Werfelmann Composition to be Featured at College Music Society International Conference

David Werfelmann, director of the BA in Music program in the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts at Webster University, has been invited to present his composition titled “Of Earth and Ash” at The College Music Society International Conference this summer in the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia from July 2–10, 2023.

“Of Earth and Ash” is a work Werfelmann composed for Webster Professor Matt Pickart, who presented its premiere in early 2020. Pickart will perform the piece again at the conference as part of the New Music Concert Series featuring music written by composers from around the world. In addition to solo viola, “Of Earth and Ash” includes live electronic processing and improvisational elements, making each performance of the piece unique.

"Despite the flexibility of the musical structure, the emotional core of the work is one of anguish and grief," Werfelmann said. "This is a piece that mourns the destruction of our planet as a result of human-caused climate change." 

Werfelmann went on to explain:

"One outcome of a warming climate is an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires, especially in the American West. I witnessed the devastation caused by such fires firsthand in the mountain ranges of California, Oregon and Washington,” he said. “The pristine wilderness of this region is among the most beautiful landscapes in the world and is now under continuous threat of annihilation. This work expresses the deep sadness of seeing such an earthly gift slowly turn to ash."

A recording of the piece is available here. 

The College Music Society was founded in 1958 as the merger of two organizations: The College Music Association and the Society for Music in Liberal Arts Colleges. Its mission is to promote music teaching and learning, musical creativity and expression, research and dialogue, diversity and interdisciplinary interaction.