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Andrew Norman’s Apart, Together Premieres with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Nov. 23, 2011

Andrew Norman’s Apart, Together Premieres with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

In honor of their 40th anniversary, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra has commissioned Andrew Norman, one of four composers selected on the occasion from a pool of 60 nominees, whose new work, Apart, Together premieres December 2 at Lafayette College in Easton, PA and on Carnegie Hall’s Perelman Stage on December 3. Apart, Together takes as its inspiration the unique way that the conductorless Orpheus Chamber Orchestra makes music and, as Norman explains, “explores issues of chance and choice, collective expression and individual identity in a piece of concert music.”

Known as Project 440, this new commissioning initiative is a collaboration between Orpheus and New York City’s WQXR radio. The final selections not only reflect the judgment of a panel of experts but also the opinion of the listening public as each of the 60 nominated composers, chosen by a panel of artists and industry experts, was featured online with composer profiles and audio samples, allowing listeners to weigh in with their opinions and offer feedback over a period of months. The feedback generated by hundreds of listeners was brought to the table as the selection committee narrowed the pool to the four winners.

More information on Andrew Norman's Apart, Together and on each composer selected, Alex Mincek, Cynthia Wong and Clint Needham, is available at www.orpheusnyc.org/project440. Each composer feature includes a blog documenting their compositional processes and video capsules, as well as audio samples and notes on past works.

Orpheus takes Apart, Together on their December German tour immediately following the Carnegie Hall premiere with performances scheduled at the Philharmonie in Cologne (December 8) and at the Tonhalle in Düsseldorf (December 11).  Albrecht Mayer is the featured soloist on the tour performing Strauss' Oboe Concerto.

More information on the music of Andrew Norman can be found at www.schott-music.com and www.andrewnormanmusic.com.

Andrew Norman
Apart, Together (2011)
for chamber orchestra
2(2.pic).2.2.2-2.2.0.0-perc-str
ca. 12’

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