I’m excited to announce a new commission from German violinist Kathrin ten Hagen and Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar to compose a new concerto for solo violin and string orchestra.
Planet Earth will explore humanity’s relationship with the natural world: where we began in relative harmony with our environment, the ways in which we have damaged our planet, the threats we now face, and the possibility of creating a more sustainable future.
The concerto will be structured more like a suite than a traditional three-movement concerto, consisting of various “Parts” and “Episodes,”. The musical journey will move from the calm beauty of Part I: In the Beginning, through the rhythmic aggression and dissonance of Part II: Destruction of Nature and Part III: Threats to Humanity, before arriving at the inspirational and dramatic Part IV: A New Future.
Between these larger sections, two intimate Episodes will focus on endangered species: the Spreading Bellflower, a delicate plant found in Germany, and the Eurasian Lynx, whose presence evokes a very different kind of elegance and dignity.
String instruments are particularly well suited to the dramatic Sturm und Drang character of this story. While the solo violin will remain at the centre of each movement, it will continually interact with the string orchestra, creating an ongoing musical dialogue between individual and collective.
The short movements also create an exciting possibility: Kathrin’s various advanced violin students will have the opportunity to perform the solo part in each section, making the work particularly suited to a collaborative educational project.
Trying to encapsulate thousands of years of humanity’s history on Earth into a short musical work is, of course, an impossible task. But music can sometimes accomplish something that chronology cannot: it can connect ideas directly to our hearts and minds. As artists, I believe we have a responsibility to create opportunities for audiences to pause, reflect on our collective journey, and imagine what kind of future we want to create on this planet.
In anticipation of the premiere at Classical Festival Germany !MPRSS!ONS next May, I look forward to composing the Planet Earth concerto this fall. Stay tuned through my e-newsletter, blog, and social media as I share updates on this project and everything else currently on the horizon.
