Streamline Training & Documentation: "The Origin"

Sunday, November 22, 2009

"The Origin"

A few weeks ago I made a point of attending a talk the composer Richard Einhorn was giving at Smith College. His topic — in my paraphrase — was ways in which working scientists and working composers resemble one another. The ways Einhorn discussed were basically two: an experimental approach and, for many contemporary composers, use of digital technology.

Richard Einhorn at the Academy of Music in Northampton MA. Einhorn's "Voices of Light" had its world premiere at the Academy in 1994. The composition for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra is, in Einhorn's words, "a meditation on the life and personality of Joan of Arc," an "opera/oratorio" that takes place during a screening of Carl Dreyer's 1928 silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc.
(www.richardeinhorn.com)
In his talk, Einhorn offered numerous examples from his own compositions, including his most recent major work, "The Origin," a multimedia opera/oratorio celebrating the life and work of Charles Darwin (1809-1882).

The performers at "The Origin's" premiere in February at the State University of New York at Oswego were the SUNY Oswego Festival and Community choruses, the Eastern European vocal ensemble KITKA, soprano Jacqueline Horner, and bass Eric Johnson. The video below offers an 8:17 sample.

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Labels: Arts

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