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About the creation of the work, Deemer writes: “Over the subsequent six years since I first envisioned the project, I struggled to find appropriate text for the work; Chagall’s own writings didn’t lend themselves to either the subject matter or a musical setting. Gradually I settled on several poems by Carl Sandburg, creating another connection to Chicago if not to the windows themselves. The final inspiration was Rosch Recital Hall, where it is to be premiered; when I was first introduced to the hall, I knew immediately that I’d be writing music that would compliment the architecture and this is the first of many such works.” |
Fredonia music professor Dr. Rob Deemer will have a 30-minute long composition for women’s chorus, orchestra and soloists premiered on the College Chamber Orchestra concert on April 22 at 8 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall.
"America Windows" will be performed by the College Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Dr. David Rudge as well as the Fredonia Women’s Choir, directed by Dr. Gwen Coleman Detwiler. Faculty soloists will be soprano Angela Haas, tenor Joe Dan Harper, violist David Rose and trumpeter Roderick MacDonald. The concert is free and open to the public.
"America Windows" takes its inspiration from a series of six stained glass windows created by Marc Chagall and housed in the Art Institute of Chicago. Given by Chagall to the Art Institute and the American people as a gift in celebration of the country’s Bicentennial in 1976, each window represents an aspect of American culture: Music, Art, Literature, Freedom, Theatre and Dance. Several years ago, Deemer decided to begin planning a large-scale composition based on the windows and once he started teaching in the fall of 2007, he decided that the piece would be appropriate to celebrate the special place that the arts and humanities have at SUNY Fredonia.
While he has had several chamber works performed on the SUNY Fredonia campus as well as his published band work DreamCircus by the Concert Band, America Windows will be the first large-scale work that Deemer specifically composed for Fredonia ensembles since he began teaching in 2007.
About the collaborative process such a work forces upon all of the participants, Deemer writes “It’s been a joy to work with Gwen Detwiler and David Rudge as well as the ensembles and soloists for this work. The logistics alone were an enormous undertaking and after such a long creative process, I’m happy to see it finally coming to a successful conclusion.”
Composer/conductor Rob Deemer has had his works performed in concert halls, theatrical stages and film festivals across the country and around the world. With over 30 films and documentaries to his credit, his film scores have been heard in the Cannes Film festival, and the Directors Guilds of America in both Los Angeles and New York. His work as theatrical composer and sound designer has been produced at the Mark Taper New Works Festival and the California Institute of the Arts.
He co-founded the Austin-based American Repertory Ensemble that combines live chamber music with dance. He has co-authored Hearing the Movies: Music and Sound in Film History (OUP) with noted film scholars David Neumeyer and James Buhler. Deemer has held teaching positions at The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and The University of Texas, and he currently holds the position of Assistant Professor and Chair of Music Composition in the School of Music at SUNY Fredonia.
For more information about the concert or other upcoming events, visit www.fredonia.edu/music or call 716-673-3151
