For this month’s Top 10, “The Outlook” talked to Professor David Tripold from the Music and Theatre Arts Department.
Tripold has been nourishing the musical minds of Monmouth students for 29 years, and fulltime since 1999.
He directs the University’s chamber and concert choirs which perform every winter and spring semester. He tackles the challenge that anyone can sing with a little direction and guidance in his Group Voice classes.
He has also been directing church choirs for over 30 years. From working at various universities an coaching many students along the way, Tripold ending up at Monmouth is truly a gift. His direction leads to, but finding confidence beyond just the stage.
Tripold’s love of music and teaching can be felt by all his students. I know this because I have had the pleasure of being in his classes since my junior year. It is because of this that we felt it’s only fitting we put Tripold to the task of providing his Top 10 favorite musical works.
- J.S. Bach – “B minor Mass”
The most outstanding setting of the Catholic Mass, and by a Lutheran no less. Haha.
- Beethoven – “9th Symphony”
The culmination of the symphonic form that has not been improved upon since.
- Oliver Messiaen – “Quartet for the End of Time”
A sublime piece of Avante Garde music that moves the soul.
- Wolfgang Mozart – “Don Giovanni”
My personal favorite of Mozart’s opera oeuvre. This one was personal with him as tensions with his father seemed to spill over into this operatic
masterpiece.
- Steven Schwartz – The musical “Wicked”
It’s Schwartz wall-to-wall masterpiece.
- Leonard Bernstein – “West Side Story”
The culmination of one era in musical theatre and the bridge to another. Magnificent storytelling on every level.
- Billy Joel – The album “Stranger”
Every song now belongs to the great American songbook.
- The Beatles – The “White Album”
The Beatles’ summary masterpiece.
- Michael Jackson – “Thriller”
The dawn of music video.
- Eminem – “Lose Yourself”
If I could choose just one rap song that defined an almost 50-year-old American musical genre!
