The Apple Orchard - YouTube Premiere

We're delighted to announce the YouTube Premiere of a new film: The Apple Orchard

The Apple Orchard
by
Lori Laitman and Dana Gioia

The premiere is at 4:00pm GMT today (Friday 22nd March), and the film will be available to watch on the same link afterwards. Do join us for the live unveiling if you're free at that time. If you would like a reminder, on the premiere page you can click on the Notify me button and then click the little bell to receive notifications. Or subscribe to the channel to receive notification of all our uploads.

The film alternates between a performance of Laitman’s melodic music by tenor Daniel Norman and pianist Simon Lepper and slow animation created from watercolours by Ian Beck, which were commissioned for this project. This video is a follow-up to our film of Lori's Sarong Song and follows the same model of a hybrid presentation of classical song, poetry, and original art.

Lori says of the project:

"The Apple Orchard was composed in 2004 when I discovered Dana Gioia's beautiful poem. Its evocative story and exquisite language, particularly the phrase “spring’s ephemeral cathedral," drew me in. I dedicated the song to my father-in-law, Dr. Gershen Rosenblum, as an 80th birthday gift. During the pandemic, I teamed with Dan Norman and Positive Note Films, and this is our second release. Dan and pianist Simon Lepper’s extraordinary rendition of the song blend with famed illustrator Ian Beck’s beautiful custom watercolors. This merging of visual art with music and poetry is a new way of presenting artsong."

Watch it by clicking on the button below, and please do share with your friends and family!