Premiere dates for "Park Güell" are Jan. 26 and Jan. 31 in Charlotte. More information can be found online at ronparksmusic.com.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA -- A visit to Spain's famous Park Güell has inspired Winthrop University Professor of Music Ron Parks to compose a new chamber
music piece.
Also titled "Park Güell," the composition will premiere on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the University of North Carolina
and will feature members of the Bechtler Ensemble with Alan Yamamoto conducting. A
second performance is set for Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at Queens University. The second concert
will also feature a "strip trio" entitled "Berceuse" by Winthrop Associate Professor
of Music Leonard Mark Lewis.
Parks composed his newest piece, scored for violin, viola, cello, harp and marimba,
after reflecting on a 2010 trip to Barcelona and the famous park designed by architect
Antoni Gaudi. Parks knew at least one composition would come from the encounter.
"The park is unlike any place I have ever seen," he said. "The lines between nature
and man-made structures are blurred, buildings seem to grow organically from the ground,
rows of tree-like columns made of rock sprout from the earth at odd angles, surfaces
are adorned with mosaic patterns, iron gates appear to have been grown instead of
forged by human hands."
He incorporated this into the composition, describing as "simple rhythms layered and
off-center, with cyclical harmonies."
Parks believes more pieces inspired by the park may be on the horizon, including possibly
a suite of pieces for chamber orchestra.
For information, contact Parks via e-mail or 803/323-4608.You can also visit his website, ronparksmusic.com.
