Path at Sunrise, Masses of Flowers

Composed:  2010
Commission:  Cleveland Women’s Symphony for its 75th Anniversary Concert with a 
2009 Commissioning Music/USA Award from Meet the Composer 
Premiere:  Cleveland Women’s Symphony, April 2010
Duration:  8 minutes
Instrumentation:  2222; 4230;  timp., 2 perc. strings

PROGRAM NOTES

Path at Sunrise, Masses of Flowers, a one movement work for orchestra, was commissioned by the Cleveland Women's Symphony for its 75th Anniversary Concert with a 2009 Commissioning Music/USA Award from Meet The Composer.   Visualize walking down a path in the quiet of early morning at sunrise.  The sun gradually rises on masses of flowers planted closely - jumbled together in a profusion of vibrant and delicate colors and myriad textures.  Picture walking through this beauty with a mix of personal emotions - sadness - acceptance - gratitude - and appreciation for the beauty of the flowers and the sun.

REVIEWS

“More striking still, though, is Brouwer’s often ravishingly orchestral imagination, nowhere more evident than in ‘Path at Sunrise, Masses of Flowers';’ the composer writes in the booklet of its ‘mix of personal emotions - sadness, acceptance, gratitude - and appreciation for the beauty of the flowers and the sun,’ which tells one all one needs to know about this quiet gem.” - Guy Rickards, Gramophone

“…a tightly constructed six-minute tone poem that utilises, to maximum effect, her orchestral palette of tone colours.” - Paul RW Jackson, Music Web International

“I hear the sun rising, birds beginning to sing. There is joy and beauty - a true old-fashioned idyll. This is Margaret Brouwer at her very best.” - Göran Forsling, Music Web International

“It’s a fluid piece about a gentle walk that leaves colorful sounds ringing in the ears. Alsop leads an unhurried performance that allows each harmonic cell to expand in slow motion.”
- Daniel Hathaway, ClevelandClassical