The Persistence of Honor (2009)
Chamber Orchestra [10 mins.]
Commissioned Het Wagenings Philharmonic Orchestra
World Premiere by the Het Wagenings Philharmonic Orchestra, Melvin Margolis Music Director
7 November 2009 in the Netherlands
USA Premiere by the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Ed Benyas Music Director
28 October 2012
Opus 65 — A.S.C.A.P. work I.D. 505942378
SCORE
World Premiere by the Het Wagenings Philharmonic Orchestra, Melvin Margolis Music Director
7 November 2009 in the Netherlands
USA Premiere by the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Ed Benyas Music Director
28 October 2012
Opus 65 — A.S.C.A.P. work I.D. 505942378
SCORE
PROGRAM NOTES:
The Persistence of Honor was commissioned by Holland’s Het Wagenings Orkest ‘Sonante’, as part of their 25th anniversary celebration. Tonight marks the world premiere of this music by the orchestra, directed by their dedicated and extremely talented conductor, Melvin Margolis.
In the music, you will probably notice a continuous, unrelenting – almost annoying – repetition of a rising pensive refrain. Although this idea repeats “persistently,” it never repeats exactly. Tiny musical changes create a continuous evolution of this refrain, with each statement delivering the same message in a slightly different way. I believe that music exists on a considerably higher level than anything in the real, physical world – especially politics. However, the inspiration (or perhaps catalyst) for this music was the drastic change in the political climate of the USA that took place in November 2008. In a single election day, the country not only profoundly transformed from a regime BACK to a democracy, but, the election of an African American made perhaps the strongest statement to date in reversing and healing what is perhaps my country’s greatest sin. In an instant, 40,000,000 Americans actually felt like Americans.
This seems to me to be an example of honor rising above amorality. Every day the entire world is reminded of all the ills, created by dishonor, that define our civilization, i.e. wars, crime, maniacal leaders, racism, etc., etc. These ills seem to indicate that the dishonorable, the aggressively brutal, greedy, and destructive members of our species, are rapidly destroying our civilization’s goodness, decency, integrity and honesty. This points to a very bleak future for the human race. However, as this Obama fellow gained momentum, was overwhelmingly elected, and then sworn in as the 44th president, it occurred to me to be an indication of what I suspect: The human species is still evolving, and its future is NOT at all bleak. Just as Darwin’s Natural Selection transforms every species to become “better,” and enables its continued existence, so will our species. The proof of this is that, scientifically, we must. Through gentle, continuous Persistence of Honor, dishonor will eventually be eliminated from the world’s society.
The Persistence of Honor was commissioned by Holland’s Het Wagenings Orkest ‘Sonante’, as part of their 25th anniversary celebration. Tonight marks the world premiere of this music by the orchestra, directed by their dedicated and extremely talented conductor, Melvin Margolis.
In the music, you will probably notice a continuous, unrelenting – almost annoying – repetition of a rising pensive refrain. Although this idea repeats “persistently,” it never repeats exactly. Tiny musical changes create a continuous evolution of this refrain, with each statement delivering the same message in a slightly different way. I believe that music exists on a considerably higher level than anything in the real, physical world – especially politics. However, the inspiration (or perhaps catalyst) for this music was the drastic change in the political climate of the USA that took place in November 2008. In a single election day, the country not only profoundly transformed from a regime BACK to a democracy, but, the election of an African American made perhaps the strongest statement to date in reversing and healing what is perhaps my country’s greatest sin. In an instant, 40,000,000 Americans actually felt like Americans.
This seems to me to be an example of honor rising above amorality. Every day the entire world is reminded of all the ills, created by dishonor, that define our civilization, i.e. wars, crime, maniacal leaders, racism, etc., etc. These ills seem to indicate that the dishonorable, the aggressively brutal, greedy, and destructive members of our species, are rapidly destroying our civilization’s goodness, decency, integrity and honesty. This points to a very bleak future for the human race. However, as this Obama fellow gained momentum, was overwhelmingly elected, and then sworn in as the 44th president, it occurred to me to be an indication of what I suspect: The human species is still evolving, and its future is NOT at all bleak. Just as Darwin’s Natural Selection transforms every species to become “better,” and enables its continued existence, so will our species. The proof of this is that, scientifically, we must. Through gentle, continuous Persistence of Honor, dishonor will eventually be eliminated from the world’s society.
PRESS NOTICE
THE PERSISTENCE OF HONOR
— performed by Het Wagenings Orkest Sonanté - Melvin Margolis, Dir, in The Netherlands
Utrecht, The Netherlands 28 Nov 2009
“Frank Stemper's muziek voor orkest, stem, en verschillende grootte kamerensembles zorgt voor een indrukwekkend oeuvre, die opmerkingen over de toestand van de mensheid met elk nieuw werk. Zijn louter originele stijl vertegenwoordigt een nieuwe en wellicht toekomstige richting voor deze kunstvorm. Stemper's muziek is een dagboek van soorten, een introspectieve en diep persoonlijke reis door het leven van iedereen.”
(Translation)
“Frank Stemper's music for orchestra, voice, and various size chamber ensembles creates an impressive body of work, which comments on the state of humanity with each new work. His purely original style represents a new and perhaps future direction for this art form. Stemper's music is a diary of sorts, an introspective and deeply personal journey through everyone's life.”
THE PERSISTENCE OF HONOR
— performed by Het Wagenings Orkest Sonanté - Melvin Margolis, Dir, in The Netherlands
Utrecht, The Netherlands 28 Nov 2009
“Frank Stemper's muziek voor orkest, stem, en verschillende grootte kamerensembles zorgt voor een indrukwekkend oeuvre, die opmerkingen over de toestand van de mensheid met elk nieuw werk. Zijn louter originele stijl vertegenwoordigt een nieuwe en wellicht toekomstige richting voor deze kunstvorm. Stemper's muziek is een dagboek van soorten, een introspectieve en diep persoonlijke reis door het leven van iedereen.”
(Translation)
“Frank Stemper's music for orchestra, voice, and various size chamber ensembles creates an impressive body of work, which comments on the state of humanity with each new work. His purely original style represents a new and perhaps future direction for this art form. Stemper's music is a diary of sorts, an introspective and deeply personal journey through everyone's life.”
