<<  -- 9 --  Carson P Cooman    LETTING THE MUSIC GROW

CC: What are some of your most recent and upcoming commissions and compositional activities?

DL: I'm finishing a harp concerto now -- just proof-reading the engraved masters -- the music is all done. That will be premièred in April 2005. Then, at the same time that this proofing is going on, I'm working on the next commission, which is a Choral piece honoring the 10th anniversary of the Winston-Salem Children's Choir. This is their first commission and they are so proud to honor their anniversary in this way. Since I enjoy variety, it is rare that I do pieces of the same genre back to back, such as two orchestral or two choral works. But the next piece after the SSA children's choir piece does just that. For the South Bend Chamber Singers, this one will be a major multi-movement a cappella choral work. Then, I return to the organ for the next commission, which will be a one-movement solo organ piece for the 90th anniversary of the Spreckles Balboa Park outdoor pipe organ in San Diego, California -- my first piece ever intended for an outdoor première!

CC: If you were given the grant and opportunity to write absolutely any kind of work, of any scope, for any performance context, what kind of work might you write?

DL: There are several. As I alluded to earlier, I would really like to do a Requiem and/or a setting of the Ordinary of the Mass for chorus and orchestra. I find the words of each liturgy so moving and they have, of course, inspired many generations of composers. I've done two Mass settings, just not one for chorus and orchestra. I'd also like to do another opera. I composed a one-act opera, Good Tidings from the Holy Beast, back in the late 70s. Based on a Chester Miracle play, it was very successful and received enthusiastic notices in Opera News and in all the places that it was done. Unless such pieces are commissioned, though, (meaning that they have an ensemble eagerly awaiting their completion), they just sit on the shelf. I am not a big fan of that! Another piece on the wish-list would be a ballet. I have had the good fortune of having a number of my pre-existing works danced, but I'd really like to do a new full-length ballet. With so many ballet companies having money problems these days, though, and having to eliminate live orchestral accompaniment, a ballet seems a long shot. Eventually, too, I'd like to do three more symphonies. My (Symphony No 1), Symphony of Seasons has had wonderful performances by The Louisville Orchestra and the North Carolina Symphony over the last two seasons. The Salisbury Symphony is doing it next month, with other performances to follow. As with any piece that you believe in, when it finds an enthusiastic audience you're especially energized by its success. That's certainly the case for me with Symphony of Seasons!