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Tag: Symphony No. 1

Earth Day Music Meira Warshauer’s Symphony

Earth Day 2020.

Meira Warshauer’s Symphony No. 1, “Living, Breathing Earth,” reflects the composer’s love and concern for the environment, from the perspectives of both her home in Columbia, South Carolina, and her travels in Peru.

The work falls into four movements:

In the first, “Call of the Cicadas,” the composer emulates the insects’ natural rhythms and sounds, as heard in her back yard. The textures reflect the summer air and the thickness of the summer heat.

The second movement, “Tahuayo River at Night,” was inspired by a Peruvian canoe ride, with fireflies along the riverbank connecting stars to earth, the starfield reflected on the surface of the water.

The third, “Wings in Flight,” is evocative of the daytime activity of Peruvian butterflies as they twirl around in the sunlight.

The fourth movement lends the symphony its title, “Living, Breathing Earth.”

This music was first performed in 2007 and released on the Navona Records label (PARMA Recordings) in 2011.

Movt I, Call of the Cidas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQK7s-2zcm0

Movt II. Tahuayo River at Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gZOySIIhnc

Movt III. Wings in Flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ljVEuk21C8

Movt IV. Living Breathing Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaByPZQ-2Bw

Meira Warshauer talks about her symphony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwGa1WzO_CY

More about Meira Warshauer Composer at meirawarshauer.com

April 22, 2020
Beethoven Birthday Bash WWFM Marathon

BEETHOVEN BIRTHDAY BASH

WWFM – The Classical Network’s symphony marathon is underway!

NOW PLAYING: Symphony No. 1 in C major (London Classical Players/Sir Roger Norrington)

Beethoven’s 1st springs high off a platform elevated by Haydn and Mozart. But, the composer being who he is, he can’t help but execute a few hotdogging somersaults and twists.

Take the plunge! Support great music by calling 1-888-232-1212, or by donating online at wwfm.org.

Thank you for your generous contribution!

Portrait (1801), Carl Traugott Riedel

December 16, 2019
Remembering John Duffy American Composer

His was an optimistic and gentle soul. This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we remember John Duffy, who died on December 22, at the age of 89.

Duffy was founder and president of Meet the Composer, an organization dedicated to the creation, performance and recording of music by American composers. In that capacity, from 1974 to 1995, he initiated countless programs to advance American music.

We’ll hear Duffy’s Symphony No. 1, commissioned by the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, “A Time for Remembrance,” a cantata written to mark the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and a selection from his Emmy Award winning music for the PBS television series, “Heritage: Civilization and the Jews.”

I hope you’ll join me for “Meet the Composer,” as we remember John Duffy on “The Lost Chord,” tonight at 10 ET, with a repeat Wednesday evening at 6; or that you’ll listen to it later as a webcast at wwfm.org.

John Duffy on his war experiences and his decision to become a composer:

On naming Meet the Composer:

On tolerance and growth:

January 17, 2016
Gordon Jacob A Prolific Composer Remembered

This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we honor the accomplishments of Gordon Jacob.

Jacob’s is perhaps a name most frequently encountered these days as an orchestrator. He did a popular arrangement for full orchestra of Vaughan Williams’ “English Folk Song Suite,” originally composed for symphonic band; he orchestrated Sir Edward Elgar’s Organ Sonata; and his arrangement of the ballet “Les Sylphides” has been eclipsed only by that of Roy Douglas.

But he was also a prolific composer himself. In all, he wrote some 400 works. In fact, when weighing the size of his output against his reputation, it’s tempting to underestimate – as the Angel did his Biblical namesake – Jacob’s tenacity.

We’ll be listening to an example of his work as an arranger, his “William Byrd Suite,” in a classic recording on the Mercury label, and his rarely-heard Symphony No. 1, dedicated to the memory of his brother, who died in the First World War, in its world premiere recording on the Lyrita label.

I hope you’ll join me as we grapple with the range of Jacob’s accomplishments, in “Wrestling Jacob,” tonight at 10 ET, with a repeat Wednesday evening at 6 – or that you’ll enjoy it later as a webcast at http://www.wwfm.org.

In the meantime, follow the link for a witty survey ranking the various depictions of Jacob wrestling the angel in Western Art:

http://the-toast.net/2014/09/16/famous-paintings-jacob-wrestling-angel-ranked-much-actions-resemble-slow-dancing/

January 25, 2015

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