European American Music Distributors Company is a member of the Schott Music Group

Gerard Schwarz and the Eastern Music Festival Present Robert Beaser’s Ground “O”

Jun. 25, 2013

Gerard Schwarz and the Eastern Music Festival Present Robert Beaser’s <em>Ground “O”</em>

On July 6, the Eastern Music Festival (Greensboro, NC) and Music Director Gerard Schwarz present Robert Beaser’s Ground “O.” Premiered in 2011, Ground “O” was commissioned by the Seattle Symphony as part of its Gund/Simonyi Farewell Commissioning program for Gerard Schwarz’s final season with the orchestra. The work is a re-orchestration of a much-loved movement from the composer’s earlier work Souvenirs (for clarinet and piano), which was written in response to the events of September 11. Beaser received Seattle’s commission ten years later and was compelled to orchestrate material from Souvenirs anew to honor his friend. Ground “O” is thus the resulting new orchestral incarnation of Beaser’s heartfelt composition. TheSeattle Times’ Bernard Jacobson wrote of the premiere:

As its title would presage, Ground “O” is an uncompromisingly serious piece. Confronting inhumanity with a poignantly human response in six short minutes, it ranks near the top among the tributes [of] the Gund/Simonyi commissioning project…. From the mysterious opening tintinnabulations, through a spine-tingling climax and a return to the near-silence in which it began, I found it enthralling.

For more Eastern Music Festival concert details visit www.easternmusicfestival.org.

More information on Robert Beaser can be found at www.schott-music.com.

Robert Beaser
Ground "O" (2010)
for orchestra
pic.1.2.2.2-4.2.3.btbn.1-timp.3perc-hp.pno-str
ca. 6’

News