Richard D. Russell » Paul Moravec

“A Poe Fantasia” to premiere Feb 2, 2010

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:30:00 +0000

In an upcoming recital, Soprano Sofia Dimitrova will premiere a new song cycle of mine, “A Poe Fantasia,” based on poems of Edgar Allan Poe. The concert will be Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 8pm and takes place at Saint Peter’s Church in the Citigroup Building, Lexington Avenue and 54th Street. Sofia will be joined by accompanist Catherine Miller, and her sister, violinist Stanichka Dimitrova. Pieces on the evening include compositions by 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec, Gy√∂rgy Kurt√°g, David Tcimpidis, and Evan Lewis. The suggested donation is $10. (Click the image for a larger view of the flier.)

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Paul Moravec quotes

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:29:00 +0000

Paul Moravec

I had the opportunity to hear a lecture by Paul Moravec last week on the topic of music and memory. He’s the 2004 Puiltzer Prize winner, so I was honored to be able to listen to what he had to say, some of which was quite quotable!

For instance, he said “Time is the medium of music.” How so? Well, because we can’t make sense of music without being able to remember music from earlier in the composition. We were also encouraged to make sense of music that is in our own memory, from childhood, perhaps, and consider how it affects us as composers today.

When we see something with our eyes, we try to make sense of it. When we hear music. it goes more directly to the subconscious. Think about how that affects us over the years when we hear a great piece of music again and again.

We got into a conversation about how music should have a certain inevitability to it. Paul Moravec added: “But if it’s inevitable and you can see it coming a mile away, what good is that?”

And finally: “A bridge will collapse if all the tension goes out of it. So will a composition.”

Some things to think about!

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Write something joyful!

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:58:00 +0000

The other night I was at a composer’s forum where the guest of honor was 2004 Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec. We were all having a great exchange, and the subject of fast and slow music came up. I pointed out that whenever I go to a concert of new music, it’s a little unusual to hear “fast” music. We discussed why this is. My theory is that composers all feel they must probe the depths of their being, examining the dark tea-time of their souls, and aim only for profundity. After all, we want to be taken seriously, don’t we?

What composers today forget is that there is more to human existence than just this! From time to time, hopefully we feel lightness, happiness, and joy. Mozart, Beethoven, Bartok, The Beatles: they all wrote both happy and sad music, among many other emotions.

Paul Moravec captured this thought perfectly. He asked, “What music written since World War II is joyous? Where is our contemporary “Ode to Joy?”

Art is supposed to reflect the human condition. Without a doubt, the human condition in the 20th Century has been rather pitiful. But let’s not forget: Art also elevates and illuminates. Don’t forget all the possibilities you can compose.

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