for mezzo soprano and chamber ensemble
Scoring
2 fl, clar, 2 perc, 2 pianos or electric pianos, mezzo soprano
Duration 19 Minutes
Recording
Album Title
Dan Asia
Label
Albany Records [product id: TROY106]
Sound File
First Movement
Performances
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987
LONDON, ENGLAND
Endymion Ensemble
Linda Hirst, mezzo-soprano
Daniel Asia, conductor
St. John’s
Smith Square
London, England
NOVEMBER 1985
OBERLIN, OH
Oberlin Contemporary Ensemble
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1984
CINCINNATI, OH
Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music Contemporary Ensemble
Scott Lawton, conductor
Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
Cincinnati, OH
NOVEMBER 18 & DECEMBER 5, 1982
CLEVELAND, OH
Reconnaissance
Mary Feinsinger, mezzo-soprano
Daniel Asia, conductor
MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1979
NEW YORK, NY
WORLD PREMIERE
Musical Elements
Mary Feinsinger, mezzo-soprano
Daniel Asia, conductor
Carnegie Recital Hall
881 Seventh Avenue
(corner of 7th Avenue and 57th Street)
New York, NY 10019-3210
General Information: 212-903-9600
Box Office: 212-247-7800
Program Notes
Music by Daniel Asia
Texts by Gary Snyder
c 1978
SAND II was completed in 1978 and is scored for two flutes, clarinet, two percussion players, two pianos, and mezzo-soprano. The work is in seven movements, six of which include poems chosen from Gary Snyder’s book of poetry and essays, Regarding Wave, and an instrumental interlude. With the exception of the first, all of the movements are played without pause.
Snyder’s poetry reflects numerous influences. These include most strongly the environmental and cultural attributes of the West Coast and Japan, the result of his having lived in both areas for long periods of time. The poetic images are concise and clear, reminiscent of the Japanese haiku. The relationship to subject seems casual and easy-going, very much a reflection of the West Coast scene of the 60’s. And thus the tone of these poems seems to be the result of the blending of an artful, and vernacular, approach to language.
SAND II was given its first performance by Musical Elements, Mary Feinsinger, mezzo-soprano, and Daniel Asia, conductor, on October 27, 1979 at Carnegie Hall, New York.
Reviews
D. HENAHAN, NEW YORK TIMES
Mr. Asia, an accomplished young composer who has already received a string of awards, grants and commissions, writes in a style that might be described as post-Webern Impressionism, since echoes of late Debussy as well as mid century serialism could be heard in this work (Sand II)…there was a promising talent on display here…
A. MARKS, MUSICAL TIMES, LONDON
Asia’s own work, Sand II, contained beautiful textures and inventive scoring.
W. SALISBURY, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
The concert’s central work was Sand II, a set of six poems by Gary Snyder for voice, flutes, clarinet, percussion and pianos. The voice, given a bluesy inflection, alternately rose out of crumbling sonorities, faded into the blurred textures and created mysterious moods.