Program
Like Snowdrops You Will Shine
Katia Beaugeais
A Story
Roxy Castillo
Break Away
iii. Smoke
iv. Quick Pass
v. Break Away
Jessie Montgomery
A Story
Mohamad “Moe” Hoteit
Concerto in D for String Orchestra
i. Vivace
iii. Rondo Allegro
Igor Stravinsky
A Story
Jared Polivka
Heart of Gold
Ryan Truesdell
Love is Everywhere
Pharoah Sanders
arr. Camille Schiess
A note about the program: We are so happy to welcome guest storytellers into this space! They are invited to share their lived experiences, including their views and opinions, which may not necessarily reflect the views and positions of Austin Unconducted and Hyde Park Storytelling.
Like Snowdrops You Will Shine
Katia Beaugeais
current
This piece was composed in 2018 by Australian composer Katia Beaugeais. It is the opening tune for several Australian public shows, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Classical Breakfast” series. Here’s what she wrote about this piece:
Like Snowdrops You Will Shine for string orchestra features Australian nature sounds to create a soothing, peaceful and uplifting sound world.
This piece refers to the delicate white snowdrop flower that symbolises hope, optimism, courage and new beginnings for people who are facing a challenging situation.
Break Away
Jessie Montgomery
current
Jessie Montgomery’s program notes:
Break Away was written for PUBLIQuartet (PQ) in 2013 for a premiere at the Music of Now festival at Symphony Space. The piece was born out of a series of improvisations that PQ was working on while in residency at the Banff Centre where we formed a suite of short pieces riffing on several different styles of music from hip-hop to electronica to twentieth-century modern. Woven among some of my own chosen specific imagery, I adapted some of the techniques from that suite into this five-movement work.
The score calls on the quartet to both play with and “break away” from the score at various points, thereby attempting a seamless dialogue between the written score and the whims of the quartet, in which the piece takes on further transformation at each performance.
note by Jessie Montgomery
Concerto in D For String Orchestra
Igor Stravinsky
(1882-1971)
Igor Stravinsky’s Concerto in D for String Orchestra, which premiered in 1947, suggests a tonal center based on the note “D”. However, Stravinski deliberately leaves open the question of what tonality this piece surrounds, exemplifying the hesitation between two contrasting moods - major and minor, dark and light, energetic and delicate. In the first movements, the forceful main theme is full of life, which is then offset by a smoother, undulating second theme. The middle movement is reminiscent of a ballet portraying an evocative and beautiful world, while the finale is energetic and swift.
This piece captures the many elements, feelings, and twists and turns that are present in Moe’s story, from chaos and uncertainty to relief and hope.
Heart of Gold
Ryan Truesdell
current
Heart of Gold is part of Synthesis, a collection of string quartets by Ryan Truesdell that brings together the voices of contemporary large-ensemble jazz composers. As Truesdell describes it, the project pairs "leading large ensemble jazz composers with the timeless and venerable instrumentation of the string quartet," inviting composers to explore the expressive possibilities of the ensemble in new ways.
We chose Heart of Gold to accompany Jared's story because of its warmth and strong sense of connection. The piece begins with a clear melody before giving way to an improvised solo, allowing an individual voice to emerge and express its own journey. As the music unfolds, it gradually reconnects with the original melody, where the quartet joins together in a shared statement of the theme. For us, this musical arc reflects Jared's own, reminding us that his story is shaped by the love and peace found in his community.
Love is Everywhere
Pharoah Sanders
1940-2022
Pharoah Sanders’ Love is Everywhere radiates joy, energy, and optimism. Built on an infectious groove and spiritual melodies, the music celebrates the power of human connection, inviting every voice into a vibrant collective sound.
Following the quiet reflection of Heart of Gold, we chose Love is Everywhere to represent the celebration that you can also feel in Jared's story. Its lively rhythms and spirited momentum depict the bustle of the deli, where conversations, laughter, and everyday routines become the backdrop for an unforgettable moment. We also wanted to extend that joy to you, our audience, as we thank you for being part of our community. After all, love truly is everywhere.
Special thanks
to our supporters!
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.
