Despite the Unity That This Brings to the Set, Dvorak Eventually Decided To
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Despite the unity that this brings to the set, Dvorak eventually decided to release the pieces as separate concert overtures, changing the titles and giving each its own opus number. In Nature's Realm, according to its composer, depicts "the emotions produced by a solitary walk through meadows and woods on a quiet summer afternoon, when the shadows grow longer and longer until they lose themselves in the dusk and gradually turn into the early dark of night." The "Nature" motif is the work's main theme, heard in its most characteristic form first from the solo clarinet. Carnival is a burst of high spirits with a quieter Intermezzo at its center. The "Nature" motif is almost hidden in the Intermezzo, appearing shyly in a varied form, played first by clarinet and then by oboe as answer to the phrases of the flute’s dreamy theme. For the program book of his Carnegie Hall concert Dvorak described Carnival as a depiction of carnival revelry interrupted by a scene fea turing a pair of straying lovers. A more detailed description has also been attrib uted to him: "I imagined the lonely, contemplative wanderer reaching the city at nightfall, where a carnival of pleasure reigns supreme. On every side is heard the clangor of instruments, mingled with the shouts of joy and the unrestrained hilar ity of the people giving vent to their feelings in their songs and dance tunes." Othello, based on the Shakespearean character, does a good job of suggesting the conflict between love and jealousy. Besides the "Nature" motive (from clar inet paired with flute), there are quotations from Carnival and from Dvorak's Requiem. The coda, hinting of estrangement and tragedy, brings Othello (as a representative of humankind) to his passionate, violent end, far removed from the peace and harmony of Nature. Prairie Light: Three Texas Watercolors of Georgia O'Keeffe Dan Weicher (born 1948) Completed: 1985. First performance: March 1, 1986, Sherman, Texas; Sherman Symphony, Dan Weicher conducting. Performing forces: two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, piano, celesta, and strings. These are the first ASO performances of music by Mr. Weicher. (A picture o f the composer appears on the Table of Contents page of this Stagebill.) Bom in Rochester, New York, composer-conductor Dan Weicher has more than 60 works to his credit, more than half of which have been published. He has written in virtually every musical medium, including opera, concerto, symphony, vocal works, piano solos, and various kinds of chamber music. Mr. Weicher first trained as a pianist and bassoonist, earning degrees from the Eastman and Manhattan Schools of Music. He was principal bassoonist of the Louisville Orchestra from 1972 to 1978, concurrently teaching composition and theory at the University of Louisville. He joined the Artist Faculty of the Aspen Music Festival in 1976, teaching bassoon and composition. In 1978 he took a faculty position at the University of Texas, where he is now Professor of Composition, teaching all levels of composition and orchestration. He also directs the New Music Ensemble, which he created, and he served as assistant 19.