Main MenuNEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
4/22/2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES- The Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will perform conductor Richard Rose's "Requiem" when it performs its final concert of the 2001-2002 season Thursday May 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is $10 and free for NSU students with I.D.
The orchestra will also play "Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra" by Eric Ewazen and "Berceuse and Finale" from the "Firebird Suite" by Igor Stravinsky. James Meadors, a winner of the NSU Concerto Competition, will be featured on "Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra."
The NSU Concert Choir and Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Burt Allen will perform along with the orchestra on "Requiem." Soloists will include soprano Terrie Sanders and tenor Michael Rorex, members of Northwestern's voice faculty. Rose will conduct the combined orchestra and choir.
"Requiem" was given its debut by the Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony in 1994. Rose said he has made a few orchestral changes in the work over the past eight years. Composing the work was unlike anything he had ever done.
"After it was performed in 1994, I put it aside and would listen to it once in a while," said Rose. "Writing it was a huge task. I wrote 'Requiem' over a period of about four months and I'm not sure how I accomplished it because it was so huge."
"Requiem" is a highly personal piece for Rose. The work evokes memories of his father, three close friends and former fellow musicians from his time with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra. Hearing the work performed eight years ago was emotional for Rose. He knows it will be difficult to conduct the orchestra while hearing music that means so much to him.
"I will have a tough time. It was written in memory of three close friends who died within a three month period," said Rose. "Besides that, the final movement for soprano and organ was performed at my father's funeral in 1998 which was one of the most emotional moments of my life. It was tough getting through that.
'''Requiem' has a dialogue between instruments. Some of the instruments were those played by my wife and friends of mine in the Rapides Symphony Orchestra. It brings back memories of when times were good."
Among those memories are the reactions of his parents when the first heard a recording and saw the score for "Requiem."
"After the performance, I sent a copy to my parents who are both musicians and I didn't hear from them for about 10 days," said Rose. "My father said he had one question for me. I waited for it and he asked me 'How did you do that?' and I told him I honestly didn't know.
"My mother told me my father would spend hours going through the score. She told me, 'I know who you are now.' That meant a lot."
Rose said requiems are played for the dead. But his work was written as an 'uplifting, hopeful piece.' He said working with the orchestra on something he feels so deeply about has been special.
"It has been very rewarding for me. I have enjoyed the process of putting it together and rediscovering the work," said Rose. "It is a lot more involved than just sitting and listening as a composer."