Behind the Score: Debussy La Mer

A message from the project curator When I first conceived of the format for Behind the Score there were two clear missions. One was to create a unique approach to learning a significant work in the orchestral literature by incorporating into the rehearsal cycle two speakers who would give the selected orchestra a guided tour on the makings of the composition, its place in the work life of the composer, views of his personal world, and the many facets of the outside world surrounding him. The second was to generate the making of a video that would capture the core of each speaker’s presentation and include interviews with students from within the orchestra, the speakers themselves, the conductor, and myself. This video would then be shown to the audience and the orchestra prior to the performance as a summation of the project’s two weeks of immersion. This required finding a video producer who would deeply understand the project’s intentions and be able to produce interviews that gave a focused and relaxed telling of what each person was giving or receiving from this experience. I found that remarkable combination of skills and talents in Jon Stante who has been with me since the start of Behind the Score. I am sincerely grateful for his contribution in creating a video archive for our Jacobs School of Music community and for future students who may be interested in attending the Jacobs School of Music. Jorja Fleezanis, professor of music (violin) and Henry A. Upper Chair in Orchestra Studies Indiana University Jacobs School of Music