Hemispheres for Wind Ensemble by Joseph Turrin: A Critical Analysis Page: 1
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1. INTRODUCTION
The circumstances through which Hemispheres was composed are unusual, if not rare.
Commissioned by Kurt Mazur for his musicians of the New York Philharmonic on the occasion
of his retirement as Music Director, Hemispheres was created solely for the woodwind, brass,
and percussion sections. Most major wind works today begin life as a commission from a
consortium of college and university wind groups who not only premiere but promote the piece.
One significant characteristic of the conception of Hemispheres was that it was composed for a
professional wind group. Also, unlike the audiences of university wind groups who have come
to expect premiere performances of works for this medium, those listeners who first heard
Hemispheres did so within the context of an orchestral program. As a result, much attention was
directed toward the first performances of Hemispheres because of this atypical programming.
In addition to its unique conception, Hemispheres is musically distinctive. The work's
overall formal structure is defined by its melodic and rhythmic elements rather than through a
harmonic architecture. A minimal number of thematic ideas are used as the basis for
development and variation, all drawn from one primary theme that is distinctive and memorable
in its tonally-based construction and lyrical quality.
Turrin was thrilled to receive this commission because gave him an opportunity to
demonstrate his maturation as a composer for winds and percussion: "For me it is a very
important work- a culmination of six to seven years of writing wind music."1 Moreover,
Hemispheres is a statement of Turrin's confidence in the medium, which he believes deserves a
viable place in the professional world. It was first performed by the New York Philharmonic,
with Masur conducting, on May 30 and 31, 2002 at Avery Fisher Hall to sold-out audiences.
Phone interview with Joseph Turrin, April 30, 2004.
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deAlbuquerque, Joan. Hemispheres for Wind Ensemble by Joseph Turrin: A Critical Analysis, dissertation, August 2005; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4886/m1/8/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .