Orchestrating a Tapestry

A glimpse into the inter-continental collaboration between composer Robert Frank in Dallas, TX USA, violinist Lewis Wong in New York, NY USA, and Kym Staton and the Endeavor Chamber Orchestra near Sydney, Australia in preparation for the premiere of a new work "Tapestries" in the Sydney Opera House on Nov. 21, 2010. All collaboration was done on-line via video chats, and these excerpts give an insight into the music and process that led to this event. http://www.robertfrankmusic.com


Program Notes

Tapestries have always inspired me. They consist of many individual threads in many colors, woven together skillfully into textures that when viewed closely are rough stitches of sometimes conflicting colors, yet, as one's perspective widens, blend into a balanced and artful unity. This composition takes this imagery and musically evokes and develops these ideas. Opening with a single line, the musical ideas are "woven" together into textures and contrasting lines. In other portions, the rough texture of each individual stitch creates textures that sometimes conflict and form rough musical surfaces, while other times flow harmoniously together.

This metaphor of a tapestry also fits today's world in which there is a multitude of people of different color, tradition, and culture. Yet, in our modern society these people exist together, sometimes roughly contrasting, sometimes together in harmony. But, if each person allows themselves to be "woven" into the fabric of the people around them, our world can exist as a beautiful, artful tapestry of life: a rich, peaceful society of mankind with no one loosing their unique singular identity. The later part of this work uses fragments from folk melodies from China, Iraq, Israel, South Africa, India, Korea, and Australia - whose musical identities vary vastly, but when allowed a measure of freedom, are woven together into a harmonious, beautiful, and strong fabric that is more than the sum of all the threads individually. It is my hope, as a composer, that this can inspire and encourage such harmony in our world through art.

Program notes by the composer
October, 2010

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Robert
• Frank
• composer
• Lewis
• Wong
• violin
• Kym
• Staton
• Endeavor
• Ensemble
• on-line
• arts
• music
• classical
• contemporary
• rehearsal
• premiere
• collaboration
• live

[kjsman100]

Great job with editing that together, Rob! I'm glad we could do the cross, and get your input into your wonderful piece!