Nationwide Philharmonic offers digital ‘Music That Travels By way of Space’

This Sunday, the National Philharmonic provides “New music That Travels Through House,” capturing the magic of the heavens.

WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘Music That Travels As a result of Space’ (Element 1)

Stargazers lately watched Jupiter and Saturn align for the 1st time in 800 decades.

This Sunday, the National Philharmonic provides “Music That Travels Through Space.”

“Composers through history have been fascinated by nighttime and the stars and the planets,” audio director and conductor Piotr Gajewski informed WTOP. “This is a collaboration with NASA. They are furnishing some actually great imagery.”

The virtual party starts off at 2 p.m., streaming a chamber performance captured at AMP.

“This current time, we are not able to enjoy in front of any live audiences, but we are presenting live shows on line and on the WETA Television set station here in Washington each and every other Sunday,” Gajewski explained. “We are following all the suggestions and certainly social distancing. Our musicians actually have on masks with the exception of wind players.”

The performers incorporate Laura Colgate (violin), Julius Wirth (viola), Lori Barnet (cello), Chris Gekker (trumpet), Suzanne Gekker (clarinet) and Elizabeth Hill (piano).

“The musicians are actually excellent artists, most of them customers of the Nationwide Philharmonic, other people frequent collaborators with the National Philharmonic,” he said.

The parts include things like dwelling composers these kinds of as Alistair Coleman’s “Acquainted with the Evening,” Osvaldo Golijov’s “Tenebrae” and Carson Cooman’s “Moon Marked.”

“[Coleman] is probably the most promising composer of this younger generation,” Gajewski claimed. “He went to Walt Whitman High College. He is now a pupil at the Curtis Institute, which for us musicians is the pinnacle. … It is total scholarship and incredibly elite. … Alistair was the 1 man approved the yr he utilized.”

You will also listen to Lili Boulanger’s “Nocturne pour violon et piano,” Luise Adolpha Le Beau’s “Nachtstück,” Manuel Ponce’s “Estrellita” and Claude Debussy’s “Beau Soir.”

What is it about place that is so abundant for orchestral music?

“Music can be really majestic,” Gajewski stated. “It can also symbolize the stillness of nighttime and also a mystery. You are going to notice that all of this audio does not have any singers or any words. … There’s a mysticism and mystery that’s akin to looking up at the sky.”

WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘Music That Travels Via Space’ (Element 2)

Hear to our total conversation listed here.

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