Release Date: June 10, 2016
Catalog #: NV6044
Format: Digital & Physical
21st Century
Orchestral
Vocal Music
Choir
Orchestra

Separation

Works For Large And Small Ensemble From 1982-2015

Paula Diehl composer

The clichéd trope of the isolated artist toiling over their work in a virtual vacuum, alone and against the trends of the day, is not a new one.  But in the case of Paula Diehl, it is as true as it comes.

It isn’t an easy task to be a composer, a job which (to paraphrase Aaron Copland) holds few material rewards, and often even fewer good notices in the paper the next morning – it requires an inner strength and conviction in order to persevere through the challenges, be they artistic, financial, or social.

Diehl’s journey has been one punctuated by this conviction and perseverance.  As a female composer whose work began just after the middle of the 20th century, the deck was already stacked against her, and her insistence on the viability of a compositional system she created – a system called “Separation,” involving her deconstruction of musical materials with an emphasis on what she describes as ‘interlocking fourths’ – did not ingratiate her with her peers or teachers.

Yet their skepticism was clearly misplaced.  Diehl’s system is one which allows the unique characteristics of each instrument to shine through in explorations of harmonic content and structure, and she has utilized it to its full to create a rich catalog of works for both small and large ensembles.

The double-album SEPARATION is a representative cross-section of Diehl’s music with an emphasis on the last three decades, the period in which her compositional voice flowered most fully.  Expansive orchestral scores such as Insiders (1994) and more intimate chamber works like On Course (1984) speak clearly to the singularity of Diehl’s style and provide a nice reminder that it is often those on the periphery, those who are pushed outside instead of welcomed inside, who frequently have fascinating things to say.

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Artist Information

Paula Diehl

Composer

Paula Jespersen Diehl came to New Jersey from China as an infant with her Danish parents and older brother. From her time of awareness, she heard music in the home. She and each of her three brothers studied a musical instrument; her mother listened to opera and played Danish songs on the piano for the children to sing, and her father and an uncle sang Danish songs.

Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra

The Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the foremost and oldest symphony orchestras in the Czech Republic. It is based in the historical capital of Moravia, the city of Olomouc, and has been a leader of music activities in the region for the past 70 years. Its artistic development was directly influenced by distinguished figures from the Czech and international music scene.