I must admit that I’m not the biggest fan of classical music. Although I don’t mind listening to it (especially for studying), it’s not a genre of music that I actively expose myself to. That doesn’t mean, however, that I’m not open to attending a Freiburg Baroque Orchestra concert on a Friday night. Last semester (Fall 2015), I attended my first classical music concert which featured the pianist Emmanuel Ax. There was a particular piece that I thoroughly enjoyed and still listen to occasionally when I study. The piece was a rendition of Beethoven’s “Sonata Pathetique”- 2nd mvt. Perhaps, I thought, I could add another piece to my study soundtrack by attending my first orchestra.

While we walked to Bailey Hall, Sara asked us what we thought “baroque” was. My initial definition was a specific style of instruments characterized by the era of Mozart. During the performance, my friend, an avid fan of classical music, told me it referred to a specific era of music (e.g., Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, etc.). Before the concert even began, I was mesmerized by some of the instruments, as they appeared antique in nature. One of the instruments was a clarinet with a unique design and sound. We were all amused when we were told that an extra note could be obtained by tapping the clarinet against one’s own knee. I was also very surprised to hear some opera singing! Like Emmanuel Ax, I had a unique experience to reflect on. Baroque is back!