Voices of the Bayou: An Interview with Janice Van Dyke Walden about the Buffalo Bayou Project

Transcript of Conductor, Robert Moody's interview with Janice Van Dyke Walden at the ROCO Season Finale at Bayou Bend, April 18, 2010

Tell us, what is the Buffalo Bayou Project?
For me, the Buffalo Bayou Project started as just the documentary, in the traditional sense of one film. But over the last two years, it has grown to become a full educational program, including the documentary and a series of shorter videos.

What motivated you to do this commission?
A year and a half ago we thought by this time we’d have the film wrapped up, so this started as just one of the production commitments. But, as we got into learning about Buffalo Bayou, we found we had a lot more to learn, so the Suite has carried its own as a creative force. All along we’ve wanted the film to have a score with distinction, a musical representation of the bayou. And, we certainly got that.

What do you see happening today that make our connection with the bayou all the more important?
Well today, we spend our days in air conditioning under fluorescent lights in front of computer screens, or behind a steering wheel commuting a couple of hours a day. Our children are no less confined, scared of the “bogey-man”, learning in class rooms with no windows and in the case of public schools, generally learning just to take the test. There is no room for exploration. And, so it is no wonder that we have become disconnected from nature, which nurtures us, and actually has tremendous healing powers.

So, here is Buffalo Bayou, right in our own back yard, coursing through our city. What a natural asset we have, and one we can learn from.  I see a growing desire in many Houstonians to live more responsibly according to the laws of nature. That’s encouraging.

How can people be involved?
There are two ways people can be involved. One, we can become more bayou-centric in how we live. That means, in every lifestyle choice we make – how we build our house, how we plant and take care of our lawn, what car we drive and how we use water - we should consider, how will this impact the bayou? Because we all live in a watershed and our daily choices impact it.

Secondly, there is only so much you can put in a film. And the film will develop a narrative that excludes many other interesting stories. Houstonians have so much to say about this great bayou that affects our lives, and each person has their own story, their own memory; their own perspective. So, as part of the Buffalo Bayou Project we’re developing “Voices of the Bayou”, a kind of audio almanac where people can record their own memories or stories about Buffalo Bayou. If you are interested in contributing a story, email us at esmp@neosoft.com, and we’ll be in touch with you.

Houston Chronicle: Buffalo Bayou gets a soundtrack

Read Tara Dooley's excellent story about Brad Sayles' Buffalo Bayou Suite:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/6951386.html

Brad Sayles on The Buffalo Bayou Suite

In the early spring of 2009, I was approached by Alecia Lawyer with an exciting proposition involving a commission for a film score. Always excited for a project with ROCO, I agreed to meet with Endangered Species Media Project. The original idea for this piece was to be a musical score to accompany a documentary film produced to create awareness of the Buffalo Bayou; an awareness of three aspects in particular: the natural beauty and innocence of nature, the damage to this beauty by industrialization, and the continuing efforts to revitalize and restore the bayou to its original beauty. These three movements together form a body of music that tells this story. 

Tenderly, as a prayer was the first movement I composed. The beginning opens with the “voice” of the river in the English Horn: a voice that continues through all the movements. As the piece progresses, I offer several “vista” moments to set the stage for what we are about to experience. Once on the bayou, we hear nature all around us; from obvious things such as birds, wind, and splashes to the unheard feelings and visual sensations like the sights of a great Cypress tree with root systems that twist around banks and rocks, or natural dams with the most beautiful orange colored soil that looks like a sunset. The bayou has many different views depending on where you are. There are peaceful, open areas while other locations are mysterious and quite dark. Some parts of the bayou have strong currents while others are calm and still. These moments are the inspiration for this movement. 

Largo, mysterioso is a depiction of the impact industrialization has made on the innocent, natural beauty of the bayou. This movement begins with the first sign of change as a familiar sound slowly becomes somber and ominous. Brooding brass chords and altered melodies herald the dawn of a new era. Chaos and confusion erupt out of the natural current of the water. Pollution, steel, and concrete have taken the place of root systems and natural dams. The bayou’s familiar voice has changed. 

