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Robert Beaser’s Ground “O” and Manhattan Roll in Performance

Mar. 29, 2013

Robert Beaser’s <em>Ground “O”</em> and <em>Manhattan Roll</em> in Performance

Two performances of the music of Robert Beaser bookend the month of April starting with the Colorado Wind Ensemble performance of Robert Beaser’s Manhattan Roll in its wind band transcription, conducted by Matthew Roeder on April 5. On April 25, Gerard Schwarz leads the Jacksonville Symphony in a performance of Beaser’s 9/11 memorial work Ground “O.”

Since its New York Philharmonic premiere in 1998, Manhattan Roll has become what Stewart Oksenhorn of the Aspen Times refers to as an “ideal example of Beaser’s style," with a strong rhythmic aesthetic which Beaser says mixes “vibrant Latin-inspired rhythms with more traditional rhythmic notation.” Oksenhorn comments on Manhattan Roll, "Beaser wanted to get maximum impact out of the seven-minute work, commissioned for the 150th anniversary celebration of the New York Philharmonic. Meaning a little bit of everything, and loads of drums." Beaser writes, "I wanted to do something absolutely electric and very big. It's a kitchen sink, everything thrown into a very small, New York-style kitchen.”

Written in 2011, Ground “O” was written for Maestro Schwarz to commemorate his final season as music director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In Ground “O,” Robert Beaser orchestrates anew his much loved movement Ground “O” from his earlier suite of 'songs without words,' Souvenirs for clarinet and piano. The music for Ground “O” was shaped profoundly by the events of September 11 as it was written just one month following that day.

The Colorado Wind Ensemble performance of Manhattan Roll takes place in the Parker Arts Culture and Events Center in Parker, Colorado. For more detailed information, visit www.pacecenteronline.org. The Jacksonville Symphony performs Ground “O” at Jacoby Symphony Hall in Jacksonville, FL. Go to www.jaxsymphony.org for precise concert information.

To learn more about Robert Beaser, visit his composer profile at www.schott-music.com.

Robert Beaser
Manhattan Roll (1998, arr. 2010)
for wind ensemble
pic.2.2.ca.eb cl.3cl.bcl.cbcl.2.cbsn.ssax.asax.tsax.barsax-4.4.2.btbn.2euph.tba-perc-hp.pno(synth)-db
7'

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

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