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Found below are two items: 1. brief program notes for my new orchestral piece, The Long Valley, and 2. a full-length audio track of an electric realization of the work. The audio track may also be found in the media player on the ‘Hear’ page. I hope the work is satisfying and inspiring!
 

Program Notes
The Long Valley (2008)
by Jeffrey Parola
 

“I remember my childhood names for grasses and secret flowers. I remember where a toad may live and what time the birds awaken in the summer – and what trees and seasons smelled like – how people looked and walked and smelled even. The memory of odors is very rich.”

In 1952, John Steinbeck penned the above passage within the first page of the monumental novel, East of Eden. Though the plotline runs parallel to the Genesis story, Steinbeck’s ultimate intention for writing the novel was to paint a detailed image of California’s Salinas Valley, Steinbeck’s homeland, for his two young sons.

Just a couple of years ago, I stumbled across an attractive edition of the book at a bookstore, bought it, and read it for the very first time. Because I was born and raised in Salinas, I was immediately drawn in by the first chapter, where Steinbeck colorfully describes the sights, sounds, and smells of the Salinas Valley.

I experienced all of the things of which he spoke, the goods and the bads, the beautiful and the ugly; and my heart immediately welled up with nostalgia of memories sweet and sorrowful, conjured by images sketched by Steinbeck’s unrestrained and poetic honesty.

Consequently, the novel inspired a very personal, nostalgic orchestral work, entitled The Long Valley. This title, drawn from another literary work by Steinbeck, was chosen to keep focus on my perception of the Salinas Valley as inspired by East of Eden, while avoiding the titular literary weight of the work.

The Long Valley attempts to place at the center of Steinbeck’s raw reflection my personal memories of the Salinas Valley. I dedicate The Long Valley to my mother and father, in gratitude.

On January 30, the fresh New York City-based choir, Choral Chameleon, publicly announced its first composer-in-residence for the 09-10 season. I am honored and privileged to echo the announcement, that I have been appointed as Choral Chameleon’s first composer-in-residence! Vince Peterson is the artistic director and mastermind behind Choral Chameleon. Be sure to read all about him and the group.

This is my first residency, and should be a great adventure and learning experience. It will be wonderful to work with New York City musicians, and present my work to New York City audiences. Words cannot express my joy, so I guess I’ll have to turn it into music for the group!

Choral Chameleon will premiere Sempiterna in its entirety on Sunday, 1 November 2009 in New York City. As details surrounding this performance and the residency develop, I will surely post information here.

Switching subjects, I just got back from a three day visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was there to interview at the University of Michigan for entrance into their doctoral program in composition.  In two interviews, I met the entire composition faculty (Chambers, Daugherty, Kuster, Santos, Schoenfield, and Sheng), then I took a theory placement exam, observed an expert orchestra rehearsal, toured the building, and partook in a composition seminar.  Everything about the school is impressive: stellar faculty, quality student musicians, excellent facilities, beautiful campus, endless resources and opportunities, and an overall positive, warm, and inviting attitude and atmosphere.  The fact that I was able to participate in the interview process continues to humble me.

My one quibble: the weather.  I thought I knew what cold is, but it quickly became apparent that I am a spoiled California guy who knows very little about harsh weather conditions.  It snowed lightly while I was there, and dipped into the teens and single digits as night fell.  However, the snow was beautiful, and helped distract my attention away from imminent frostbite.

The video below was shot the day of my interview, right outside the building in which the School of Music resides.

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