Reflective and calm is meant as a simple coda to this suite. It is something that can neither sound definite nor fulfilling. Redemption takes time and hard work. The melody that has become so familiar comes back with a new orchestration as the dawn of a new era begins. Life starts to returns and flourish in some parts of the bayou, but there is more to do. The piece ends with the hope of a new future.

Each movement is unique in sound and theme as well as in structure. Movement I is in rounded binary form (A-B-A’) with an introduction and coda added to either side.  Movement 2 is through composed having no solid structure. Movement 3 is a hybrid of the two composed almost as a mini rondo (A-B-A-C-A) but with much variation between each instance of the A.

The Buffalo Bayou Suite is scored for winds in pairs with doubling on Piccolo, English Horn, and Bass Clarinet, two horns, two trumpets, one trombone, timpani, and strings.

-Brad Sayles 2010
 
Photos © Janice Van Dyke Walden

New Kristin Wolfe Jensen CD Released!

ROCO principal bassoonist, Kristin Wolfe Jensen, has a new CD:  "Virko Baley's Parables & Reflections."  

From Kristin:

"Having performed Virko Baley's works in Australia, England, New York, Las Vegas and Austin, I am thrilled that they are now captured on CD! The vivid characters he creates, and the great passions he injects are unrivaled in the existing bassoon repertoire, contributing a riveting body of works for bassoonists and listeners alike. The music is colorful and emotionally charged, taking the listener on a meaningful journey."

Learn more about it and purchase your copy at http://www.tncmusic.net/product_info.php?products_id=1077.

Audience Texts at Conductorless!

We love hearing from you during our concerts.  At the Take 5 break during our Feb 13th concert, you texted these messages to us:

“I love the balance of the group. My heart follows every note.”
“Amazing job! Happy Chinese New Year!!”

“LOVED Simone. Bravo! And conductorless format is very interesting, it’s much more intimate.”

“Wow to those magic fingers of Simone!!!! That was outstanding.”

“Fantastic. Good pairing of the Jacobs and Shuo – both interesting and refreshing.”

“Dinnerstein’s performance was spectacular”

“Great concert (once again!). The pieces are well chosen and well executed and Simone’s piano interpretation was superb!”

“Shuo was awesome! Dinnerstein dynamic! ROCO is a wonderful night out, thank you.”

“Awesome—I don’t hear Bach played that often and Simone was marvelous.”

“You have no idea how hard it is to just listen to Beethoven’s 5th without “conducting” myself. Simply marvelous.”

Thanks!
ROCO

Rest in peace, Beth Newdome

We are mourning the loss of violinist, Beth Newdome, who lost her battle with cancer on February 13, 2010.  Beth played with ROCO during Season 4. 

We are repeating her obituary announcement from the Feb 16, Mansfield News Journal. 

MANSFIELD ~ A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint pictures on silence. ~ Leopold Stokowski

Beth Newdome was an artist. She learned the integral difference of playing music and playing an instrument. In her hands, her violin gave voice to joy and sorrow, tears and laughter, interpreting emotion in a way words fail. Her upbeat personality made her a friend to many, and coupled with her talent on the violin, a much sought-after violin soloist.

A world-class violinist, Beth fought with cancer for over five years, and passed away Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Born February 6, 1964 in Mansfield, Beth was the daughter of William Peter Newdome, Sr. and Elva (Welday) Newdome. At the age of three, Beth started music lessons, studying under her mother Elva. She subsequently took lessons from Howard Beebe, Marya Giesy, and Michael Davis. While a student at Malabar High School, she played all four years with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra.

While a grade school student, she was named “Outstanding Actress” at Hal McCuen’s Summer Theater.

Beth was the first student at the time to earn 12 years of consecutive Superior ratings in OFMC Junior Festivals, earning the 75 point cup, all the while winning auditions to solo with a number of orchestras including the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Kent State, Toledo and Columbus.

Named “Outstanding Girl” as a senior at Malabar High School, she was graduated in 1982. She excelled at swimming, winning numerous awards for her participation on Possum Run and Westbrook swim teams, specializing in relays and breaststroke.

