Chattanooga Symphony & Opera - Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings

Hymn and Dance for String Orchestra

Douglas Hedwig

Hymn and Dance for String Orchestra (from Movable Borders)
Douglas Hedwig
(b. 1951 in New York City)

For the third time your CSO brings you music by local composer Douglas Hedwig, but it is fair to say Hedwig’s composing career has blossomed since the CSO commissioned FANFARE ALEGRE: Dia de la Fiesta in 2017. Not that long ago Hedwig considered it a significant accomplishment to get one of his pieces played once by any well-regarded professional orchestra. A second performance by a different orchestra?--that was what he hoped would happen some day.

Movable Borders has a different story, one becoming more common for Hedwig. He wrote it for and dedicated it to the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera String Quintet who debuted it in 2017. He arranged it for the North/South Chamber Orchestra NYC who premiered it in that form in 2018. Today’s performance is the 4th time some or all of Movable Borders has been programmed.

Hedwig is generous in sharing the important information about his works. Here are his words with a few explanatory comments interpolated.

“Movable Borders for string quintet is a three-movement composition that incorporates elements of world music within the context of contemporary chamber music styles and traditions. Stylistic ‘fusion’ is central to the conception of the work, with the intent to evoke a ‘borderless’ aural sense of transnational culture, color and flavor.”

[Not being played today, but included for context] “The 1st movement, Odyssey, reflects the influence of Hungarian and South American culture. The Eastern European-derived, driving and energetic style that characterizes the opening and closing sections of the work, is contrasted with playful tango-like sections. And, the slower, introspective and dream-like period in the middle of the piece foreshadows elements of the 2nd movement.

“The 2nd movement is entitled Hymn (‘Gitanjali’). The subtitle, Gitanjali, is derived from a collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore’s epic poem of the same name, published in 1912. The composition is inspired by the classical and folk music of India and South Asia. The double-bass solo in the middle section is reminiscent of Sanskrit chant and Indian vocal style. The opening, folk-like melody is transformed into a more Western sounding hymn at the end of the movement.”

Hedwig wrote the 2nd movement after a trip to India. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was the first Indian citizen awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature (1913).

“The final movement draws upon the energetic and spirited folk music associated with the Balkan Peninsula. Balkan Dance is also influenced by the late 20th century American jazz-fusion style.”

After 27 years playing trumpet in the Met Opera Orchestra, Hedwig and his wife Mimi Jones Hedwig settled in Chattanooga in 2013 where he has composed full-time. Their decision has greatly enriched the musical scene here, where we locals get to hear many of his new works first.