|
|
|
||||||||
|
"The Lion of Panjshir (Symphony No. 2) for Narrator and Symphonic Band"
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Internationally recognized, award-winning composer, Dr. David Gaines, composed his second symphony, a tribute to Ahmed Shah Massoud. It is entitled "The Lion of Panjshir (Symphony No. 2) for Narrator and Symphonic Band."
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
With the support and cooperation of the Embassy of the Islamic State of Afghanistan in Washington, DC and with the personal assistance the Honorable Haron Amin, Afghan Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Gaines' symphony with narration premiered on February 11, 2004. It was performed by the Peabody Wind Ensemble at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Dr. David Gaines wrote a masterpiece to honor Massoud.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
During the performance of the symphony, slide photos of Massoud were shown on a screen behind the orchestra.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ambassador Haron Amin (pictured here with MaryAnn T. Beverly) flew in from Japan so that he could be the narrator for this important tribute to Massoud.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A Special Message from Dr. David Gaines
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Dear friends and supporters,
Now that we've had a chance to catch our breath after the premiere of The Lion of Panjshir last week, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who came to share this event with us, and also those who were unable to attend but sent good wishes from all over the world. Ambassador Amin, Dr. Parker, and I were all absolutely astonished by the tremendous level of interest in this project and the reaction to the performance. If I'm not mistaken this was the largest audience ever for the Peabody Wind Ensemble (it was certainly the most distinguished). My goal of making an attempt, as an individual American, to honor publically the people of Afghanistan through their national hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud, was achieved many times over. It was an emotional evening that I don't think anyone who was in attendance will ever forget.
There have been so many inquiries about this composition that I've set up a special web page devoted specifically to The Lion Of Panjshir: www.davidgaines.org/panjshir.html. All the press material that came out both before and after the premiere is now collected at that site, and if you discover something in the press that is not listed, please write to info@davidgaines.org and let us know. Also, any information regarding future performances, recordings, score purchase and rental of parts, etc. will be listed on this page as soon as these things are confirmed. We will also be posting a scan of the dramatic full-page ad that ran in the Omaid Weekly, as well as scans of photos taken at the premiere plus the concert program itself. Finally, there is a link at the top of this page which will enable you to purchase one of the beautiful "Now we are all Massoud" T-shirts designed by Donna Wiley, which Donna and I wore to the first rehearsal. Part of the proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go to Afghans For Civil Society (www.afghansforcivilsociety.org), the organization founded by Qayum Karzai which is leading the way towards building democracy and civil rights in Afghanistan.
At the moment we are working on making a DVD and possibly a companion compact disc available. When this becomes official, all the details will be posted at the web page listed above.
Thank you all once again. Please join me in wishing the people of Afghanistan the best of luck as they prepare for their upcoming national elections.
Best wishes,
Dr. David Gaines
Verda Stelo Music
Ashburn, Virginia, USA
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| page created with Easy Designer |