Beth Anderson’s Mourning Dove Swale for string orchestra will be given its World Premiere by David Fanning and the National String Symphonia on March 18 at Kussmaul Theater in Frederick, MD and March 19 at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, MD. This will be part of compos(h)ers – Works Modern and Classic – symphonic string music by women.

The composer writes, “Mourning Dove Swale was composed in 2002 and this performance is its premiere. It was written in remembrance of the people who died and the heroes of 9/11, however it is not a lament and there are no bird calls.”

“I was born and raised in central Kentucky. Ever since a horse named Swale won the Kentucky derby in 1984, I’ve used the word “swale” frequently to describe my work.  I’ve composed swales for places (Minnesota Swale – recorded by the Slovak Radio Symphony for Opus One), for months (September Swale), for instruments (Flute Swale), and for plants (Rosemary Swale). A swale is a meadow or a marsh whose abundant nourishment and moisture support a rich diversity of plant life. Some people think of a swale as a marsh or bog but  it can also be a colorful meadow such as the one in Bambi. My work is constructed from swatches of newly composed music, rather than found music, which I finds reminiscent of the diversity of life found in a swale. Another way of thinking about my music is to consider it a musical collage, or a “crazy quilt” of sound.”  Visit Beth Anderson at http://www.beand.com/.

Tickets and concert information at http://nationalstringsymphonia.org/concert.php?concertblock=FY17B.

Beth Anderson’s music has been described as having “a refreshing simplicity without naiveté” and as “deeply felt, direct, and yes, beautiful” and “charming and deeply felt to the point of romanticism.” MSR Classics has issued The Praying Mantis and the Bluebird – Flute Music of Beth Anderson (MS1434) – http://www.msrcd.com/catalog/cd/MS1434 – World Premiere recordings of 11 works. Other recent releases are recordings by Nancy Boston of September Swale as part of American Women: Modern Voices in Piano Music and Aleksandra Maslovaric’s recordings of Belgian Tango and Tales #1 & #3 for violin and piano on Feminae in Musica. For more information about Ms. Anderson, including a bio, other videos, list of works, discography and much more, please visit http://www.beand.com.