Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..
Tonight
Rain showers early, then fog developing overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
A good beginning is important, especially with music. It has to draw people in, hook them and make them need to hear the rest.
One of the most successful rock bands to do this on a record was Pink Floyd. The “Dark Side of the Moon†album latched onto countless millions of music fans. The record remained in the top 100 of best-selling records each year for over a generation.
ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä-based composer Matt Jackfert believed that the record’s odd, non-musical opening set the tone.
“There’s this buildup of sounds, a cacophony, which leads into the first song on the record,†Jackfert said. “That’s ‘Speak To Me,’ which goes right into ‘Breathe.’â€
Pink Floyd used sounds from a cash machine, a clock, a drum, spoken words, laughter and a crying human voice. It’s dreamlike and feverish.
To find an opening for Deborah Novak’s “Red/Blue,†Jackfert said he reached for his phone.
“The sounds of someone texting meshed into something like that style,†he said.
Premiere with ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Ballet
Audiences will get a chance to see what they think Friday and Saturday, when the piece premieres during ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Ballet’s “Homegrown†at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum Theater.
His score is part of Novak’s original ballet, which is one of three original works being presented for ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Ballet’s “Homegrown.â€
Jackfert said “Red/Blue†was about “different factions that oppose each other. The sound of the texting is part of that. It’s social media, which can unite, but often divides us.â€
The score for “Red/Blue†was drawn from several pieces Jackfert’s Alhambra Suite, inspired by the Spanish fortress of the same name.
Jackfert said when Novak approached him, she already had a libretto and story for her ballet.
“Deborah really liked the music. She just needed me to come up with transitions between each piece,†he said.
Jackfert said he was looking forward to seeing what Novak and ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä did with his music.
“When I wrote the music, I never imagined anyone dancing to it,†he said. “I’m waiting to be pleasantly surprised by that.â€
Second time around
This is Jackfert’s second time working with the ballet, but it’s the first show they’ve done together with a proper opening night.
The composer wrote music for ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Ballet’s Bauhaus project in 2019, more than a year ahead of Huntington Museum of Art’s planned “The Wide Reach of Bauhaus†exhibition. But by the time the music was written, the costumes were made, and the dance choreographed, the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.
Instead of the big premier the museum planned, the ballet wound up releasing a video recording of the performance.
This time, Jackfert said he’ll be there at the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Coliseum Theater on opening night.
Composer’s other projects
As a composer, Jackfert has tried to be open to a variety of musical collaborations. He’s written music for the West Virginia Symphony and has been commissioned to compose by collegiate groups. He also arranged music for and played with the rock band The Company Stores.
Coming in May, Jackfert said he had a composition debuting with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the West Virginia Youth Symphony called “Foggy Moon over the Gorge.â€
“It’s about actually driving over the Glade Creek Bridge on the interstate very late [at night].†He laughed, adding, “It was too late, and I was kind of delirious. The moon was shining and there was fog in the Gorge and I was kind of floating along there.â€
The idea just stayed in the back of his mind, Jackfert said.
“So, ten years later, it’s turned into what I hope is a very cool piece.â€
