Barry Seroff – “Democracy”
Composed in the wake of 9/11, Barry Seroff's ”Democracy” is a multifaceted, genre-spanning examination of the spiritual and philosophical roots of American thought. Calling on texts from Quaker preachers, American po- ets, Japanese haiku, and Nietzsche, Seroff forms a flowing narrative chart- ing our cultural development from the innocence and purity of infancy through the growing awareness of adolescence and adulthood, to our ultimate peacemaking with the joy of childhood. Seroff draws influences including classicism, jazz, hardcore punk and more and stitches the seem- ingly disparate elements of inspiration and source materials into an or- ganic, evolving piece that seeks to explain the intricacies and history of American culture. “Democracy” also includes Psalm 39/You've So Distracted Me, a companion piece to “Democracy” exploring mortality and faith with a direct, rock-based language and stripped-down instrumentation.
Latest news:
Parma Recordings announces the 2013 Parma Music Festival: August 15-17, 2013, in Portsmouth, NH, featuring Grammy-winning clarinet virtuoso Richard Stoltzman, marimba soloist Mika Stoltzman, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and the PARMA Orchestra with conductor John Page, and many more. The Festival will also serve as the official host for the 2013 Region 1 Conference of the Society of Composers Incorporated (SCI), one of the largest composer-service organizations in the country. Daytime and evening performances, listening parties, and panels will be held at multiple venues in Portsmouth over the three days, highlighted by a closing concert event at The Music Hall on Saturday, August 17 featuring the world premieres of "Elegy For Clarinet & Orchestra" (1949) by Lukas Foss with Richard Stoltzman and the PSO, and "Streams" (2010) by Martin Schlumpf with David Taylor, Matthias Miller, and the Parma Orchestra. Both orchestras will be conducted by Mr. Page.
