In tonight’s performance, the UNC Symphony Orchestra has the honor of premiering a new piece that has never been heard before and was made specially for them.
The work, “Of Angels and Neurones,” was created by Michael Gandolfi, a modern composer and chairman of composition at the New England Conservatory.
“Gandolfi is brand new — and it sounds brand new,” said Alex Van Gils, a double bass player in the orchestra and a senior at UNC.
Inspired by the five stages of sleep, Gandolfi created the work to tell a surrealist and scientific narrative, according to his statement from program notes.
This piece is the third part of the Carolina Performing Arts’ 10x10 project, in which 10 new works will be commissioned for performances over 10 years.
This means that 10 faculty members have the chance to ask a prominent musician of their choosing to create a new piece exclusively for UNC.
Van Gils said he was excited to play such an original piece by a renowned composer.
“We are creating how it sounds as we go,” Van Gils said.
He said that future performers of the same piece might look to this performance as a reference.
“It has only been in the composer’s mind and in our rehearsals,” he said.
Tonu Kalam, the conductor of the symphony who commissioned the work, said he is pleased with the original feel of the piece.
He said it is important to introduce people to new works.
“We have to keep expanding the repertoire. We have to move ahead and let new people create new things,” Kalam said.
Along with “Of Angels and Neurones,” the orchestra will play two other pieces: Hector Berlioz’s “Hungarian March” and Robert Schumann’s “Symphony No. 3.”
The roughly 100 person ensemble practices five hours a week and is made up of an eclectic group including graduate, undergraduate and even a few talented high school students, he said.
The orchestra performs four times a year. Three of those four performances take place in Memorial Hall, and one is held in Hill Hall.
“We are a large group that does large-scale things,” Kalam said.
Sophomore violinist Sophia Han said she enjoyed the upbeat tempo of all the works and the camaraderie of the group.
“I really like listening to what’s happening around me in the orchestra. Everybody is so passionate,” she said.
ATTEND THE CONCERT
Time: 7:30 p.m. today
Location: Memorial Hall
Info: www.music.unc.edu
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
