Open to the public and livestreamed
David Alan Miller, Heinrich Medicus Music Director
Britt Hewitt, vocalist
Devony Smith, vocalist
Clarice Assad: Earth and Water (world premiere)
Albany Symphony Musicians
Liz Silver, Violin I
Paula Oakes, Violin II
JJ Johnson, Viola
Erica Pickhardt, Cello
Clarice will be partnering with Mohawk and Seneca storytellers for the narrative aspect of her piece.
Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
About Earth and Water:
The piece is musical dialogue between Earth and Water, framed by a narrator's perspective. It explores themes of environmental change, human progress, and the relationship between nature and civilization, centered around the construction of the Erie Canal. The narrative begins with the composer's creative process, who is in the writing sketches or a work-in-progress as if it was in real time. The dialogue between Earth and Water, conveys the historical context and the environmental concerns. Earth and Water are personified with distinct personalities and perspectives. Earth appears more cautious and worried, while Water seems more adaptable but also vulnerable. Interjections occur as the composure explores the next steps of the composition.
