What is Scrag's version of a Composer-in-Residence?
When Evan and Mary first started Scrag Mountain Music, they discussed with friend and composer Lembit Beecher about Scrag's hope to someday commission him to create a new vocal work. Lembit's music is lyrical, emotional, and perfectly suited to the voice. His storytelling is compelling and his music is appealing to audiences of all types — both those who love contemporary music and newcomers alike. Read more about Lembit here.
Scrag was able to actualize this project during the 2013-14 season. Over the course of entire season, Vermonters got to know Lembit: his heritage, influences, musicianship, and compositional style. The residency proved to be a special opportunity for Vermonters to deepen their understanding of how music is created.
Basic outline of the season and how it involved Lembit.
Week 1
Music of Hungary and Estonia
October 7-13, 2013
Aizuri String Quartet and Lembit Beecher
We began the season with concerts and a Very Open Rehearsal which celebrated Lembit's Estonian heritage and Estonia's linguistic connections to Hungary. Featured works included Lembit's string quartet These Memories May Be True and folksongs arranged by Kodály and Tormis. The program also included Lembit on piano and concertina and the Aizuri Quartet from New York City.
Week Two
The Most Beautiful Waltz
February 11-16, 2013
Musical Dances for Valentine's Day
We celebrated Valentine's Day weekend Scrag-style with concerts featuring Lembit's Small Suite for clarinet, viola, double bass, and bassoon and his Songs of Remembered Love for double bass and soprano. Also on the program was Judd Greenstein's Summer Dances. We also held a Very Open Rehearsal on Tuesday night!
Week Three
Workshop week: The Composition Process
April 4-9 2014
The image of a composer writing music is generally one of tortured isolation. In typical style, Scrag Mountain Music is out to change that. The composer, librettist, and musicians was in residency in Vermont for five days in April to workshop the piece-in-progress. During that time the librettist conducted interviews with Vermonters around the theme of aging and the composer will work to set these ideas to music with the aid of the musicians who will be premiering the piece. This represents a unique opportunity for a composer to have full access to the musicians without the pressure of an imminent performance. At the end of this residency – on Tuesday April 8 – Scrag Mountain Music held a “Very Open Composing Session” where the audience witnessed the early stages of the composition and asked questions of the composer, librettist, and performers. The evening also included a time for the public to react to the emotional content of the work and share their own experiences and observations on the aging process. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Warren Public Library and the Warren United Church and took place from 7-8:30pm on Tuesday April 8 at the Emma Ford Room of the Warren United Church, Main Street, Warren, VT.
Very Open Composing Session
Musical Meditations on Aging - An look inside the compositional process.
Tuesday, April 8, 7:00-8:30pm
Warren United Church, Emma Ford Room, Warren VT
Free
Week Four
World Premiere
May 27-June 1, 2014
The residency culminated with the world premiere of a new piece of vocal chamber music written for Scrag Mountain Music. Also on the program was Schubert's magnificent Trout Quintet featuring Evan on double bass. Tuesday night included the final Very Open Rehearsal of the season.
When Evan and Mary first started Scrag Mountain Music, they discussed with friend and composer Lembit Beecher about Scrag's hope to someday commission him to create a new vocal work. Lembit's music is lyrical, emotional, and perfectly suited to the voice. His storytelling is compelling and his music is appealing to audiences of all types — both those who love contemporary music and newcomers alike. Read more about Lembit here.
Scrag was able to actualize this project during the 2013-14 season. Over the course of entire season, Vermonters got to know Lembit: his heritage, influences, musicianship, and compositional style. The residency proved to be a special opportunity for Vermonters to deepen their understanding of how music is created.
Basic outline of the season and how it involved Lembit.
Week 1
Music of Hungary and Estonia
October 7-13, 2013
Aizuri String Quartet and Lembit Beecher
We began the season with concerts and a Very Open Rehearsal which celebrated Lembit's Estonian heritage and Estonia's linguistic connections to Hungary. Featured works included Lembit's string quartet These Memories May Be True and folksongs arranged by Kodály and Tormis. The program also included Lembit on piano and concertina and the Aizuri Quartet from New York City.
Week Two
The Most Beautiful Waltz
February 11-16, 2013
Musical Dances for Valentine's Day
We celebrated Valentine's Day weekend Scrag-style with concerts featuring Lembit's Small Suite for clarinet, viola, double bass, and bassoon and his Songs of Remembered Love for double bass and soprano. Also on the program was Judd Greenstein's Summer Dances. We also held a Very Open Rehearsal on Tuesday night!
Week Three
Workshop week: The Composition Process
April 4-9 2014
The image of a composer writing music is generally one of tortured isolation. In typical style, Scrag Mountain Music is out to change that. The composer, librettist, and musicians was in residency in Vermont for five days in April to workshop the piece-in-progress. During that time the librettist conducted interviews with Vermonters around the theme of aging and the composer will work to set these ideas to music with the aid of the musicians who will be premiering the piece. This represents a unique opportunity for a composer to have full access to the musicians without the pressure of an imminent performance. At the end of this residency – on Tuesday April 8 – Scrag Mountain Music held a “Very Open Composing Session” where the audience witnessed the early stages of the composition and asked questions of the composer, librettist, and performers. The evening also included a time for the public to react to the emotional content of the work and share their own experiences and observations on the aging process. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Warren Public Library and the Warren United Church and took place from 7-8:30pm on Tuesday April 8 at the Emma Ford Room of the Warren United Church, Main Street, Warren, VT.
Very Open Composing Session
Musical Meditations on Aging - An look inside the compositional process.
Tuesday, April 8, 7:00-8:30pm
Warren United Church, Emma Ford Room, Warren VT
Free
Week Four
World Premiere
May 27-June 1, 2014
The residency culminated with the world premiere of a new piece of vocal chamber music written for Scrag Mountain Music. Also on the program was Schubert's magnificent Trout Quintet featuring Evan on double bass. Tuesday night included the final Very Open Rehearsal of the season.