Symphonic Stories
For this world-premiere event, each featured composer was asked to create a short, 10-minute orchestral piece that told an original and compelling story through music. Here are their stories, told in their own words.
Catherine Grealish: Artist and the Muse
photo by R. Huling
The Muse searches far and wide, looking for a home for the Idea until she comes upon Artist. Artist loves the Idea and embraces it. Initially, Artist meets with the Muse daily, and together they nurture the Idea, helping it grow. But Artist becomes distracted by other activities. The Idea remains stagnant and unmoving and the Muse is nowhere to be seen. Artist finally decides to return to work on the Idea but is met with Resistance. Each time Artist tries to return to the Idea, Resistance appears, growing stronger and stronger. Finally, Artist finds the courage to take on Resistance and immediately the Muse comes to Artist’s aid. Resistance is overcome. Once again, Artist and the Muse develop the Idea, day after day, until it finally blossoms into stunning completion.
Eric Goetz: The Dragonriders of Pern
The Dragonriders of Pern is a tribute to the acclaimed science fiction series by author Anne McCaffrey. The music portrays the culture and characters of the fictional world of Pern and follows a loose narrative of the Dragonriders' first battle in 400 years against the deadly organism, known as Thread. The composer, Eric Goetz, grew up reading these books, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to help bring the world to life through music.
Jeff Tolbert: Electron Boy
Electron Boy tells the story of Erik Martin, a Bellevue boy with a rare form of cancer and numerous other severe health problems, who wished to be a super hero. With the help of the Washington chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation and hundreds of volunteers, his wish came true in 2010. In an elaborately choreographed event, Electron Boy rescued the Seattle Sounders, a Puget Sound Energy worker, and a group of people trapped on the observation deck of the Space Needle from the evil Dr. Dark and his sidekick, Blackout Boy. Erik called his day as Electron Boy one of the happiest of his life. He died in September, 2011, at 14.
Eric Nielsen: Of Sailing Ships and Sea Nymphs
photo by R. Huling
This story explores the point at which rational motive is taken over by instinct - of being pulled irresistibly by curiosity. Told in the setting of a sailing ship that unexpectedly encounters mysterious voices singing from afar, Eric weaves a colorful journey through the emotions of intrigue, temptation, and beyond.
Barry Dowsett: Lotus
photo by R. Huling
Tim Huling: Demeter & Persephone
A tone poem on the stories of Demeter, Greek Goddess of the Harvest, and her daughter Persephone. The music begins with Demeter's manifestation of spring and continues with her daughter Persephone at play. When Persephone is tricked by Hades and abducted into the underworld, to be his Queen, Demeter wanders the earth despondently in search of Persephone. Demeter neglects the earth, causing winter. In time Persephone is rescued from Hades, but her fate requires her annual return, leading to the cycle of seasons.
Glenna Burmer: Love Song of the Japanese Cranes
Shiho Kurauchi and Sachiko Honda of the Silk Strings Koto Ensemble
Dr. Glenna Burmer and her son Mark were in Japan on March 11, 2011, during one of the most heartbreaking natural disasters in its recent history. Glenna’s symphonic composition “Love Song of the Japanese Cranes” was composed as a tribute to the Japanese people, who exhibited extraordinary strength, grace, and resilience in the face of this terrible tragedy. The piece tells the story of a female crane who loses her lover to the chaos of the earthquake and tsunami, and rejoins her flock to return home during their spring migration. In the first movement, Raizan Sennyoji no Yuki (Snow at Raizan Sennyoji Temple) the cranes are resting at a temple during the melting of the spring snow. The instruments mimic the sound of sleet and raindrops falling into a pond, interrupted by chanting from the Buddhist temple monks.
