31 December 2007

31 December 2007
Mark Twain
United States of America

Dear Mark,

“What are you doing New Years’ Eve?” Nice tune. New Years’ here is the big celebration; it’s their version of Western Christmas: there are New Years’ trees, presents, and even Father Frost. It also seems to be a family Holiday more than a party (although there’s plenty of that!), which is nice; it’s also nice that it’s a Holiday that everyone can celebrate.

It’s been quite a year, most especially the last 4 months here in Russia and on the road. I’ve had some amazing experiences, and the other not so amazing experiences were at least great learning experiences. I have been able to experience all of these cultures first hand, been living in a country which I never thought I’d even want to visit, returned to the ‘homeland’ for the first time in almost 25 years, and traveled to Central Asia-I have made new friends all over, which has been amazing! The New Year will bring more experiences-return trips to Greece (possibly twice), Bulgaria, and Uzbekistan; new trips (and new friends!) to Germany, Ukraine, and possibly Kyrgyzstan; other cities in Russia and who knows where else?!?!

I’ve been lucky to premier a number of great works (and new versions!) by my American friends-Molly, Chris, Bill, Natasha, Carol-thank you for writing such great pieces and for the opportunity to present them! To my friends Alex, Denise, Pablo, Beth, Andrew, Sean-thank you for the honor to continuously play your pieces. And to my ‘international’ friends-Nickos, Manolis, Peter, Costas, Akis, the whole Greek contingency, Lily, Marcus-thank you for writing me beautiful music that I will have the honor to play again and again, and to always think of our friendship when I do.

This has been a great year for premiers of my own music! I have had so many in so many varied places and presented by some great musicians and ensembles. And more to come in the New Year! It’s been amazing how many premiers I have had in one country/continent while I was performing in another-2 times in the Fall and again at least 2 more times this Spring! I actually never get to hear my own music premiered…

Speaking of which, the last month has been incredibly creative. I wrote “Episodes” for cello and piano for Susanne Friedrich in Boston (premier at NEC, March), which I’m happy with. My “Angels Praise Thee“ for 5 female vocal parts, finished in November, was premiered on the 16th. The technological inefficiencies of the Russian Internet has crippled my possibilities of getting two films that I need to score (and have to wait for them via post), which inadvertently has given me time to write “APXE” (pronounced ‘ar-khe‘, it‘s Greek)-this is the largest ‘live’ performance project I have ever done-an hour long stage work for dancers, musicians, and lasers, to be premiered at a Greco-Russian festival in Athens in the Fall, hopefully at the Acropolis (negotiations for this are underway). This is a work that deals with human’s evolution of culture, psychology, and perception. This is a huge undertaking, needless to say.

It’s funny…I like really specific parameters when I write-if someone says “give me a piece for zither and slide trumpet that is 7’42” long and uses the “Three Company’s” theme as a cantus firmus“, I’m so your guy. I dislike when people say “just write something”-I like parameters. In the initial stages of “APXE”, the producer only wanted two musicians: a wind player and a didgeridoo…I was like “cool…but for an hour?…”. Luckily, I was able to argue for a larger ensemble, adding a cello and a percussionist-I usually don’t do this, but there is just so much (and for so long) one can do with a flute and didgeridoo…

Immediately after finishing “APXE”, I wrote a saxophone and electronics piece that was a tribute to both insomnia and the earlier bedbugs episode, entitled “Just Another Night on Plastic”. I really like this piece…I am overwhelmed by what I put into “APXE”, especially since I wrote it in a week! But, “Just Another…” is plain fun. I’m deciding where to premier it, maybe here in St. Petersburg in March, but I’ll also definitely play it in my concert at “Beethoven’s Haus” in Bonn, Germany with Susanne Kessel and Leon Milo as a guest of the Pianowaves ensemble. Susanne and I will also premier another new work of mine, now called “Gymnopaedia” (also Greek), for clarinet and piano-this is a suite of different dances-I seem to rather like dance forms. If I had to be remembered for any contribution to the canon of music, I think that I would want to be remembered for a dance piece, either modern or ballet. As much fun as writing for other forms and media are, this is where I hear my music best.

Well, as I sit here drinking red wine (is there any other kind?), looking out over St. Petersburg, I am thankful for the last few months. I am also excited about the upcoming ones-the concerts, the lectures, the premieres, the traveling, the food…I even get to enjoy a week off in lovely Rome…now, you have to realize that this is the first vacation I have had since 1994-vacations are something that just tend to get in the way or get lost in the planning or shuffle. I need to try and be better about this and take time off-granted, I’ve taken a day or two here and there, but never a week-who knows, I may get used to it…now there’s a New Years’ resolution: learn to take a break! I’ll probably live longer…

I hope that your New Year is filled with Wonder and Beauty!

Yours always,

Demetrius