Virtuoso Voices™ - Jennifer Higdon (Personal Blue)  0:25
October 2008 CD 


[Music: Use this clip to enhance your introduction of "Blue Cathedral" by Jennifer Higdon (Telarc 80596).]



SUGGESTED HOST INTRO

"Blue Cathedral," written by Jennifer Higdon is one of the most performed contemporary orchestral works in the U-S.  She composed it with her brother in mind.  His name was Blue, and he died the year before she began writing the music.


CLIP TRANSCRIPT

"I don't think you have to know the program to have the piece speak to you, at least I hope that's the case, but it's a very exposed feeling for a composer to write something that's that personal and to put it out in the world.  That's literally wearing your heart on your sleeve - you're wearing it on the manuscript paper, you know.  You hope that it speaks to people but there's no way to know how it will be taken; no way to know what the reaction will be, but you have to make sure you don't let that affect you."


SUGGESTED HOST OUTRO

Composing music is always personal, and for composer Jennifer Higdon, "Blue Cathedral" was extremely personal.  The "Blue" in Higdon's "Blue Cathedral" refers to her brother, who died one year before she completed the music.  We'll hear it with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Spano (SPAH-noh).



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