Live recording of premiere performance, March 11, 2017
Oregon Symphony 
Carlos Kalmar, Music Director
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon

Aspects of an Elephant draws inspiration from the timeless parable of the so-called Blind Men and the Elephant, of which various versions have appeared throughout Asia and Europe since the 13th century. I was especially drawn to the version in Rumi’s epic collection of sacred Islamic texts, The Masnavi. In this retelling, the men are not blind, but are simply in a dark room with an elephant they can’t see, feeling the mysterious beast in order to describe it to each other, with only faint light from a small candle in each man’s hand.

Naturally, they each come up with a very distinct impression of the elephant that differs greatly from all of the others. For example, the man feeling the tusk declares “the elephant is a spear!” while the man feeling a leg is convinced the elephant is a large tree. A heated argument ensues in which they each feel so obviously right, they can’t imagine any other perspective being remotely accurate.

This conflict escalates almost to the point of violence until the men, who have now encroached on each other’s physical space, realize the combined light of their individual candles has now revealed the true nature of the elephant, and that, indeed, they were all partially correct in their assessments. 

I found this story engaging for a number of reasons. Without going into detail, its relevance to today’s deeply divided political climate is fairly obvious. Musically, it also seemed to lend itself particularly well to the many different colors of the orchestra- which I feel is, in itself, a compelling metaphor for a collection of diverse elements finding common ground and uniting to achieve beauty that transcends those individual labels and differences.  In this sense, Aspects... is, if not officially a "Concerto for Orchestra," certainly a celebration of the orchestra- and specifically, of the musicians of the Oregon Symphony, to whom this work is dedicated.

Aspects Of An Elephant: A Parable for Orchestra

Hey, it's Beat :) 

I make noise more than the actual music

The music of American composer Andrea Reinkemeyer has been described as, “haunting,” “clever, funky, jazzy and virtuosic” (Detroit Free Press, Schenectady Daily Gazette); it explores the intersection of the visual, aural and natural worlds through lush melodic lines and textures teeming with new timbres and churning rhythmic figures.

Ms. Reinkemeyer is a free-lance composer and member of the ADJ•ective Composers' Collective. She has enjoyed recent commissions from: Rodney Dorsey for the University of Oregon Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Choir, Lacroute Arts Series at Linfield College, In Mulieribus, Albany (NY) Symphony Orchestra, H. Robert Reynolds and The Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, Jeffrey Heisler for the Primary Colors Trio, Miller Asbill and the Texas Tech University Concert Band, The Wild Swan Theater, Iowa Music Teachers’ Association, Kyle Acuncius, Natalie Haworth-Liu, Jay Bordeleau, Alan Huckleberry, Tayva Singer, and Kathryn Hallor, artists Carol Jacobsen and Patricia Olynyk. Upcoming commissioned projects include: a new work for women's vocal ensemble.

Her music has been performed both nationally and internationally, by the American Composers Orchestra Underwood New Music Readings, North-South Chamber Orchestra, The Fire Wire Ensemble, Great Noise Ensemble, Thailand International Composition Festival, the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band, Northern Arizona University Percussion Ensemble, Pacific Rim Gamelan, and new music ensembles at: Bowling Green State University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Susquehanna University. Her electroacoustic compositions have been performed on the SEAMUS Conference, Spark Electronic Music Festival, University of Central Missouri New Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest Festival, and Threshold Electronic Music Festival. Her music has also received recognition from the International Alliance of Women in Music. The A/B Duo recorded her piece, "Wrought Iron" on their release Variety Show on Aerocade Records.

Dr. Reinkemeyer enjoys exploring music with students of all ages. She is an Assistant Professor of Music Composition & Theory at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon (2014-). Previously, she served as a Part-time Lecturer in the Mahidol University International College, in Salaya, Thailand (2011-12) and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Composition, Theory and Technology at Bowling Green State University, Ohio (2005-10). Reinkemeyer has been the Composer-in-Residence with the: Michigan Philharmonic’s, “The Composer in Me!” education pilot program (2010-11), American-Romanian Festival’s Fusion Project (2011), and Burns Park Elementary School (2004, 2005, 2010). She has mentored public school students through outreach programs with the Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (2007) and Michigan Mentorship Program (2002, 2004). Her work with young musicians has been supported by a Meet the Composer/MetLife Creative Connections Grant.

Reinkemeyer holds degrees in music composition from the University of Michigan (MM 2001, DMA 2005) and University of Oregon (BM 1999). Her primary composition teachers include: Michael Daugherty, Bright Sheng, Evan Chambers, Susan Botti, James Aikman, Robert Kyr, Jack Boss and Harold Owen. While a student, her work was recognized with a Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship, Regents’ Fellowship, Christine Rinaldo Memorial Scholarship, Graduate Student Instructor position in electronic music composition, the Ruth Lorraine Close Musical Fellows and Outstanding Creativity in Composition Award.

A native Oregonian, she has also lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Bangkok, Thailand.

Composer/performer of New American contemporary concert music, living in Portland, Oregon. 

I like to play the flute. I like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings.

Composer | tenor saxophonist of Kenari Quartet

Aspects Of An Elephant: A Parable for Orchestra

Kenji Bunch