The concept of color has influenced several of popular music’s most memorable melodies. Enter composer Dr. J.A. Kawarsky, who throws his hat in the ring with Red Square, a jubilant union of original musical ideas with hints of popular music references sprinkled throughout, and no shortage of twists and turns. Kawarsky challenges listeners to identify which compositional quotes may have derived their placements from the color red with this short and snappy symphonic work, performed in this Navona Records release by the acclaimed London Symphony Orchestra.
"Having grown up on a multitude of songs which utilized a color, or few, in their lyric or name (e.g., Big Yellow Taxi; Blackbird; Blue Moon; Purple Rain; Orange Colored Sky; Heart of Gold; Silver Bells; Bad, Bad Leroy Brown; White Christmas, etc.), the one that seemed to have been played the most was Kermit the Frog’s It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green (Joe Raposo, composer; Jim Henson, original singer). This song was a constant in most American households between 1970 and 1990… often to the point of ad nauseam," said J.A. Kawarsky.
"In response, I composed Red Square, borrowing ideas (i.e., ok, stealing from the best) and used songs, children melodies, ideological music, theme songs, national anthems, short quotes from other composers, and even music that has no connection to 'red.'Your job as a listener is to recognize what songs/tunes/anthems/etc., which may have derived from “something” red. I wish you well," added Kawarsky.
The song was recorded on June 6, 2024 at LSO St. Lukes in London, England, United Kingdom. Session Producer Brad Michel; Session Engineer Jonathan Stokes, Classic Sound Ltd.; Editing, Mixing & Mastering Melanie Montgomery; Miran Vaupotić, conductor.
Dr. J.A. Kawarsky (b. 1959) is Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton in New Jersey. Kawarsky received his B.M. in composition from Iowa State University and his M.M. and D.M.A. from Northwestern University, where he studied with John Paynter, Alan Stout, and Frederick Ockwell. In 1982, Kawarsky conducted the Opera Company of the Negev Region in Be’er Sheva in Israel. Before coming to Westminster in 1989, he taught at Fort Hays State University, the University of Wisconsin, and Moraine Valley Community College.
A well-known coach and director/conductor in the theater world, Kawarsky conducted the 2007 national tour of Peter Pan and prepared the music for the 2nd national tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. He has been a music director at Stagedoor Manor, French Woods, Harand Camp for the Arts, Long Lake Camp of the Arts in New York, as well as for the Franklin Theatre Works of Clinton in New Jersey. He was the founding conductor of the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus (Delaware Valley Men’s Chorus), and has also served as conductor of the Lehigh Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, Voices Chorale, and was chosen to conduct Sing for the Cure for the Komen Foundation National Conference in 2002, and transcribe a new/reduced orchestration of the work.
As a composer, he has written for many genres including solo instrument, orchestra, band, and choral music.
Widely acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, The London Symphony Orchestra was named by Gramophone as one of the top five orchestras in the world. A world-leader in recording music for film, television, and events, it was the official orchestra of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games ceremonies, memorably performing Chariots of Fire on stage in the opening ceremony, conducted by Simon Rattle and with Rowan Atkinson. The LSO has also recorded music for films including Philomena, The Monuments Men, four of the Harry Potter movies including The Deathly Hallows Parts I and II, The Queen, The Ides of March, Star Wars Episodes I–VI, Superman, Nanny McPhee, and hundreds more.
Acclaimed as “dynamic and knowledgeable” by the Buenos Aires Herald, Croatian conductor Miran Vaupotić has worked with eminent orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Berliner Symphoniker, the Russian National Orchestra, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Budapest Symphony Orchestra MÁV, Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Argentina, and others, performing in major halls around the globe such as Carnegie Hall, Wiener Musikverein, Berliner Philharmonie, Rudolfinum, Smetana Hall, Victoria Hall, Forbidden City Concert Hall, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Dubai Opera, Tchaikovsky Hall, International House of Music, CBC Glenn Gould Studio, and more.
Navona Records offers listeners a fresh taste of today’s leading innovators in orchestral, chamber, instrumental, and experimental music as well as prime pieces of classic repertoire. Since the label’s foundation in 2008, Navona Records artists have been breaking barriers and breathing new life into the traditions of classical music. Its music is meticulously performed by the finest musicians and handpicked to ensure the most rewarding listening experience. Navona Records is a classical imprint of music production house PARMA Recordings.
