Symphony No. 2 “America”: I. Independence Day · Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, Kirk Trevor, conductor
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra: I. Entrata – Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, Michael Roháč, conductor, Peter Mikula, organ soloist
Composer
Symphony No. 2 “America”: I. Independence Day · Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, Kirk Trevor, conductor
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra: I. Entrata – Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, Michael Roháč, conductor, Peter Mikula, organ soloist
Naxos American Classics has released Dan Locklair’s Symphony No.2 “America,” along with his Hail the Coming Day, Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, and PHOENIX for orchestra.
The disk was recorded by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, led by Kirk Trevor and Michael Roháč. Organ soloist is Peter Mikula.
Dan writes, “My Symphony No.2 “America” unabashedly celebrates America: “The Land of the Free”. Begun in May, 2015, this three-movement composition was completed in July, 2016 and is scored for a large triple-wind symphony orchestra. The World Premiere was given by John Gordon Ross and the Western Piedmont Symphony (Hickory, NC) in October, 2017. Approximately 22 minutes in length, each movement is a reflection upon a holiday that is at the heart of America: 1. Independence Day; 2. Memorial Day; 3. Thanksgiving Day. A single, well-known melody associated with the essence of each of these American holidays is heard in each movement.”
Hail the Coming Day (A Festive Piece for Orchestra) is the result of a 2012 commission from The City of Winston-Salem, NC in honor of the 2013 Centennial Celebration of the consolidation of the towns of Winston and Salem.
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra was commissioned by the Greater Greensboro (NC) Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Gerard Schwarz conducted the World Premiere with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra.
PHOENIX for orchestra began its life as a three-minute PHOENIX Fanfare, and was subsequently expanded to an orchestral work on commission from the Winston-Salem (NC) Symphony and Arizona MusicFest (Robert Moody, Music Director of both).
More about the CD here. The scores are published by Subito Music.
Independence Day and Memorial Day, the first two movements of Dan Locklair’s Symphony No. 2 “America,” will be featured on the second hour of the Thursday, April 18 broadcast of American Public Media’s Performance Today, hosted by Fred Child.
The broadcast performance is taken from the World Premiere of Locklair’s Symphony No. 2 “America,” presented by Maestro John Gordon Ross and the Western Piedmont Symphony on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. Program information at https://www.yourclassical.org/programs/performance-today.
The show is broadcast on over 280 public radio stations across the country, including Wake Forest University’s WFDD weekdays at 8 PM and Davidson College’s WDAV at 7 PM, EST. Check your local station for other broadcast times.
The composer writes, ” My Symphony No. 2 “America” unabashedly celebrates America: “The Land of the Free”. Begun in May of 2015, this three-movement composition was completed in July of 2016 and is scored for a large triple-wind symphony orchestra. Approximately 22 minutes in length, each movement is a reflection upon a holiday that is at the heart of America: 1. Independence Day; 2. Memorial Day; 3. Thanksgiving Day. A single, well-known melody associated with the essence of each of these American holidays is heard in each movement.” The score is published by Subito Music.
The piece will be released by Naxos as part of an all-Locklair CD in August 2019.
Dan’s In Memory – H.H.L. and Noel’s Psalm (Sonata for Organ) have been recorded by Robert Parkins as part of his new CD on the Gothic label: Salome’s Dance. He plays the newly renovated 1932 Aeolian organ at Duke University Chapel in Durham, NC – the last built by this builder and their only organ of this size and significance built for a church. Along with Max Reger and Richard Strauss, his program includes American works influenced by German Romantic, jazz and blues traditions.
Nice video about the lovely Duke University Chapel, featuring Barcaroles from Dan Locklair’s Dream Steps for flute, viola and harp.
From North Carolina’s WDAV radio – “In celebration and commemoration of WDAV’s 40th Anniversary, we are thrilled to have partnered with accomplished composer Dan Locklair to write a series of short pieces for the station. The timeless theme and its many variations will become a regular and identifiable part of our on-air presence. A longtime friend and supporter of WDAV, Locklair lives in Winston-Salem and serves on the faculty of Wake Forest University. His work is creative, meaningful, and inspiring, making him the perfect person to create a signature sound for the station.”
Hear the pieces and learn more about the project at https://events.wdav.org/40thanniversary/audiotheme/.
Read Dan’s article in the Winter 2018 issue of The Organ. Reprinted with their kind permission.