Page 328 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained
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BLUE … LIKE THE
SKY. WHERE ALL
POSSIBILITIES SOAR
BLUE CATHEDRAL (2000), JENNIFER HIGDON
he unifying theme of and experimental music that had
IN CONTEXT Jennifer Higdon’s music often alienated the general public.
T is her compositional To attract audiences, ensembles
FOCUS philosophy of communicating therefore chose to perform older
Return to lyricism
effectively. Her work blue cathedral works that entailed little risk.
BEFORE achieves this through her Higdon’s blue cathedral, however,
1984 The New York characteristic exploration of tone with its warmth, lyricism, and
Philharmonic programs color (the quality that gives an emotion, demonstrated that modern
“Horizons ’84: The New instrument its distinct sound), music could appeal to audiences of
Romanticism—a Broader combined with expressive lyricism. all ages and demographics, opening
View” draw mass public In the latter half of the 20th the door for an exciting period of
attention to Neo-romanticism. century, many artistic ensembles new music in the 21st century.
were struggling financially.
1991 John Corigliano’s opera Contemporary music had been Love, life, and death
The Ghosts of Versailles associated with trends such as Higdon was commissioned to
premieres at the Metropolitan post-minimalism, electronic works, write blue cathedral to mark the
Opera, New York City. It is 75th anniversary of the American
the company’s first new conservatory, the Curtis Institute of
opera since the 1960s. Music. Although initially conceived
as a celebration, the composer
AFTER was at the time mourning the
2009 Film composer, John death of her younger brother,
Williams’s On Willows and I don’t think you should Andrew Blue Higdon. Both events
Birches (Concerto for Harp and have to know anything informed the title: “blue,” in
Orchestra) premieres with the about my music, or anything memory of her brother Andrew, to
Boston Symphony Orchestra. about music in general, whom the score is dedicated, and
to enjoy it … I look at “cathedral” to represent Curtis as
2017 The (R)evolution of Steve music as a mirror. a place of learning and growth.
Jobs, by Mason Bates, opens Jennifer Higdon In this tone poem, Higdon’s
at Opera Santa Fe, Santa Fe, heavenly music suggests a
New Mexico. cathedral in the sky. It features
numerous solo instruments,
most prominently the flute and
the clarinet, to represent the
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