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Joseph Schwantner and Fred Lerdahl at the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble

Jun. 28, 2012

Joseph Schwantner and Fred Lerdahl at the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble

On July 6 and 7, 2012, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble performed Fred Lerdahl’s Fantasy Etudes and Joseph Schwantner’s Taking Charge at the City Theatre in Pittsburgh, conducted by Kevin Noe. Schwantner’s work, Taking Charge, premiered in June 2012 at Northwestern University, a commission from the Bienen School of Music in celebration of retiring faculty flute professor Walfrid Kujala. Watch video of the riveting premiere performance here.

Fred Lerdahl’s Fantasy Etudes was commissioned with the support of an NEA consortium commissioning grant by Musical Elements, Alea III, the Arch Ensemble and the Contemporary Chamber Players of the University of Chicago. Robert Beaser conducted the world premiere with Musical Elements in New York City in 1985. The composer writes:

The form of Fantasy Etudes is built up from twelve interlocking 'etudes,' each having its own characteristic musical idea and texture. This sequential profusion of material results in an overall sense of 'fantasy.' Against this surface variety there exists an underlying similarity of procedure. Each etude is cast in the form of expanding variations: it starts with a simple event and progressively elaborates into complexity. Each time, as the material of an etude begins to collapse under the weight of its elaborations, a new etude enters. These overlaps produce moments of dramatic tension -- changes, if you like, from one fantasy to another.

For more information about the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, visit www.pnme.org.

Visit www.schott-music.com for more on the work of Fred Lerdahl and Joseph Schwantner.

Fred Lerdahl
Fantasy Etudes (1985)
for ensemble
fl.cl-perc(glsp, vib, tempbl, tom-t, cym, tam-t)-pno-vn.vc
14’

Joseph Schwantner
Taking Charge (2012)
trio for flute, piano and percussion
fl.pno.perc (tri, br.d, cow bell, cym, mixing bowls, gongs, clav, bng, timb, b.d, crot, vib, mar, tam-t, tamb)
20’

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