Emory University Concert Features Commissioned World Premiere

WHO:	Emory Wind Ensemble
WHAT:	“Women and the Wind Ensemble” concert, featuring narration by WABE’s Eve Payor, the world premiere of composer Carolyn Bremer’s “Venus Palimpsest”
WHEN:	8:15 p.m. Friday, April 20
WHERE:	Performing Arts Studio, 1804 N. Decatur Rd., Emory.
COST:	Free and open to the public. For more information, call 404-727-5050

The April 20 concert by the Emory Wind Ensemble, “Women and the Wind Ensemble,” features the world premiere of a work written specifically for the group, Carolyn Bremer’s “Venus Palimpsest.” Bremer was commissioned to write the 10-minute work for the group by Scott Stewart, director of instrumental music at Emory. The concert will be at 8:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Studio, and is free and open to the public.

“I was familiar with Carolyn’s piece ‘Early Light,’ and I find her writing to be very well-crafted and witty,” says Stewart. “We had her to campus in November 1999 to work with the orchestra, and at that time we talked about her writing a piece for Emory.” The piece is, as the name implies, about Venus and the cultural connotations connected with the planet, according to Stewart.

“It’s very clever. It has some humor,” says Stewart. “Carolyn uses quotes from other known works, including Holst’s 'The Planets’ and some Frankie Avalon. It’s a very interesting mix of classical and popular influences.”

The program will include “Early Light” as well as Bremer’s new piece. Other works on the program are “Soundings,” by McTee; “Danza de los Duendes,” by Galbraith; and “Trumpet Concerto in A-Flat,” by Arutiunian, the latter featuring trumpet soloist Sgt. Susan M. Rider of the “President’s Own” United States Marine Corps Band.

And why the salute to women?

“The classical music industry is finally embracing the talents of women in what was once a male-dominated field,” says Stewart. “At Emory, and with this program, we have women in every area: teaching, performing, conducting and composing.”

Aside from the exposure in the music world that Emory will receive when “Venus Palimpsest” is published, Stewart feels strongly about the importance of groups commissioning work.

“The intellectual and cultural exercise of commissioning a piece of music is one of the greatest services you can perform in the arts because you encourage the creation of new works,” says Stewart. “You foster innovation and freshness in the arts. Sometimes you get a masterpiece and sometimes you don’t, but either way you’ve participated in the noble act of the creation of art.”

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