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The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra
have commissioned two composers, Amy Scurria from Pennsylvania and Steve
Heitzeg from Minnesota, to work together in the creation of a composition
for full orchestra that will highlight a significant moment in our nation’s
history. The world premiere will take place with The Philadelphia Orchestra
in January 2003, with additional performances by the Minnesota Orchestra
in March 2003.
We are Met at Gettysburg will focus on the fortuitous exploits
of the 1st Minnesota Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
in 1863. This unusual co-composition, to be completed and performed in
the 140th anniversary year of the Battle of Gettysburg, will reflect the
enduring bond between the two states as the Minnesotans shed their blood
into Pennsylvania soil.
Amy Scurria of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and Steve Heitzeg of St. Paul,
Minnesota met for the first time on the battlegrounds at Gettysburg on
September 7th, 2001. The artistic process -- generating ideas and reacting
to initial impressions -- began on the fields where the 1st Minnesota
was engaged in battle, along with a long afternoon of conversation at
the Pennsylvania Monument nearby. In a particularly memorable moment,
Amy and Steve sat together at the site and exchanged letters that expressed
their initial thoughts and hopes regarding the project.
In part, the commission’s inspiration is derived from the depiction
of the battle in The Last Full Measure:
The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers,
the highly acclaimed book by Richard Moe. However, the composition is
also a reflection of both the personal and collaborative musical inspirations
of the two composers.
This web site will serve as a collection of information about the project,
the commission, the composers, and the 1st Minnesota. In addition, it
will contain curriculum materials for teachers and students across America.
Over 10,000 students and teachers will attend live performances of the
new piece in Minnesota and Philadelphia in early 2003.
Both Minnesota and Pennsylvania teachers will write lesson plans, and
classrooms from each state will be matched for some dynamic educational
experiences. Incorporating technology is an important component of the
project.
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Project Elements
1. We are met at Gettysburg, a new, 15’ symphonic work to
be performed by both the Minnesota Orchestra and The Philadelphia Orchestra
2. A collaboration of two composer, Amy
Scurria and Steve
Heitzeg.
The unique collaboration of two composers is inspired by the fateful union
of two Union States in 1863 at Gettysburg
3. Philadelphia
Orchestra Concerts: An American Journey Family Concert, sponsored
by Independence Blue Cross, on January 4, 2003 and School Concerts, sponsored
in part by Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, on January 13, 2003
.
4. All concerts conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, the Minnesota Orchestra’s
associate conductor
5. Online classroom preparation curriculum
materials
6. Teacher Workshop
on October 19, 2002
7. A project-specific web site for teachers, students, and general public
to be launched in October, 2002
8. A tour of Gettysburg
hosted by Dr. Carol A. Reardon of Penn State University co-sponsored by
The Friends of the National Parks of Gettysburg
9. A lecture/presentation
hosted by the Union League of Philadelphia and the Abraham Lincoln Foundation
featuring author Richard Moe, composer Amy Scurria. For further information
and reservations, call 215-893-1910.
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Source of Our Inspiration
On July 2nd, on the rolling hills of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a small
group of volunteers on the First Minnesota Regiment — through extraordinary
courage and sacrifice— changed the course of the battle, and thereafter
the outcome of the entire war and our nation’s history. 2002 will
mark the 140th Anniversary of the Civil War battle at Gettysburg.
It is the unforeseen union of these two states, and these two peoples
that is primary object of interest for this commission. The battle itself
is a subtext.
Inspirationally, the commission is, in part, derived from the depiction
of events in The Last
Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers
by Richard Moe.
Naming of the Commision: We are Met at Gettysburg
Comments from Steve Heitzeg:
We are met at Gettysburg comes from a merging of text from President Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address: "We are met on a great battlefield of that war..."
The fact that the title is in the present tense refers to the continued
relevance of Gettysburg and the unresolved struggle over the meaning of
equality. It is at Gettysburg that each of us is met by the long and ugly
shadow of slavery.
Also, Amy and I met for the first time at Gettysburg. And, in a much
larger and deeper psychological sense, our national psyche is met at Gettysburg
in the sense that our country is really defined by the events of Gettysburg.
We are defined by what our view of Gettysburg is, collectively.
The phrase "We are Met at" also evokes that era or period of
time, and the words evoke a kind of 19th century way of saying this, a
phraseology not commonly used in the 21st century.
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Copyright 2002 The Philadelphia Orchestra
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