Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES • WINTER 2018 • sai-national.org 8 F or one Western Illinois University undergrad, "home for the holidays" had a special meaning this year. Junior art major Victoria Harmon of Wyoming, IL was selected by her instructors to paint a picture to be used for the annual WIU Foundation holiday card. Harmon aptly titled her work, "Home for the Holidays." While the Foundation holiday card typically displays a rendering of Sherman Hall, this year's artist ventured across Adams Street for her inspiration. e finished product is an original watercolor painting of Western's Alumni House. Harmon sorted through many pictures of the house to find one with just the right angle. And now, the culmination of her efforts is being sent to nearly 900 friends of the WIU Foundation. "Being selected to paint the holiday card for the WIU Foundation gave me the validation I needed for my career. I was unsure of my own abilities, and whether or not I was making the right decision, but aer being given this opportunity, I feel more confident in my decision to pursue a career as an artist," shared Harmon. While majoring in art and minoring in music, Harmon is also the Mu Kappa chapter editor for her music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota. She has firsthand knowledge of the importance and the generosity of the WIU Foundation: Harmon is attending Western on a vocal scholarship and is also receiving a tuition waiver from the Department of Art. She is also a recipient of a WIU Commitment Scholarship. Upon graduating from WIU in Fall 2019, she hopes to someday run her own graphic design business and collaborate with independent companies and businesses on marketing, advertising, and design. "Each year, a Western student is selected by Department of Art instructors to create the WIU Foundation holiday card. And every year, the student does a wonderful job capturing Western Illinois University in a medium he or she selects. is student-created artwork further illustrates the talented students we have at WIU and demonstrates to our donors and friends that their support provides outstanding educational opportunities to talented students," said Brad Bainter, vice president for advancement and public services. "We are so pleased with Victoria's work and we hope everyone enjoys her rendering of the WIU Alumni House." e original piece will be on display at the Alumni House following the holiday break. —WIU Office of University Relations University Holiday Card Designed by SAI Mu Kappa editor Victoria Harmon painted the artwork selected for the Western Illinois University Foundation card. leaders. We were seated in levels, like bleachers in a sports arena." David Lang's Symphony was divided into 10 sections, but played straight through, with tapping continuing between sections. In the beginning, everyone tapped instruments; no pitches. In Section 2, any instruments that had strings were plucked while the rest continued tapping. "In fact," said Rheta, "any instrument which could not produce pitches, such as a string instrument without strings and/or neck was tapped throughout the piece. One person used a violin as a maraca! Apparently, a sound post was rattling around inside." "e wind instrumentalists began playing pitches in Section 3. We had rudimentary melodic snatches, generally in whole notes; sustained notes which were changed to other notes when a signal was given." Rheta continued, "Now, here's where the division into 10 performing groups came in. e conductor, on his high perch, would point to a certain group, but these signals were done in random order. We all played the same material, but not all at the same time or at the same speed, therefore not in sync. For instance, some groups would be signaled to start, say, Section 4, while others were still playing Section 3. On top of that, some sections of music had notes that did not have to be in the written order but could be played in any order. e resulting piece, therefore, was rather aleatoric. e piece ended with a C Major triad, with performers changing the note to another note in the chord at will. e conductor signaled groups, in turn, to finish what they were doing. is resulted in a final diminuendo until all sound disappeared." Rheta said some of the players held violins in 2 or 3 pieces! "ose instruments were something to behold! Violins without strings were played as percussion instruments. ere was a trombone in two pieces, and a uniquely broken clarinet." Rheta commented that her broken oboe was nothing exciting to look at. Major funding for the project came from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the Barra and Fels Foundations. ere is a VERY LONG LIST of other individuals and organizations who also lent their support. A program has been established called "ADOPT AN INSTRUMENT." If you want to help, please visit Symphonyforabrokenorchestra.org and adopt a broken instrument. ey say it only takes two minutes, but your support could give a future musician an instrument that could change a life. — by Ruth A. Sheets Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter MUSIC NOTES FOR MORE INFORMATION visit www.symphonyforabrokenorchestra.org BROKEN continued from page 7

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