Chicago lawyers put up cash for Ruth Bader Ginsburg premiere
NewsFrom the Associated Press (which receives philanthropic subsidy for reporting philanthropy):
The upcoming world premiere at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra of a classical music piece inspired by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would probably have been impossible if not for a bunch of lawyers in the Chicago area, a Long Island fine arts foundation and an award-winning pianist and composer who put the deal together.
Such is the art of financing new musical works in the midst of a pandemic.
Even in the best of economic times, finding funders for new orchestral works is typically difficult.
“You’re looking for support for something that doesn’t exist,” said Jeffrey Biegel, a pianist and composer on the faculty of Brooklyn College who has managed to bring together donors and composers to create more than a dozen musical works since 1999. “We have no idea what the first notes will sound like until we have enough money to pay for it….”
Read on here.
The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. Now that’s interesting.
Another reason why I am leaving Chicago.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.
Thank you for sharing this very special project and premiere story with your readers, Norman. It has been a privilege and humble honor to pay respects through music to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her life and legacy is now memorialized through music, her incredible strength, wisdom and care for human rights and the human spirit. That she loved music and embraced music with her fellow Justice Scalia, is something to be remembered and deeply admired. Sincere thanks to the wonderful Dallas Symphony, the dedicated and caring staff, and all the donors who helped to make this happen. Lastly, sincere thanks to the great composer, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, poet Lauren Watel, the incomparable mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, and my orchestrator Harrison Sheckler for orchestration my short tribute to RBG.
Does the Zwilich piece have a featured solo piano part?
Hello Tom,
Yes, this new work is for mezzo-soprano, piano and orchestra. “Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg”, text by Lauren Watel.
Whenever I see Jeffrey Biegel mentioned in a news item or feature story, it’s always positive. Whenever he comments on SD, which he does from time to time, it’s informative and constructive. The music world, and the world at large, could use more like him.
Yes, wonderful. I hear the new piece will be subtitled,
“Ode to Eugenics.”