The James Madison University Symphony Orchestra recently premiered and recorded Shenandoah, a piece written by composer and professor Erich Stem. The music was performed alongside film that included footage of the Shenandoah region and dance elements by Louisville ballet dancer and choreographer, Ashley Thursby. Viewers can see the film with a studio recording of the orchestra on the JMU Symphony Orchestra’s YouTube channel
Stem writes, “Shenandoah was written as a musical portrayal of the captivating landscapes and memories of the region through the voice of the James Madison University Symphony orchestra. The music serves as a score to a film that captures aerial and on-the-ground footage of the mountains, waterways, and farmland unique to the Shenandoah region of Virginia. Interwoven into the pictorial montage is a story about the memories of life in the valley, evoked by the featured dancer and choreographer, Ashley Thursby. Footage of abandoned elements serve as a window to its past.” The music was commissioned by the orchestra and supported by the JMU School of Music and the Arts Council of the Valley in Harrisonburg, VA.
Shenandoah was written as part of Stem’s America By: A Symphonic Tour, an ongoing national project created by the composer in 2013.
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