Photo by Ryan C. Harris
By Jennie Powell
Reporter
March 31, 2006
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Kenton Coe practices with Milligan College orchestra for the
world premiere of 'Genesis' to be performed on April 7. Photo by Ryan C. Harris |
Milligan College orchestra will perform the world premiere of “Genesis” by internationally known composer Kenton Coe on April 7 in Seeger Chapel.
The composition includes strings, an organ and two narrators. It was written specifically for Milligan College and was funded by the Milligan chapter of the Music Educators National Conference.
Kellie Brown, assistant professor of music, commissioned the 15-minute piece in 2005 and will conduct the premiere.
‘Genesis’ is a wonderful way of telling the creation story,” Brown said. “The music depicts what happens in the text. When the text speaks of water, the music will sound like water.”
The two narrators for “Genesis” will be Academic Dean Mark Matson and Chair of Performing, Visual and Communicative Arts Richard Major.
“This is the first time I have ever done a narrative piece, but they are not uncommon,” said Coe, a Johnson City native. “It took me about four or five months to write.”
Coe and Brown have worked together before on varies projects.
“I have known Kenton Coe for a long time,” said Brown. “I have played a number of his pieces before.”
Coe’s work has been featured in Opera of Marseilles, Paris Opera and Opera of Nantes as well as many locations in the United States.
He has written pieces for the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the installation of the eighth bishop of Missouri in St. Louis and the Johnson City Symphony.
He has been commissioned by Stephen Hamilton, Knoxville Ballet, Knoxville Youth Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony and the Young Musicians’ Symphony of London.
Coe’s numerous awards include Composer of the Year by the Tennessee Music Teachers’ Association and Governor’s Award in the Arts.
The 7:30 p.m. performance will feature other orchestral works and is free to the public. Attending Milligan students will earn chapel credit.
“I hope that the audience will enjoy the piece,” Coe said.