Emens Auditorium will resonate at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when Muncie Symphony Orchestra presents "Will of Iron, Pen of Gold."
The meaning of the show's title lies behind the second piece the orchestra will play called "The Ravel Concerto for the Left Hand."
Catherine Levin, MSO executive director, said the piece was written for a concert pianist, Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I and saw that as a challenge to keep playing.
"It's an amazing piece of music," Levin said. "You will simply not believe it."
Levin said this piece was selected as part of the ARTSable program.
Pianist Mia Chung will be performing "The Ravel Concerto." Though Chung has full use of both of her arms, Levin said that this is a piece that she's been wanting to learn.
Leonard Atherton, music director, said the "Will of Iron" is Wittgenstein's courage not to give up in the face of disability. "Pen of Gold" is Ravel's piece that he wrote especially for Wittgenstein to play with his left hand.
The last piece the orchestra will play is a symphony with four movements written by French composer Chausson. The entirety of this symphony is 30 minutes.
"It's just beautiful," Levin said. "Just sit back and let all your worries drain out of you."
Levin described the Chausson piece as mellow and melodic, very relaxing.
The first selection the symphony will be playing is a piece composed by Bizet who is most famous for his "Carmen."
Atherton said the piece MSO will play is a folk song about the Arles of southern France and incorporates very early uses of the saxophone.
"If people come and don't like it, that's fine," Levin said. "I promise you'll survive. You will hear something you like. There's no risk involved."
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