ROBERT STARER'S
ANNAPOLIS SUITE
Composed in 1982
for harp and brass quintet
WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE
KENNEDY CENTER
Terrace Theatre
MARCH 23, 1983
featuring
Heidi Lehwalder, harp
Annapolis Brass Quintet
"The main thing to tell you about Heidi is that she is simply a genius." - Leonard Bernstein (1963)
READ MORE: HEIDI LEHWALDER
READ MORE: HEIDI LEHWALDER
Annapolis Suite for brass quintet and harp was commissioned by the Brass Chamber Music Society of Annapolis in 1982. Harpist Heidi Lehwalder and the ABQ performed the world premiere of Annapolis Suite at Washington, DC's Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre on March 23, 1983.
To listen to this historic live performance of Starer's Annapolis Suite
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(There may be a 10 to 30 second delay before sound begins)
To listen to this historic live performance of Starer's Annapolis Suite
TAP > BELOW
(There may be a 10 to 30 second delay before sound begins)
Annapolis Suite by Robert Starer
1. Allegro Marciale 2. Presto Leggero 3. Larghetto
4. Molto Allegro 5. Lento 6. Allegro Risoluto
1. Allegro Marciale 2. Presto Leggero 3. Larghetto
4. Molto Allegro 5. Lento 6. Allegro Risoluto
About composing a work for harp and brass quintet, Starer says:
"When I was first approached to compose a work for harp and brass quintet, I met the idea with some skepticism. However, after time for consideration, I found myself intrigued by the possibilities. The natural characteristics of the instruments are in many ways opposite, though in no way uncomplementary. I have treated this inherent contrast differently in the various movements, underlining it most emphatically at the opening of the work with the martial quality of the brasses juxtaposed against the improvisatory nature of the harp, and minimizing the differences elsewhere in the work by uniting all the forces in true ensemble playing."
ROBERT STARER (1924-2001) received his musical education at the State Academy in Vienna, the Jerusalem Conservatoire and the Juilliard School. He became an American citizen in 1957. His stage works include three operas and several ballets for Martha Graham, Herbert Ross, and Anna Sokolow. .His symphonic works have been performed here and abroad by major orchestras under Mitropoulos, Bernstein, Leinsdorf, Steinberg, Comissiona, and Ozawa. Honors include two Guggenheim Fellowships and an award from the American Academy and Institute of Arts & Letters.
"When I was first approached to compose a work for harp and brass quintet, I met the idea with some skepticism. However, after time for consideration, I found myself intrigued by the possibilities. The natural characteristics of the instruments are in many ways opposite, though in no way uncomplementary. I have treated this inherent contrast differently in the various movements, underlining it most emphatically at the opening of the work with the martial quality of the brasses juxtaposed against the improvisatory nature of the harp, and minimizing the differences elsewhere in the work by uniting all the forces in true ensemble playing."
ROBERT STARER (1924-2001) received his musical education at the State Academy in Vienna, the Jerusalem Conservatoire and the Juilliard School. He became an American citizen in 1957. His stage works include three operas and several ballets for Martha Graham, Herbert Ross, and Anna Sokolow. .His symphonic works have been performed here and abroad by major orchestras under Mitropoulos, Bernstein, Leinsdorf, Steinberg, Comissiona, and Ozawa. Honors include two Guggenheim Fellowships and an award from the American Academy and Institute of Arts & Letters.
ABQ - Photo by Christian Steiner
Clockwise from 12 O'clock:
Robert Posten, bass trombone; Wayne Wells, trombone;
Marc Guy, horn; Robert Suggs, trumpet; David Cran, trumpet
Annapolis Suite - Kennedy Center Performance - 1983
ANNAPOLIS BRASS QUINTET
Clockwise from 12 O'clock:
Robert Posten, bass trombone; Wayne Wells, trombone;
Marc Guy, horn; Robert Suggs, trumpet; David Cran, trumpet
Annapolis Suite - Kennedy Center Performance - 1983
ANNAPOLIS BRASS QUINTET
A snippet from Starer's "Conversation with Bruce Duffie":
BD: I've asked if you're pleased with performances - are you pleased with recordings that have appeared of your music? RS: Yeah. The one for brass quintet and harp was commissioned by the Annapolis Brass Quintet...When they came with that proposition, my first reaction was, "What a strange idea ! Brass quintet and harp ?" Brass quintet to me means masculinity, vigor, and the harp is an essentially gentle, feminine instrument. I considered it an absolute challenge to combine these two. I expected the piece to have three performances, and to my great surprise it's being played in a lot of places...There's almost no literature for this combination...Now that sort of challenge I enjoy very much...there I had the performers in mind. BD: Were you pleased enough that you will write a sequel to the piece, another...for the same combination? RS: No, of course not! I will also not write another violin concerto... At the moment I am writing a cello concerto for Janos Starker [READ FULL ARTICLE]
BD: I've asked if you're pleased with performances - are you pleased with recordings that have appeared of your music? RS: Yeah. The one for brass quintet and harp was commissioned by the Annapolis Brass Quintet...When they came with that proposition, my first reaction was, "What a strange idea ! Brass quintet and harp ?" Brass quintet to me means masculinity, vigor, and the harp is an essentially gentle, feminine instrument. I considered it an absolute challenge to combine these two. I expected the piece to have three performances, and to my great surprise it's being played in a lot of places...There's almost no literature for this combination...Now that sort of challenge I enjoy very much...there I had the performers in mind. BD: Were you pleased enough that you will write a sequel to the piece, another...for the same combination? RS: No, of course not! I will also not write another violin concerto... At the moment I am writing a cello concerto for Janos Starker [READ FULL ARTICLE]
FOSTERING BRASS CHAMBER MUSIC
The score and parts for Robert Starer's Annapolis Suite for brass quintet and harp, and Robert Starer's Evanescence for brass quintet, along with the entire ABQ music library, are available for performance and research through the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
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