Archive for July, 2008
Pianist Hugh Sung plays Vernacular Dances at Philadelphia’s Woodmere Art Museum, July 30
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Noted pianist and Curtis faculty member Hugh Sung will perform my Vernacular Dances, along with Mussorgsky’s enormously challenging original version of Pictures at an Exhibition and Chopin’s G Major Ballade in his Visual Recital format at Philadelphia’s Woodmere Art Museum (9601 Germantown Ave.) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30. Tickets are $10. Call 215-247-4076 for more information.
Hugh and I initially ‘met’ on the internet, but serendipitously had the chance to finally meet in person when I was back in New York this past May. Not only is Hugh a champion of new music and wonderful interpreter, he is also a technophile and prolific blogger. Do visit his website to learn more about Hugh, his Visual Recital concept, and his experience with incorporating and embracing technology.
Lux Aeterna (SATB divisi, a cappella)
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008Sacred Latin text,
SATB divisi, a cappella (2008) ca. 7′30″
Commissioned and premiered by The Manhattan Choral Ensemble, Thomas Cunningham, director.
I just got a copy of the live recording taken during the premiere weekend, June 7 & 8, in New York:
lux-aeterna.mp3
Purchase a PDF of the score for $1 per copy via PayPal:
Program note:
On June 8, 2007, the Manhattan Choral Ensemble, Tom Cunningham, director, premiered my The Whole World Was Listening, a new work they commissioned from me as part of their New Music for New York commissioning project. Each year, the MCE commissions four composers to write short works, and then selects one of those composers to receive a larger commission to be completed the following year. I was selected for the larger commission, to be premiered June 8, 2008.
The context for the commission was that I was to write a new work that to be included on a concert of Rachmaninoff’s choral masterpiece, Vespers, or All Night Vigil. Vespers was divided in the performance into two halves, and my piece was premiered in that space in the middle. After perusing several collections of Znammeny Chant, I chose passages from a Communion Chant that I integrated into the final piece, laying the text of the Lux Aeterna portion of the Mass over it.
Lux Aeterna
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine,
cum sanctis tuis in aeternum,
quia pius es.
Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis,
quia pius es.Translation:
Let everlasting light shine upon them, Lord,
with Thy saints for ever,
for Thou art merciful.
Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them,
for Thou art merciful.