PROGRAM NOTES
PROGRAM NOTES
TCHAIKOVSKY PIANO CONCERTO
Maximilian Franz
FROM THE PODIUM by Jonathon Heyward
This program beautifully juxtaposes life and death in the opening and closing pieces . Higdon ’ s blue cathedral is a work inspired by the early death of her brother that celebrates and explores the journey of life . It is a great privilege and responsibility to conduct a piece by a living composer ; it is so exciting to be part of the evolution and young life of a piece . It is a luxury to be able to think creatively and curiously about various aspects of the music and then call the composer to discuss them ! What ’ s particularly interesting to me is how these themes of life and death are also embedded in Rachmaninoff ’ s Symphonic Dances , especially when the “ Dies irae ” chant comes in during the third movement . Everyone draws attention to the saxophone when they discuss this piece , but I find the rhythmic intentions to be
Jonathon Heyward particularly compelling and heavily rooted in jazz . There are some really excellent grooves in the Rachmaninoff that remind me of some of my favorite jazz artists of the time period , including Nina Simone and Thelonius Monk . These grooves help to create a relatable and compelling piece that tells us a lot about dance music . There is a poignant full circle in both the Hidgon and Rachmaninoff , which bookend Tchaikovsky ’ s classic warhorse piano concerto . I like to think that we also have a lot of creative license and opportunity for curious exploration in standard works like the concerto . In a piece that is performed so frequently , I most look forward to the collaboration with the soloist . Every soloist infuses new ideas into the work ’ s interpretation , and it is always a pleasure to approach the concerto with a fresh perspective .
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
BY PAULA MAUST
Jennifer Higdon
Born : December 31 , 1962 , Brooklyn , New York
BLUE CATHEDRAL [ 1999 ]
Jennifer Higdon is one of the most performed and well-known contemporary classical composers and the recipient of numerous awards , including the Pulitzer Prize for Music and several Grammys . She draws on a variety of musical influences , including rock and roll and popular music , and she describes her compositional process as “ intuitive ” and “ instinctive .” Higdon ’ s works utilize tonal harmony infused with rapid modulations , complex rhythms , and poignant melodies . Her most famous piece is blue cathedral , which has been performed by more than 400 orchestras around the world . blue cathedral was commissioned in 1999 by the Curtis Institute of Music , where Higdon was on the composition faculty from 1994 – 2021 . The piece is dedicated to the memory of Higdon ’ s brother , Andrew Blue Higdon , who died in 1998 . Higdon wrote that blue cathedral is meant to “ reflect on the amazing journeys that we all make in our lives , crossing paths with so many individuals singularly and collectively , learning and growing each step of the way .” As a tribute to her relationship with her brother , she includes solos for the clarinet ( his instrument ) and the flute ( her instrument ). The flute enters first , since Higdon is the older sibling ; at the end of the piece , the flute tapers away and the clarinet continues progressing upward on its journey . blue cathedral has been consistently well-received by critics . The Baltimore Sun ’ s Tim Smith wrote “ The music seems to emit and reflect light as it moves from stillness to exuberance and back again , tapering off ethereally . If you didn ’ t know the personal story behind it , the music could still touch your heart ; when you do know that story , it can touch your soul .” The single-movement work opens with soft bell-like sounds and quiet solos that gradually build in intensity . As the piece reaches a climax , the transcendent quiet from the beginning returns , this time accompanied by the sound of tuned glasses of water being rubbed on the rims .
Instrumentation Two flutes , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , three trumpets , three
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