SRSYO Gives Star Dust and Dark Matter Its World Premiere
Composer Gloria Coates. Photo by Simon Leigh |
Coates is known for her use of repeated structures, a fondness for glissandi (long strings of slurred notes), use of semitones, and asking performers to do the unconventional with their instruments. Star Dust and Dark Matter is typical in these respects. As conductor Dr. Richard Loheyde pointed out from the stage before starting the performance, Star Dust and Dark Matter has as its armature a pentatonic scale repeated throughout the piece but varied as it is passed around the orchestra, the five basic notes raised or lowered by octaves, obscured by an overlay of glissandi, undermined by semitones, or perforated by staccato trumpet notes. The piece builds to a crescendo of shimmering sound that seems to slowly breathe. The use of the pentatonic scale gives the piece an Asian feel. It's reminiscent of ancient Japanese court music, derived from earlier Chinese models. But the piece belongs to Santa Rosa and the SRSYO. It was commissioned for the group by Sonoma County residents Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hoffman.
The SRSYO has given Star Dust and Dark Matter its world premiere and will give the piece its European premiere while on tour between June 19 and June 28 with stops in Salzburg, Vienna, and Budapest.
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