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MMDavis
Dec-16-2009, 8:05pm
The PMO has just posted a YouTube video of our world premiere performance of "The City Awakens" by Emiel Stopler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZXkurrQtc

Emiel Stopler is a guitarist/composer living in Zwolle, the Netherlands. The PMO met him on tour there in 2008, and at that time he promised to write us a piece. We received the piece from him this fall and gave its premiere on Dec. 5 at an 'Arts in the Village Series' concert in Rehoboth, MA.

The piece is based on a minimalist rhythm, first presented by mandolas, and gives a hypnotic, humming impression of a city at first light of day as it comes to life. Although in essence a 'classical' composition, it still shows evidence of Emiel's fascination with folk and pop music (perhaps a hint of Peter Gabriel?).

This was the lead-off piece of our program entitled "A Day in the Life of a City" which included both "A Day in the Life' (excellent arrangement by Bob Margo), and Victor K's wonderful, evocative 'Hues of Dusk."

More pieces from this concert will be posted as we get it edited. We used four different cameras for this shoot. Composer/PMO member Owen Hartford and his son Alec were in charge of the videography and are doing the editing.

Hope you will all enjoy!

Mark

John Goodin
Dec-17-2009, 7:11am
Mark, thanks for sharing this. It's a fine piece and a fine performance. I took Scott's advice and watched it as I'm getting ready for work. Even though I live in a pretty small city it still sets the tone nicely for heading out into the snowy streets with some good music in my head.

John G.

MMDavis
Dec-19-2009, 11:22pm
Thank you John, for your perceptive comments; and thanks also to the YouTube comments from Alex Timmermann, and Aussie friends Geoff Barber (AMMA), Jana Buvari and Robert Kaye (WAMO). And thanks to messages from Dottie Palsgrove (Dayotn MO) and Adrian Hooper (Sydney, Aus.). I am heartened to see this level of appreciation for high-quality original contemporary composition for mandolin.

vkioulaphides
Dec-20-2009, 3:02pm
(The muteness of my office terminal had prevented me from listening to this up until today, while evenings were spent at the opera-house.)

What a WONDERFUL work for plucked orchestra! It is tailor-made for the sonority of this kind of ensemble, and so its musical/thematic ideas work IDEALLY on the instruments it is scored for. Excellent! Please convey my warmest congratulations to the composer.

Cheers,

Victor

MMDavis
Dec-20-2009, 6:52pm
Thank you, Victor. I shall pass on your nice comments to Emiel.

In the meantime, Emiel has posted the score and parts to TCA at his webstore where you can download them for a VERY reasonable amount:

http://www.myscorestore.com/list/user/id/1342/emiel-stopler.html