“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” (Berthold Auerbach) a high calling for any life, and Beth had the talent and determination to pursue her music professionally.

Beth was active with summer music camps throughout Ohio and in the Tangelwood Music Festival in Tanglewood, Mass.

She studied music at Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, New York, where she earned her Bachelor of Music Performance in 1986, studying under Charles Castleman. While at Eastman, she was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic.

She played under the tutelage of Max Rostal in Bern, Switzerland, Spoleto Opera Festival in Charleston, S.C., the Heidelberg (Germany) Music Festival, and Kent-Blossom Music Festival.

Just this past September, Beth traveled to Poland to participate with the World Orchestra for Peace.

She was a member of the Jacksonville (Fla) Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Dallas (Tx) Symphony Orchestra, and Atlanta (GA) Symphony Orchestra.

Beth was the principal violinist of the Georgian Chamber Players, and was the violinist of the Inman Trio with David Bjella and Brent Runnels. She lent her talents to the Iris Chamber Orchestra.

Beth took a one-year sabbatical from the Atlanta Symphony to teach violin at Stetson University in Deland, FL, and then returned to the Atlanta Symphony as Associate Concert Master. In August of 2002 she accepted a teaching position with Florida State University in Tallahassee as an Associate Professor of Violin. Each June she appeared with the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, and every August served on the violin artist faculty of the Aspen Music Festival. She was a frequent performer at Carnegie Hall.

She was a member of United Church in Tallahassee. Beth had been well rounded in her activities as an artist and in the sports of snow skiing, golfing, and tennis.

She is survived by her mother Elva Newdome of Mansfield; her sister Lynn Rose Newdome of Northampton, Mass.; her brother and sister-in-law William Peter Newdome, Jr. and Amy Newdome of Mansfield; an “adopted” sister and her husband Kristine & Alan Christiansen of Des Plains, Ill.; a niece Angela Ferrante; twin niece and nephew Ava Newdome and David Newdome; numerous aunts and cousins; and cherished friend Kenn Wagner. 

Her father preceded her in death, as have numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

The Newdome family will receive friends Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 10 a.m. to noon in the parlor of First Presbyterian Church, 399 South Trimble Road, Mansfield, where her memorial service will follow at 12 noon. The Rev. Dennis R. Allison will officiate. The Marion Avenue Snyder Funeral Home is privileged to serve the Newdome family.

Rather than flowers, the Newdomes suggest memorial contributions to Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, or Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra, or Mansfield Symphony Youth Strings, or First Presbyterian Church, and may be made at the church, through the funeral home.

Condolences to the Newdome family may be made online at: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com

There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is. –William P. Merrill. Play on Beth, play on.

What are you gonna do when the sun goes down? Get right back on that merry-go-round!

Why Conductorless?

Wikipedia defines conductorless as “a unique style of collaborative leadership in which the musicians interpret the music, not the conductor.” Performing conductorless requires collaboration, mutual respect, and “radical trust” It empowers the individual musicians in a way that translates into an exciting experience for the audience.

Removing the “wall” between orchestra and audience exposes an intimate conversation among the musicians and invites the audience into conversation with the chamber orchestra. Few orchestras of ROCO’s size attempt to perform conductorless, especially on a piece as challenging as Beethoven’s well-loved Fifth Symphony.

Sharing leadership among ROCO’s 40 musicians showcases the high level of artistry and strong spirit of “musical joie de vivre” that is ROCO’s signature. The result a fantastic audience experience that author/journalist, John DeMers calls, “the most fun you can have with serious music.”

Tickets to the Feb 13-14 Conductorless! Concert are available at http://www.rocohouston.org/.  The Saturday evening performance is at The Church of St. John the Divine at 5pm, along with free valet parking and the ROCOrooters and Club ROCO childcare/music education programs.

The Sunday performance will be a Valentine's Concert + Dinner at The Houstonian Hotel, beginning at 5pm.  What a romantic way to spend Valentine's Day.  Childcare is available.