There's been acclaim for the West Coast premiere of US composer Derek Bermel's latest orchestral work, Murmurations, given by New Century Chamber Orchestra from 28-31 May.
Inspired by the flight of starlings, this new work for strings is the result of a co-commission from NCCO, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (Houston) and A Far Cry (Boston).
'In this three-movement co-commission, the flights of starlings have become the inspiration for 22 minutes of virtuoso string writing. In Gathering Near Gretna Green, the avian whoosh is punctuated by a concertmaster solo. In Soaring over Algiers, an individual line yields to brilliant contrapuntal writing; and in the final Swarming Rome, spatial elements yield a broader sonority… provides challenges for any string ensemble and, as far as one could tell on initial encounter, NCCO covered itself in glory.'
Financial Times (Allan Ulrich), 1 June 2015