Thomas Sayre’s White Gold is on view at CAM Raleigh. North Carolina Symphony musicians, in partnership with New Music Raleigh and CAM Raleigh, will premiere a new composition by D. J. Sparr, inspired by and performed in the exhibition space. Photos of the White Gold exhibition are courtesy of Art Howard.
The North Carolina Symphony (NCS), CAM Raleigh, and New Music Raleigh (NMR), under the artistic leadership of Shawn Galvin, collaborate to give the world premiere of the newest work by composer D. J. Sparr, titled …to me from the earth….
Sparr’s musical composition, for soprano and a chamber ensemble of eight musicians, is inspired by artist Thomas Sayre’s White Gold exhibition, which opened in early October. Both the artwork and the musical composition were commissioned by CAM. This fusion of music, visual art, and poetry will be presented in four performances at CAM, November 10 through 13.
Sayre’s site-specific exhibition reflects the cotton industry in the American South, and the artist’s respect and reverence for the land and the labor from which the cotton grows. This subject resonated with Sparr, who now lives in the third-largest year-round cotton producing area of the world, in West Texas, and whose music has been influenced by its open landscapes including fields of cotton.
Sparr’ musical gestures suggest wide expanses of sound representing earth and sky. The ensemble of eight musicians and soprano is divided into groups and move about the exhibition space. Between an introduction and conclusion, …to me from the earth… is structured in four sections that relate to the four elements of Sayre’s visual piece: furrow, field, earth casting, and barn.
The vocal text, sung by the soprano Aundi Marie Moore, is a setting of a poem by David Dominguez, Mi Historia. Sparr was “immediately moved by the poetry” when it was introduced to him by Thomas Sayre and CAM Executive Director Gab Smith.
This world-premiere performance will be led by Shawn Galvin, co-founder of New Music Raleigh, an organization dedicated to the presentation of modern music. "New Music Raleigh is pleased to be a part of this unique collaboration, which merges the sensibilities of the visual and performing arts,” says Galvin. “D. J. Sparr has been a long-time NMR collaborative partner, and we are all very excited to bring his next new work to life in the exhibition in Raleigh with musicians of the North Carolina Symphony. Given our past involvement with D. J.’s music, our collective respect for Thomas’s work, and the artistry of the Symphony’s musicians, this is destined to be a truly special opportunity."
The composer feels an especially personal connection to this project, not just for the subject matter, but also for the close musical friendships he has with several of the performers. “I am very excited to make music with some of my favorite musicians again in Raleigh, a place that has been very kind to my music,” says Sparr. “Most importantly, I look forward to being a part of this shared experience with the audience at CAM.”
CAM Presents the North Carolina Symphony and New Music Raleigh
…to me from the earth…
Thursday & Friday, November 10 & 11 at 8pm
Saturday & Sunday, November 12 & 13 at 2pm
CAM Raleigh
Performers
Aundi Marie Moore, soprano
Karen Galvin, violin
David Meyer, violin
Maria Meyer, violin
Samuel Gold, viola
Leonid Finkleshteyn, double bass
Mary Boone, flute
Sam Almaguer, clarinet
Shawn Galvin, percussion and artistic director
Tickets:
$20 CAM members
$25 general public
$50 VIP (includes wine and meet-and-greet with composers, musicians, and artist; Thursday only)
Purchase:
