FOLLOWING SEAS
Following Seas is a voyage for string orchestra and soloist, mandolin or violin. Commissioned by Palaver Strings, the performance above was recorded in Mechanics Hall in Portland, Maine as part of the Witnessing Change 2021 program.
Below is a portion of what became the finished piece, composed while Noah was completing his masters degree at University of Michigan.
Program Notes: The term ‘following seas’ is a nautical phrase of good luck. It refers to the phenomenon wherein the direction of waves matches the course of the ship. Sailing in ‘following seas,’ your boat will glide through the water without a fight. I grew up sailing, yet I learned the term only recently, when my mom, a visual artist, gave the same title to a new series of paintings. Following Seas will become a longer piece commissioned by Palaver Strings, a small orchestra based on the coast of Maine, my home state. You will hear a flowing jig, windy harmony, choppy rhythms, and amidst it all, an ethereal melody inspired by the majesty of the rocky coastline through changing seasons. In researching ‘following seas’ I was thrilled to discover that the phrase is used during ceremonies concerning the birth and death of both sailors and their ships. I have heard that the sun on the ocean’s horizon is a metaphor for our lives: Sunrise is birth, sunset is death, and in both cases, we can contemplate the sun with the most clarity. In life and in death, may we all have fair winds and following seas. – Noah Fishman '20
Below is a portion of what became the finished piece, composed while Noah was completing his masters degree at University of Michigan.
Program Notes: The term ‘following seas’ is a nautical phrase of good luck. It refers to the phenomenon wherein the direction of waves matches the course of the ship. Sailing in ‘following seas,’ your boat will glide through the water without a fight. I grew up sailing, yet I learned the term only recently, when my mom, a visual artist, gave the same title to a new series of paintings. Following Seas will become a longer piece commissioned by Palaver Strings, a small orchestra based on the coast of Maine, my home state. You will hear a flowing jig, windy harmony, choppy rhythms, and amidst it all, an ethereal melody inspired by the majesty of the rocky coastline through changing seasons. In researching ‘following seas’ I was thrilled to discover that the phrase is used during ceremonies concerning the birth and death of both sailors and their ships. I have heard that the sun on the ocean’s horizon is a metaphor for our lives: Sunrise is birth, sunset is death, and in both cases, we can contemplate the sun with the most clarity. In life and in death, may we all have fair winds and following seas. – Noah Fishman '20
Pre-performance Remarks: "When I think about home, I see the coast of Maine, and the people who live there. I see pine trees and a rocky coast. I see hills that spill into the shore, I hear wind whipping across the bay. I hear sails flapping, the clanking chain of an anchor, waves, waves, and more waves. These were my first ideas as I began to write “Following Seas.” When I started learning mandolin eight years ago, Irish music was my musical home. Ireland also makes me think of water, waves, and the endless coastline. When I sat down at the piano to begin writing this piece, I was excited to discover that after contemplating the ocean, the first thing at my fingertips was a new melody in the form of an Irish jig. This piece will eventually become a larger work commissioned by Palaver Strings, a chamber group based on the Maine coast. I wanted to write something energetic and delightful, with moments of reflection in celebration of our relationship with the ocean. It has been a huge pleasure to put this piece together with the wonderful musicians in UPO, and I am beyond excited to share it with you."