JOHN LIBERATORE
composer

"LENNON SCATTERS AND FLEECES HIS FLOCK." I first happened on this peculiar title while walking through downtown Cleveland.  Across the street, I saw a disheveled man wearing a sandwich-board sign that bore this odd phrase.  I found it interesting that such a cryptic message should be displayed so brazenly as with a sandwich-board—a medium best suited for gaudy advertisements and doomsday warnings.  Although I had no idea what the phrase meant, it appealed to me personally in a way that it is difficult to describe.  I might say the same thing about a lot of music I like, and maybe even this piece. 

The first time I spoke with violist John Graham about this collaboration, we talked about finding inspiration in unlikely places and the way that musical and extramusical sources can influence us in unexpected ways. Strangely, once I applied the title to this work, ideas came more freely and the piece started to come together. LENNON SCATTERS… exists in two forms: as a piece for viola and chamber orchestra, and as a chamber piece for viola and percussion. In both cases, the violist plays the same part, but the respective ensembles frame the soloist in different contexts. The orchestra’s part is not an orchestration of the percussion, nor does the percussion attempt to capture the effects of the orchestra.

 These pieces are warmly dedicated to John Graham, with great admiration for his musicianship and deep commitment to new music.  Special thanks also to Sean Connors and Geoffrey Pope.