During the second movement, Tengoku to Jigoku (Heaven and Hell), the female crane loses her mate to the earthquake and tsunami, and can be heard crying for him over the angry ocean before she rejoins her flock. In the third movement, Sakurajima no Haru (Spring at Sakurajima), the cranes fly over Sakurajima Mountain, Japan’s most active volcano, before returning to their summer breeding grounds in the northwest. The piece features the Silk Strings koto ensemble playing the 13-string and 17-string Japanese Koto, accompanied by orchestra.
photo by R. Huling
The Muse searches far and wide, looking for a home for the Idea until she comes upon Artist. Artist loves the Idea and embraces it. Initially, Artist meets with the Muse daily, and together they nurture the Idea, helping it grow. But Artist becomes distracted by other activities. The Idea remains stagnant and unmoving and the Muse is nowhere to be seen. Artist finally decides to return to work on the Idea but is met with Resistance. Each time Artist tries to return to the Idea, Resistance appears, growing stronger and stronger. Finally, Artist finds the courage to take on Resistance and immediately the Muse comes to Artist’s aid. Resistance is overcome. Once again, Artist and the Muse develop the Idea, day after day, until it finally blossoms into stunning completion.
Eric Goetz: The Dragonriders of Pern
The Dragonriders of Pern is a tribute to the acclaimed science fiction series by author Anne McCaffrey. The music portrays the culture and characters of the fictional world of Pern and follows a loose narrative of the Dragonriders' first battle in 400 years against the deadly organism, known as Thread. The composer, Eric Goetz, grew up reading these books, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to help bring the world to life through music.
Jeff Tolbert: Electron Boy
Electron Boy tells the story of Erik Martin, a Bellevue boy with a rare form of cancer and numerous other severe health problems, who wished to be a super hero. With the help of the Washington chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation and hundreds of volunteers, his wish came true in 2010. In an elaborately choreographed event, Electron Boy rescued the Seattle Sounders, a Puget Sound Energy worker, and a group of people trapped on the observation deck of the Space Needle from the evil Dr. Dark and his sidekick, Blackout Boy. Erik called his day as Electron Boy one of the happiest of his life. He died in September, 2011, at 14.
Eric Nielsen: Of Sailing Ships and Sea Nymphs
photo by R. Huling
This story explores the point at which rational motive is taken over by instinct - of being pulled irresistibly by curiosity. Told in the setting of a sailing ship that unexpectedly encounters mysterious voices singing from afar, Eric weaves a colorful journey through the emotions of intrigue, temptation, and beyond.
Barry Dowsett: Lotus
photo by R. Huling
The story begins as a musical journey which unfolds as we follow the Lotus in its travels through three distinct musical worlds. As its journey of discovery begins, the Lotus moves through and explores new realms, reacting to, evolving, and releasing contrasts of musical emotion along the way, and finally returning to where its voyage began. The music will comprise three separate movements, documenting each phase of the journey.
Tim Huling: Demeter & Persephone
A tone poem on the stories of Demeter, Greek Goddess of the Harvest, and her daughter Persephone. The music begins with Demeter's manifestation of spring and continues with her daughter Persephone at play. When Persephone is tricked by Hades and abducted into the underworld, to be his Queen, Demeter wanders the earth despondently in search of Persephone. Demeter neglects the earth, causing winter. In time Persephone is rescued from Hades, but her fate requires her annual return, leading to the cycle of seasons.
Glenna Burmer: Love Song of the Japanese Cranes
Shiho Kurauchi and Sachiko Honda of the Silk Strings Koto Ensemble
Dr. Glenna Burmer and her son Mark were in Japan on March 11, 2011, during one of the most heartbreaking natural disasters in its recent history. Glenna’s symphonic composition “Love Song of the Japanese Cranes” was composed as a tribute to the Japanese people, who exhibited extraordinary strength, grace, and resilience in the face of this terrible tragedy. The piece tells the story of a female crane who loses her lover to the chaos of the earthquake and tsunami, and rejoins her flock to return home during their spring migration. In the first movement, Raizan Sennyoji no Yuki (Snow at Raizan Sennyoji Temple) the cranes are resting at a temple during the melting of the spring snow. The instruments mimic the sound of sleet and raindrops falling into a pond, interrupted by chanting from the Buddhist temple monks.
During the second movement, Tengoku to Jigoku (Heaven and Hell), the female crane loses her mate to the earthquake and tsunami, and can be heard crying for him over the angry ocean before she rejoins her flock. In the third movement, Sakurajima no Haru (Spring at Sakurajima), the cranes fly over Sakurajima Mountain, Japan’s most active volcano, before returning to their summer breeding grounds in the northwest. The piece features the Silk Strings koto ensemble playing the 13-string and 17-string Japanese Koto, accompanied by orchestra.
