- Thomas Dickey: So Emma Lou Diemer's "Festival Overture"
was actually written nearly 60 years ago
for an all-state orchestra, essentially, in Virginia.
And it was really quite popular, well-received at the time,
but then it really quickly fell out of favor
amongst in orchestras, and consequently,
it was never recorded.
And so this is essentially the first recording project
of Emma Lou Diemer's "Festival Overture."
She's a living woman composer.
This piece was written 60 years ago.
And we are giving the first recorded performance.
["Festival Overture" by Emma Lou Diemer]
[sprightly string and woodwind music]
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["Festival Overture" by Emma Lou Diemer]
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[gentle flute solo]
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["Festival Overture" by Emma Lou Diemer]
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[rousing ending]