Tuesday (1/29) on the MIT news site, Mackenzie Van Engelenhoven writes, “Intermingled with MIT’s vibrant academic community is an equally bright religious community representing more than 20 religions. This week, the MIT community will have the opportunity to celebrate this diversity when organist Leonardo Ciampa debuts a multi-denominational organ symphony dedicated to the unique and beautiful organ in Kresge Auditorium and the religious tradition of which it is a part. Ciampa will present the ‘Kresge Organ Symphony’ on Feb. 1 at 7 pm in Kresge Auditorium (W16). The free concert, presented in conjunction with Religious Life at MIT, will be prefaced by a short lecture and demonstration. … Commissioned by [MIT Chaplain Robert] Randolph as an opportunity to show off the organ’s unique voice, Ciampa says he composed the piece to reflect the diverse religious community at MIT, and incorporated a variety of religious themes. ‘I decided to write something in which themes peacefully coexist, just as all of the faith communities peacefully coexist in the religious life at MIT,’ he says. … As a nod to MIT’s scientific community, Ciampa has also incorporated Fibonacci numbers throughout the symphony. The last movement contains exactly 233 measures, and the choral parts contain exactly 987 notes.”
Posted January 30, 2013
