For Duncan Wall ‘26, playing and studying music is a profound experience. That feeling led him to joining the College Orchestra on french horn, and enrolling in Music and War taught by Professor Barbara Milewski in his first year at Swarthmore. The Orchestra captivated his desire to collaborate with his peers of various musical backgrounds, while Music and War sparked his interest in the intersection of music and politics.

Fast forward three years, Wall is a four-year musician in the Orchestra and is on track to receive an Honors minor in music. 

Wall began to play the french horn in fifth grade and performed with his local youth orchestra throughout high school while simultaneously taking private lessons. At Swarthmore, he was one of only a few french horn players, giving him opportunities to play significant pieces in the orchestra and for senior recitals. Some of his favorite performances in the orchestra were playing Scheherazade composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsaskov in his sophomore year, and Shostakovich’s 5th symphony his junior year.

Ultimately, the collaboration shared between Wall and his peers of various musical backgrounds is what he treasures most in a performance. 

“You have majors that are going to go on to study their instrument in a conservatory and people playing for fun. You have them playing together in one ensemble,” said Wall. 

Playing in other student’s senior recitals was not only a chance for Wall to pursue his musical passions, but a way to be part of musical creation aside from his own.

“In my small way, bringing their music to life; helping them bring out their full capabilities. I really admire a lot of the other students, and I’m really glad I get to help them,” said Wall. 

Wall will give his own senior recital on Saturday, February 28th at 3pm in Lang Concert Hall. Performing a solo recital is “a different type of challenge from past performances,” says Wall. He’s had to manage logistical details of the recital, while building up the mental and physical endurance to perform an hour-long solo concert. 

At his recital, Wall will premiere The Drowned Men’s Association, written for him by fellow Swarthmore Music student Spencer Klaw Kennedy ‘27. 

“Learning [Spencer’s composition] has been different from the other pieces in my recital, since, as the premeirer, I have more leeway in interpretation . . . it’s my responsibility to decide how to play the piece, which is an exciting task,” said Wall.

Another Swarthmore composer made their way into Wall’s recital repertoire. While in Underhill Library, he discovered a piece written by Peter Schickele, aka PDQ Bach. 

“I knew about Schickele’s music, and that he was Swarthmore’s first music major, but I didn’t know that he had written anything for horn, so upon discovering it, I immediately wanted to learn it. [The piece, entitled] What Did You Do Today At Jeffey’s House?, while written under Schickele’s name (as opposed to the PDQ Bach alias), still displays typical Schickelian lightness and humor.”

In addition to performing, Wall has rigorously studied music at Swarthmore. He reflects fondly on 19th Century Music in Europe and the U.S. with Professor Milewski, taken his junior year. He enjoyed discussions in the close-knit class where students studied a plethora of composers such as Beethoven, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky. 

On top of his Honors music minor, Wall is a philosophy major and an aspiring librarian. He’s worked at Underhill Library since his first year at Swarthmore, and is particularly proud of his efforts to help catalog the music portion of the Performing Arts Archive. “This role has allowed me to learn about the history of music at Swarthmore and to get to know some of the department’s alums.”

As Wall prepares to graduate from Swarthmore and pursue a Masters in Library Science, he is determined to keep music–both the listening and performing of it–an important aspect of life. 

“At the end of the day you have to ask yourself what is it all for? And for me a big part of that is music. It’s profound. The great thing about music is that it can make you feel in many different ways. Playing music feels almost divine.”

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Favorite music course at Swarthmore? Music 022, “19th Century Music History in Europe and the U.S.”

Favorite music-making experience at Swarthmore? Getting to play great orchestral works such as big symphonies with the Orchestra.

What will you miss most about Swarthmore? The community, the Lang Music building itself, and all the opportunities to see and be a part of music performances.

What sound or noise do you love? Orchestral tutti.

What sound or noise do you hate? Chalk scraping against the blackboard.

What’s the last song/piece you played on your phone?  ‘So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III)’ by Tom Lehrer