Executive Orders

March 12, 2008 at 3:15 PM

Last night was "Belmont Unplugged," a no-homework night when families are supposed to be getting together and playing board games or something. What did I do? Three-hour violin rehearsal. But, at least it wasn't plugged in.

I am playing violin I for a small chamber ensemble (string quartet plus guitar) accompanying the Arlington-Belmont Chamber Chorus in the World Premiere of "Executive Orders" by Michael Veloso. I have to admit that I can be skeptical about music that was written in my lifetime, especially music by affable composers who are clearly younger than I am sitting right there on the couch in someone's living room where the rehearsal is taking place.

But, after hearing it for the first time with everyone together in rehearsal, this piece is really cool. It is a commentary on the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The lyrics range from a Hugo Black Supreme Court opinion (sung aloud by the tenors and basses, with the sopranos and altos whispering the minority opinion in the background), to letters from survivors. One wouldn't necessarily think that all this non-rhyming legalese saturated with heretos and wherefores would sound better set to music, but, surprisingly, it does.

And it's great how he makes some of the movements sound like conversations, some like announcements. It's tricky rhythmically for the musicians, but I think the listening experience for the audience is (or will be) quite satisfying. Certainly not boring! The three hours of rehearsal flew by.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on March 12, 2008 at 4:36 PM

Sounds like an exciting experience, and it beats playing folks like Webern. You are lucky to have participated.

From Donna Clegg
Posted on March 13, 2008 at 1:37 AM

That sounds really cool Karen.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on March 13, 2008 at 1:40 PM

Tom, who is Webern?

I performed a few things like this in college. One was called "Pig Rolling: Overture to a schizophrenic table, no legs, no top." The composer for that was a really nice guy too, he came to all the rehearsals and coached us, but I never quite "got it."

This piece Executive Orders is really much more accessible, without being trite or weird. I'm excited to play a new piece that people without degrees in music can enjoy listening to. And, I like that it's about important U.S. historical events. I'd like to hear more music with that kind of a perspective.

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Executive Orders

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