The sounds of ‘Winter’

Young Chang

The beginning of Eric Whitacre’s musical piece “Winter,” with its

trills and sitar-string techniques, sounds flighty, tickled, emotional

and calm. Like the movement of snow.

Whitacre, the composer-in-residence for the Pacific Chorale, wrote the

12-minute composition from an Edward Esch poem, “Winter,” about snow.

Its world premiere will be performed by the chorale this weekend as part

of “Tis the Season!” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The evening will include holiday performances by the Pacific Symphony

Orchestra, the Pacific Chorale and the Pacific Chorale Children’s Chorus,

all conducted by John Alexander. “Winter” will feature strings, chorus, a

harp and a sitar.

Water is often Whitacre’s source of inspiration. The 30-year-old

Juilliard graduate enjoys playing in the ocean and taking showers. He

likes water -- frozen and running -- for reasons even he can’t clearly

explain.

“I’ve had a strange connection to water all my adult life,” the Studio

City composer said.

Whitacre’s next commissioned project, a 20-minute untitled

choral/orchestral work, can be described as an “ode to water.” His goal

is to illustrate images of water from all around the world, with music.

Whitacre’s first idea for “Winter” was to play three notes in a simple

trill. The sound felt Eastern to him, reminiscent of East Indian music.

He started studying Eastern tunes, incorporated the sitar and tanpura

-- a stringed instrument he will play Sunday -- and wrote a piece based

partially on a “raga desh.” A “raga” is a melodic mood. “Raga desh” is

described as a rainy season raga.

“I’m very attracted to simple, elegant gestures,” Whitacre said.

Paul Livingstone, who teaches at the Sangeet School of World Music and

Dance in Los Angeles, will play the sitar for Sunday’s performance.

“I really appreciate that [Eric] wanted to get some Indian styles in

the piece,” he said. “I thought it was great that he wanted to use the

instrument as more than just an instrument.”

Livingstone said he is grateful that Whitacre gives him musical

freedom when he plays. Both respect different styles of music and plan to

work together again.

The poem itself was Whitacre’s main inspiration for the piece. He read

the Esch poem before writing the music. Classical composers have been

inspired by poetry for at least 400 to 500 years he said. The practice

also suits him personally.

“I feel that if I’m very faithful to the poem, what the poet’s trying

to say, then the music is already there,” Whitacre said.

His favorite poets include Octavio Paz, E.E. Cummings and James Joyce.

The Grammy nominee grew up reading poetry books sent to him by his

grandmother who was a librarian.

“I’m very much in love with the written word,” he said.

The musical note also suits him.

Whitacre has received awards from the American Society of Composers,

Artists and Publishers; the Barlow International Composition Competition;

the American Composers Forum; and the American Choral Directors Assn.,

which awarded him the Raymond C. Brock commission this year. He is the

youngest recipient of that award.

FYI

WHAT: Pacific Chorale’s “Tis the Season!”

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center,

600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

COST: $17-$54, discounts available

CALL: (714) 740-7878