New Orleans Divertimento for Chamber Orchestra

New Orleans Divertimento for Chamber Orchestra was inspired by the frequent visits of the composer to the colorful French Quarter of New Orleans. Living in Louisiana for over fifty years, as professor of composition at LSU, he had ample opportunities to study the tradition of this very attractive place. New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz and blues, provides continuous entertainment to its many visitors. A walk through the French Quarter gives an idea of the very roots of American Music.

In the present work, the composer tried to portray the basic elements of the culture of New Orleans by using jazz ideas, blues harmonies, idiomatic rhythms, and quotations from the existing music of this city. The format of the piece resembles the format of "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky.

This piece was commissioned by and dedicated to Dima Nicu and the Armonic Brass Quintet of the Filharmonica Marea Neagr Orchestra of Romania.