Haydn, Mozart, and an Evening of Music at Oriental Lodge - The Luminary Concert Series
On March 31, Oriental Lodge No. 33 welcomed the Acacia Foundation’s Luminaria Concert Series for an evening devoted to Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, two composers connected by music, friendship, and Freemasonry.
The concert was performed by a string quartet from the DePaul School of Music, featuring Angela Rojas Castro and Benjamin Mora on violin, Alejandra Contreras on viola, and Alina Ying on cello. Together, they brought warmth, energy, and careful attention to two works that reveal the distinct character of each composer.
Haydn’s String Quartet in E flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2, known as “The Joke,” is full of wit and surprise. Haydn plays with silence, timing, and expectation, particularly in the final movement, where the music seems to end more than once before reaching its true conclusion. The humor is subtle, but unmistakable. It asks the audience to listen closely and rewards those who do.
Mozart’s String Quartet No. 17 in B flat Major, K. 458, known as “The Hunt,” answered Haydn’s humor with movement, color, and a sense of open air. Its opening calls give the piece its familiar name, but beneath its bright surface is music of remarkable balance and depth. Each instrument has something meaningful to say, yet no single voice overwhelms the others.
That spirit of conversation is at the heart of the string quartet. Four individual voices listen, respond, support, and sometimes challenge one another. The music only succeeds when each musician understands both his or her own part and the larger work being built together. It is not difficult to see why this music feels at home in a Masonic lodge.
Mozart deeply admired Haydn and dedicated a group of six string quartets to him. Their relationship was grounded in mutual respect, a love of craft, and the recognition that serious work can still contain warmth, wit, and humanity. Those same qualities gave this concert its meaning.
We are grateful to the Acacia Foundation, the musicians from the DePaul School of Music, and everyone who joined us. For one evening, our Lodge became a place where music, history, and fellowship met, reminding us that the most enduring traditions are not simply preserved. They are brought to life again.
