The Day the Music Started
Before the Music Building was built in 1939, music classes met in a variety of buildings around campus. In that year, the Public Works Administration awarded the college with a $90,000 grant. Unfortunately, this did not meet their total of $200,000. The remainder of the cost was raised from self liquidating bonds. The Music Building was MSU's first building designed to serve the liberal arts. The head of the Music department, Lewis Richards, received many congratulatory telegrams from a variety of people, including Herbert Hoover.
A young Civil War veteran by the name of Ransom McDonough formed the first campus band in 1870. Music was a part of the women's curriculum from 1898 to 1918. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt visited East Lansing and came to Michigan State University to view the education programs. He inspired to name A.J. Clark as the head of the band. A.J. Clark served as a faculty member until 1918 and witnessed the band grow from 24 to 60 members.
The building is made of brick and compliments the style of architecture that emerged in the 1930s. Although this style represents the designs that took place in the early 20th century, the building also has many futuristic styles as well. For example, the windows are large and made of metal to represent future stylistic developments. At the Southwest entrance, there are many decorative elements that surround the door. These decorations are called Art Deco and are symbols of dance and performance and introduce the viewer to the world of music within the building. Samuel Cashwan introduced the idea of presenting these works of art, making it a part of people's everyday life. For example, in the courtyard is Cashwan's Cubist "Three Musicians" sculpture. This cast-concrete sculpture includes a bass player, drummer, and saxophonist. It was one of a pair of sculptures the Class of 1939 provided to the campus. It once occupied the grounds where Bessey Hall now stands.
In 1968, The Music Building's "Partner" was built: The Music Practice Building. It is a tall, International style building that is created with brick and concrete exterior, matching the Music Building's architecture. Concrete projecting piers heighten the overall square plan, changing the facades into a dramatic interplay of light and dark verticals. When classes are in session, you are able to walk through campus and hear the variety of beautiful music being played without even seeing The Music Building or The Music Practice Building.
Plans are being made to change The Music Building. Once in reopens, it will be renamed Cook Recital Hall after longtime supporters of MSU, Byron and Dee Cook.
A young Civil War veteran by the name of Ransom McDonough formed the first campus band in 1870. Music was a part of the women's curriculum from 1898 to 1918. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt visited East Lansing and came to Michigan State University to view the education programs. He inspired to name A.J. Clark as the head of the band. A.J. Clark served as a faculty member until 1918 and witnessed the band grow from 24 to 60 members.
The building is made of brick and compliments the style of architecture that emerged in the 1930s. Although this style represents the designs that took place in the early 20th century, the building also has many futuristic styles as well. For example, the windows are large and made of metal to represent future stylistic developments. At the Southwest entrance, there are many decorative elements that surround the door. These decorations are called Art Deco and are symbols of dance and performance and introduce the viewer to the world of music within the building. Samuel Cashwan introduced the idea of presenting these works of art, making it a part of people's everyday life. For example, in the courtyard is Cashwan's Cubist "Three Musicians" sculpture. This cast-concrete sculpture includes a bass player, drummer, and saxophonist. It was one of a pair of sculptures the Class of 1939 provided to the campus. It once occupied the grounds where Bessey Hall now stands.
In 1968, The Music Building's "Partner" was built: The Music Practice Building. It is a tall, International style building that is created with brick and concrete exterior, matching the Music Building's architecture. Concrete projecting piers heighten the overall square plan, changing the facades into a dramatic interplay of light and dark verticals. When classes are in session, you are able to walk through campus and hear the variety of beautiful music being played without even seeing The Music Building or The Music Practice Building.
Plans are being made to change The Music Building. Once in reopens, it will be renamed Cook Recital Hall after longtime supporters of MSU, Byron and Dee Cook.
"The Solitary Reaper" by William Wordsworth
Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang As if her song could have no ending; I saw her singing at her work, And o'er the sickle bending; - I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more. |
I chose this poem because it best represents the femininity that The Music Building portrays. In other words, The Music Building can be perceived as feminine because of its' gentleness, beauty, and tenderness which are characteristics that are also associated with women. In this poem, a Maiden is singing at work, remembering when times were tough, stating that it is possible for things to go back that way. A passerby listens as she sings her melodies and is so inspired that he is still touched even after she stops singing. The tenderness of the woman's singing reminded me of the gentleness that our Music Building represents. Femininity plays a crucial role in this poem as it does with this Michigan State location.
|
Information:
http://music.msu.edu/about/our-history
Images:
http://msutoday.msu.edu/_/img/assets/2012/msu-music-building-1.jpg
http://music.msu.edu/about/our-history
Images:
http://msutoday.msu.edu/_/img/assets/2012/msu-music-building-1.jpg