Meditation and Dance for string orchestra
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Grade 4
Duration: 4:53 $60 Meditation and Dance was written as a commission for a consortium of five ensembles through Composers and Schools in Concert. The composer met with the students from each school to answer questions about composing and to solicit feedback about their favorite music. The result of these visits is a work in two parts: The first part, Meditation, opens with four soloists, each playing different melodies. Slowly, they find common ground and are joined by the full ensemble as the music builds and crests in several waves before subsiding to a solo cello that hearkens back to the opening. The Dance begins with an aggressively repeated figure in the low strings that echoes the asymmetrical music and joyful dances of the Balkans. Throughout several sections of fast music that follow, the ensemble gradually falls back into disagreement. It is only after a brief reminder of the opening slow music that the ensemble comes back together for an exciting conclusion. The composer would like to Victoria Voumard, Laura Plummer, Daniel Broome, Brandon Lee, and Uli Speth as well the students in the orchestras from Edwardsville High School, Alton High School, Sequoia High School, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, and the Little Delaware Youth Ensemble. Special thanks also to Lisa Oman and Composers and Schools in Concert for helping to make this experience possible. |