WSU Reschedules Premiere of New Work for Electronic Sounds and Orchestra

DETROIT, MI (February 24, 2006) – The Wayne State University Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Kypros Markou, has rescheduled the premiere of Joshua Palay’s new electronic work for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8 (originally scheduled for March 6). This work, along with others featuring the 2006 WSU Concerto Competition Winners, will be performed at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets are $5 (student/senior) and $8 (general) and can be purchased at-the-door. For additional information call, (313) 577-1795 or visit www.music.wayne.edu.

Palay’s two-movement work, Suite for Orchestra and Electronics, was composed for the WSU Orchestra. Palay introduced the concept to Kypros Markou in 2001 at Wayne during the Society of Composers, Inc. New Music Conference. In 2005, Markou received and Innovative Project Grant to support this work, written for traditional orchestra and electronic sounds. “The two parts are independent, however they complement each other in a fascinating and harmonious way” states Maestro Kypros Markou, “Sometimes one hears just the electronic sounds, however, the two blend seamlessly together for a very original and unique musical result.” Thomas Court, Co-director of WSU’s Music Technology program, also plays a large role in the performance of the piece, coordinating the electronic music playback and synchronization for the composer and conductor.

Palay’s Suite for Orchestra and Electronics is the latest in a series of works that seek new and organic methods to combine the orchestral tradition with current popular electronic methods. The first movement, Allegro Vivace, plays off a bouncy bass ostinato over which the orchestra plays and interacts. The second movement, found farewell, is sample oriented and can be separated into three parts: a lyrical lullaby-like section, an electronic interlude, and a final section that builds to the end with a small chamber-music tag.

The evening’s concert will also include performances by the 2006 WSU Concerto Competition Winners. Ms. Suren Petrosyan, cello (Lansing, MI), will perform Concerto Rhapsody by Khachaturian and Mr. Christopher Kuhns, flute (Rome, MI), will perform Reinecke’s Ballade. Other works to be performed by the University Orchestra are Brahms\' Academic Festival Overture and Eight Instrumental Miniatures by Stravinsky and Mozart\'s Divertimento in D, K.136, both to be conducted by WSU Master’s student James Gross (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI).