日本av视频

A single note can hold an entire world of emotion. For 日本av视频 assistant professor Mark Stevens, a single piano piece can hold an ocean. 
 
His multiyear commissioning project, 鈥淥ne Drop Contains Oceans,鈥� explores how music from a variety of voices can transform the classical piano repertoire. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, he will bring those voices to life in a public performance at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.
 
Stevens wanted his pretenure project to be about the generation of new knowledge, or in this instance, new music. 
 
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that when we teach, when we play, our audiences and our students can see themselves reflected in the music,鈥� Stevens explained. 鈥淚 want to make sure that when I play, I represent a variety of voices, backgrounds, identities and cultures because I think a true American music project is really a melting pot of different experiences.鈥�
 
The idea was first to identify American-based composers who are in their early to mid-career and could write music that can be played by an undergraduate piano student.
 
鈥淎 lot of new music is really, really hard,鈥� Stevens said. 鈥淚 think that it creates an accessibility problem for many students. So, each composer was challenged to write music that was accessible for an undergraduate pianist or a strong high school pianist.鈥�
 
The composers include Nicolas Lell Benavides, Christopher Cerrone, Kevin Day, Natalie Draper, Bobby Ge, Michael Genese, Brittany Green, Quinn Mason, Alex Shapiro and Steven Snowden. Each brings a unique perspective to the collection.
 
Stevens was inspired to gather composers from a variety of backgrounds and world experiences to elevate voices different than his.
 
One of the experiences was from composer Natalie Draper, who wrote the piece 鈥淪piraling, Falling Objects.鈥� The piece became a reflection of the grief felt during her miscarriage at 17 weeks. 
 
According to her description of the piece, the audience will hear a variety of 鈥渇alling鈥� gestures, from the descending 12-tone cascades to the grace-note fifth sparkles to a spiraling bass line. In the middle section, listeners will hear a break from the anger: a time to gently consider all that was lost.
 
Playing that piece was an emotional experience for Stevens.
 
鈥淗er piece is really gorgeous,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o be sitting in my office playing a piece that no one in the world has heard before, from someone I have never met except on Zoom and for it to be so personal 鈥� it moved me to tears.鈥�
 
Balancing Draper鈥檚 piece is a composition by Brittany J. Green, titled 鈥淚 Will Carry You to the Water.鈥� Green said, 鈥淚 wrote this piece at a time where I found myself thinking a lot about what it means to show up for those close to us and the promise we make to those that we love 鈥� to hold their hand through the darkest hours, even when it hurts not to look away.鈥� 
 
Stevens shared, 鈥淚 went through a profoundly isolating period of my life during this project. Receiving these pieces, which address both grief and community, is an amazing gift. They will frame the concert as a whole in a unifying and impactful way.鈥�
 
A grand debut in May
 
鈥淥ne Drop Contains Oceans鈥� will receive its world premiere at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. The public is invited to attend a solo performance by Stevens, where he will play the repertoire of commissioned music in Founders Recital Hall.
 
The recital will also be streamed online.
 
Beyond its premiere, the project aims to leave a lasting impact on music education. All 10 pieces will be available for purchase after May 2, ensuring that future students and performers have access to varied and meaningful music.
 
鈥淚t鈥檚 generative, we鈥檙e not just looking backward,鈥� Stevens said. 鈥淲e are just a moment in time 鈥� and getting (students) to think about the potential of their music, I鈥檓 sure they鈥檙e going to think of things I haven鈥檛 even thought of, which is really exciting.鈥�
 
The project was made possible through multiple grants. The South Dakota Arts Council鈥檚 Career Development Grant provided seed funding for the first commissioned piece, while additional support came from the National Endowment for the Arts. 
 
Within 日本av视频, Stevens received funding from a Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Challenge Grant from Division of Research and Economic Development and from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Griffith Foundation funds.
 
Other contributors include the Music Teachers National Association and the South Dakota Music Teachers Association, whose support helped bring the project to life.
 
With its blend of accessibility, range and innovation, 鈥淥ne Drop Contains Oceans鈥� is more than a performance or project. It鈥檚 a step toward a richer, more comprehensive future for classical music.
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