Waterbury Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Leif Bjaland explored the close link between poetry and music with British Literature and Music students in a guest lecture on October 29 at Naugatuck Valley Community College. Bjaland led the class of 35 in reading and dissecting works of classic poetry before playing the works set to music.

“I’m really honored to have the opportunity to speak with you about something I think is really an interesting subject … and that is how music and text interact,” Bjaland told the class. While language coalesced over millennia from a series of sounds, he noted that there’s strong evidence that the first method of oral communication was music. “When you think about the communication between a mother and her baby, it’s a series of comforting sounds; it’s humming; it’s singing to the baby—and for me, I believe this is some of the first communication.”

NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., who joined in the discussion, urged students to experience the power of music by attending Waterbury Symphony Orchestra performances. The symphony, which is in residence at NVCC, holds performances throughout the year, including a holiday concert on December 13. NVCC students, faculty and staff are eligible to purchase discounted tickets in advance for $5, based on availability.