New Orleans Divertimento for chamber orchestra

Abstract

The New Orleans Divertimento was inspired by the frequent visits of the composer to the colorful “French Quarter” of New Orleans. Living in Louisiana for over thirty years, as professor of composition at LSU, he has had ample opportunities to study the tradition of this very attractive place. New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz and blues, provides continuous entertainment to its many visitors. A walk through the French Quarter gives an idea of the very roots of American Music.

The composer of the present work has tried to portray the basic elements of the culture of New Orleans by using jazz ideas, blues harmonies, idiomatic rhythms, and quotations from existing music of this city. The format of the piece resembles the format of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky.