By james art 
There is a long-standing relationship between mathematics and the arts.
“The mathematicians’ patterns, like the painter’s or the poet’s, must be beautiful,” British mathematician GH Hardy suggested in 1940. Now, the College of Music at Florida State University will prove it at its 2025 Sing with the Symphony concert, part of The Third Annual Festival of the Creative Arts.
The audience is invited to sing along with the university choirs and symphony orchestra for the premiere of a new work. The theme this year? “Music and Mathematics.”
Born to compose
If you’re intimidated by the idea of mixing music and math, don’t be. “Mathematics is not just numerical and computational, static and rigid,” said student composer Justin de Saint Mars. “It can be something to express how the world works, and the world is quite beautiful.”
De St. Mars would know; She produced a new piece of music based on Gh Hardy’s essay An Apology of Mathematics.
“I’m not a math person myself,” she said, laughing. However, her composition uses formulas to create repeating patterns of notes and chords that become greater than the sum of their parts. “I focused more on the sound,” she said. “Instead of,” this math equation should go here or this note should go specifically there. “
Australian-born St. Mars, who is currently working on his master’s in composition at FSU, describes his style as “neo-romantic, with a lot of impressionistic harmonies and flourishes.”
Like her favorite composers – Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Danny Elfman – she is passionate about film scores. Her composition “is closer to what film scoring tends to be, where you have recognizable themes that come back over and over.”
Math inspired singing
While Justine was composing for the Symphony Concert, her ideas were influenced by her professor, Dr. Clifton Callander, professor of composition at FSU and creator of mathematically inspired works.
Callender’s works are shaped by the principles of mathematics that determine how the piece progresses, iterates and builds upon itself. The concert includes additional performances by the University Orchestra and Choirs. Professors Deborah Bish, Michael Hanawalt, Alexander Jimenez, and McKenna Stenson present in this unique event.
There will also be three speakers: Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna, FSU President Richard McCullough. and College of Music Dean Dr. Todd Kralitsa.
The University Symphony Orchestra will present Gerald Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto, a piece exploring the fast, complex passages for which the instrument is uniquely suited. And the choir will join William L.’s Negro Folk Symphony. Dawson, which features tunes from black spirituals.
The Negro Folk Symphony is Dawson’s only symphony, despite an illustrious compositional career; In its first four performances in 1934. the audience burst into applause after the piece’s second movement, a response that defies typical concert hall etiquette.
Despite rave reviews from critics, Dawson’s Symphony was not performed again until 1963, when he reworked the piece to incorporate new rhythms and melodies he encountered on a tour of West Africa.
No musical knowledge required
Audience members will not need to pass a test to participate in this concert. No arithmetic or musical knowledge is required to enjoy the event – all attendees will receive a handout to help them follow along. However, the symphony and choirs will guide the audience, helping them stay in rhythm and guide them to the notes.
You don’t have to be able to read music, said De Saint Mars. “Once you hear the melody, once it goes back into the same key a few times, you’ll be able to hear it and sing it pretty easily.”
All participating pieces of music explore the relationship between pattern, context, and technical skill that music lovers and novices alike can appreciate. “Those who know how to read music will take just as much as someone who has no experience in the music world,” said De Saint Mars. “There’s always something to gain from listening to new music.”
Creative Arts Add Up
Sing With the Symphony is just one of the events featured in the Creative Arts Festival lineup hosted by the FSU Office of Research.
The festival features events for audiences of all ages and skill levels, including a sing-along of The Wizard of Oz (with a pre-screening discussion), a multidisciplinary celebration of Maglab’s 30th anniversary, K-12-focused K-12-focused Math Fun Day, Ethics Symposium, Story Time Under the Stars and more.
All activities are free – no university affiliation required and no bookings required. “I came to appreciate mathematics a little more,” said De Saint Mars. “Thinking it could be a good thing, it could be a beautiful thing.”
If you go
What: Sing with the symphony, part of FSU’s Creative Arts Festival
When: Saturday, February 1, from 10:30 – 11:45
Where: Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, 222 S Copeland St.
Costs: Free; Information: .research.fsu.edu/fca
Summer Callahan is the Arts and Culture Council’s Grants Manager. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Coca is the Capital’s Arts and Culture Agency (Tallahasseearts.org)