Episode 29 Program Notes by Rafaela Dreisin
ANNA CLYNE DANCE for Cello and Orchestra
About the Composer
Born 1980 in London , U . K .
Anna Clyne wrote her first piece when she was just 11 years old and went on to earn degrees from the University of Edinburgh and the Manhattan School of Music . After graduating , Clyne was named Mead Composer-in-Residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra , a position she held for five years . Described as a “ composer of uncommon gifts ” by The New York Times , Clyne has received numerous accolades , including a Grammy nomination . She has received commissions from the Los Angeles Philharmonic , Baltimore Symphony Orchestra , and Carnegie Hall .
Fun Fact : Anna enjoys archery as a pastime .
About the Piece
DANCE is dedicated to the composer ’ s father , Leslie Clyne . Co-commissioned by the BSO for cello and orchestra in 2019 , it was premiered and recorded by Inbal Segev and the London Philharmonic under the baton of Marin Alsop . The piece is based on a poem by the 13 th -century poet Rumi . The work has five movements , each corresponding to a different line in the poem .
Dance , when you ’ re broken open . Dance , if you ’ ve torn the bandage off . Dance in the middle of fighting . Dance in your blood . Dance , when you ’ re perfectly fine .
CHRISTOPHER ROUSE Concerto per Corde
About the Composer
Born 1949 in Baltimore , MD ; died 2019 in Towson , MD
Born in Baltimore , Christopher Rouse studied music growing up and went on to earn degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Cornell University . Rouse ’ s first symphony received great acclaim , and as his career progressed , he was appointed to teaching positions at the University of Michigan , Eastman School of Music , and The Juilliard School . In addition to serving as the composer-in-residence for the New York Philharmonic , Baltimore Symphony Orchestra , and Tanglewood Music Festival , he also received a Kennedy Center Friedheim Award , a Grammy , and a Pulitzer Prize .
Fun Fact : The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra commissioned Rouse ’ s very first symphony .
About the Piece
Rouse ’ s Concert per Corde , written in 1990 , is a re-working of the composer ’ s String Quartet No . 2 , written several years earlier . The original piece was inspired by a trip Rouse took to the Soviet Union with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra . Rouse wanted to pay tribute to the citizens of the Soviet Union and even based the work on a musical motif that represents Shostakovich ’ s initials . Absolut Vodka commissioned the reimagining of the piece for the string orchestra .
May 2008
Founded BSO OrchKids , Pledging $ 100,000 of Her MacArthur Genius Grant to Fund the Pilot
September 2008
Premiered the BSO ’ s Popular Off The Cuff Series
THE MARIN FESTIVAL • MAY 27-JUNE 19 , 2021
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