Description
Empathie
Composed by Blair Thomson
For Wind Quintet
Published by Forton Music
Includes score and parts
Instrumentation:
Flute/Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet in Bb/A, Horn in F, and Bassoon
Contents:
I: Cultural Disintegration
II: Generations X, Y, Q
III: Love from the Obverse
To empathize is to attempt to understand the feelings, thoughts, or experiences of the “other.” It is part of a “minimum ethic.” The three movements may be considered exemplications of the significant effort required to do so. Why is empathy important? It seems to me we are living during a time when face to face human contact is undervalued; hence a turn towards the ominous. “Cultural disintegration” is a reflection of North American indigenous cultural change over time. “Generations X, Y, Q” takes its point of departure from the incredible speed with which opions of others are made after clicking a computer mouse. Finally, “Love from the Obverse” is a set of miniature variations guided by empathizing with someone else's love for another. Thus the movement, as well as the entire piece, is dedicated to Sylvie-Anne.
Empathie was commissioned by Pantaèdre with the support of Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
Premiered by Pantaèdre, 2 February, 2010, Tanna-Schulich Hall, Montréal.