a part of a larger piece. At any given time, the audience may experience a single composition, multiple compositions or complete silence.

In addition to musical performances by three of OPSU’s ensembles, the Concert Band, Chamber Singers and Mariachi OPSU, the evening will include performances of music for solo voice, chamber ensemble and electronic sound. Special guests for the evening include the faculty of the OPSU Department of English, OPSU Alma Folklorica and Kevin Coons, director of bands at Stratford High School. The faculty of the Department of Music will be highlighted, with a penny-whistle performance by Matthew Howell, director of vocal and choral studies, and a performance of Let Everything that Has Breath Praise the Lord, a composition for trombone and electronic sound by Matthew Saunders, director of bands. The performances will be synchronized using a video display of the OPSU clock tower.

The Musicircus concept originated with American composer John Cage, who is most famous for his piano piece 4’33”, in which the performer plays no notes. The Musicircus has been presented in venues around the world, with a recent notable performance in Melbourne, Australia lasting over twelve hours. Cage believed that all sound had musical potential, and in particular had an interest in the blending of diverse sounds in random, or aleatoric, combinations. In his instructions for the piece, Cage specified that dance and refreshments also should be included in the event.

In keeping with the season, costumes are encouraged, but not required. For further information, contact Matthew Saunders at (580) 349-1483 or matthew.saunders@opsu.edu.