Paper, Glass, String & WoodPERUSALSCORE
for two string quartets
Tina Davidson
PERUSALSCORE
Paper, Glass, String & Wood
for two string quartets
PERUSALSCORE
Tina Davidson
Paper, Glass, String & Wood
for two string quartet
Program Notes
Paper, Glass, String & Wood was written as part of Tina Davidson’s third year as “Composer in the Community” for the Fleisher Art Memorial. Commissioned for the members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, this work is scored for triple string quartet – a professional quartet and two student quartets, one advanced and the other intermediate. This version of Paper, Glass, String & Wood is for two quartets, one of which can be a student quartet.
The work represents a coming-together of the two main elements of Davidson’s residency – the outreach through the Young Composers program and the commissioning of new works that involve students in both creation and performance. Working with student composers at two area public schools, Davidson taught an extended and advanced version of the Young Composers to over 60 high school students in both Girard Academic Music Program and High School for the Creative and Performing Arts High. The students worked with the composer over several months, creating more than 50 original compositions. They also discussed ideas with Davidson for her new work, which she developed using their musical suggestions as well as some melodies they had written.
Paper, Glass, String & Wood borrows the idea of the four classic elements (earth, air, fire and water) and uses them in terms of the artistic material – paper, glass, string and wood. Each movement is related both a physical sense of the element as well as an intuitive or spiritual sense; thus paper is to dream, glass is to be transparent and brittle, string is to weave (make connections), and wood is to build. The side-by-side nature of the piece is ultimately both a teaching tool and a wonderful opportunity to play ‘elbow to elbow’ with a professional quartet, learn the tricks of the trade, and find out, first hand, how to rehearse, perform a newly composed piece, and taste the excitement that comes with performing with mature artists.
Please Note: Paper, Glass, String & Wood exists in three versions: 1) for professional quartet and two student quartets, 2) for professional quartet and one student quartets 3) for string quartet, and 4) for string quartet and string orchestra
I. Paper (dream) page 1
II. Glass page 19
III. String (weave) page 29
IV. Wood (build) page 37
Tina Davidson is a highly regarded American composer who creates music that stands out for its emotional depth and lyrical dignity. Lauded for her authentic voice, The New York Times praised her “vivid ear for harmony and colors.” OperaNews called her works "transfigured beauty.” Tina Davidson has been commissioned and performed by well-known ensembles such as National Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, OperaDelaware, VocalEssence, Kronos Quartet, Cassatt Quartet and Grammy Award-winner, Hilary Hahn.
In 2023, her memoir, Let Your Heart Be Broken, Life and Music of a Classical Composer was published by Boyle & Dalton to critical acclaim.
Long-term residencies continue to play a major role in Davidson’s career. She was composer-in-residence at Fleisher Art Memorial (1998-2001) and ran the city-wide Young Composers program, teaching children to compose and perform music their own music. She was composer-in-residence with Opera-Delaware, Newark Symphony Orchestra and the YWCA, as part of Meet The Composer’s innovative "New Residencies" program. During this residency, she wrote the critically acclaimed full-length opera, Billy and Zelda, as well as created community partner programs for women in shelters, and for students in elementary schools.
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Davidson’s talents have been recognized through the awarding of a number of grants and fellowships, including the prestigious Pew Fellowship, the largest such grant in the country for which an artist can apply. Her music is available on Albany Records, New World Records, Mikrokosmik, and Opus One. Hilary Hahn released two recordings of the work she commissioned from Davidson, Blue Curve of the Earth on her albums In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores and on Retrospective (Deutsche Grammophon).
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Tina Davidson grew up in Oneonta, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. She received her BA in piano and composition from Bennington College in 1976 where she studied with Henry Brant, Louis Calabro, Vivian Fine and Lionel Nowak. She currently lives in Lancaster PA.
For more information, please contact: BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON MUSIC Web Page: http://www.tinadavidson.com
I. Paper (dream)
for Jessica and Erik, students at GAMP © 2000, Tina Davidson (Beyond the Blue Horizon Music, BMI) Published by Just a Theory Press, www.justatheorypress.com
Tina Davidson
I. Paper (dream)
I. Paper (dream)
I. Paper (dream)
I. Paper (dream)
I. Paper (dream)
I. Paper (dream)
I. Paper (dream)
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Glass, String & Wood, Tina Davidson I. Paper (dream)
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I. Paper (dream)
II. Glass
II. Glass
II.
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Paper, Glass, String & Wood, Tina Davidson
III. String (weave) for Sarah Morrow and Sal Adamo, students at GAMP & CAPA
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III. String (weave)
III. String (weave)
IV. Wood (build)
for Daniel DeJesus, student at CAPA
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
Glass, String & Wood,
Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
VI. Wood (build)
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