Orchestra Collective of Orange County
David Rentz, Conductor
Program Notes
The word vishwas (िवशवास) expresses the concept of fervent belief, or faith, in Hindi. Meera Bai, a celebrated saint-poet from 15th century India, is the quintessential embodiment of vishwas. Though she is forced into a traditional marriage to unite two kingdoms, she believes she is married to the Lord Krishna, a Hindu deity, and the events of her life are shaped around her fervent devotion to this intangible but omnipresent figure.
Testament is the final movement of a three part work for bharatanatyam (Indian classical) dancer and orchestra. In Meera’s stubbornness, she stages a hunger strike outside the temple of her Lord Krishna, refusing to eat until the doors are opened. One night, after days of fasting, she is extremely weak and lays down to rest. A storm brews, and the high winds begin to swing the lamp outside the temple’s wooden door, causing the door to catch fire. As the storm builds, the door burns, eventually causing the entrance to
the temple to reopen. This piece incorporates one of Meera’s own bhajans (devotional songs), in Raag Malhar, the raag that beckons rain. Krishna has used the forces of nature to show himself, and to honor Meera’s faithfulness to him. Even as the flames surround her, Meera walks calmly into the temple to honor her Lord.
Vishwas makes use of traditional Hindustani raags, which are woven through the fabric of the composition. It is fitting that all the information we currently have about Meera Bai and her struggles for self-expression are from her own songs.
Recording
Orchestra Collective of Orange County,
David Rentz, conductor; Jyoti Prakas, tabla
Orchestra Breadown
winds: 2222
brass: 4220
timp +2 perc
tabla (optional, but recommended)
piano
strings
version with 2210 brass also available
Special Performance Requirements
Vishwas contains an optional tabla part. If the tabla player reads western notation, a standard orchestral part is available.
If the tabla player does not read western notation, it is suggested that an intermediary sit alongside the tabla player to serve as a real-time liaison in rehearsal and performance. In addition, a tabla player who has not worked with an orchestra before should meet with the conductor to go through the work beforehand, playing/conducting along with the recording, so that the musical communication process is already familiar before the first rehearsal.
TABLA: If you are not familiar with the tabla, here is a beautiful introduction to the instrument by Shawn Mativetsky. Shawn has worked with many Western classical musicians to build works for the tabla, and is beautifully able to explain tabla theory and practice to those coming from a Western musical context.
Audio Guide
Audio guide is not yet available.
Premiere/Performances
This work was commissioned and premiered by the Albany Symphony, for their sinfonietta, Dogs of Desire. It was premiered on May 14, 2014 in Troy, NY.
The arrangement for full orchestra was commissioned and premiered by Orange County Orchestra Collective in 2018.
Major subsequent performances include New York Philharmonic (December 2019)
