One Minute; One Instrument - Every Note Counts: Elaine Diehl's Conversation with Peter Boyer

Each day at the conclusion of his Coronavirus briefing, Gov. Mike DeWine shares music or poetry from the Buckeye State to provide inspiration and hope, and to end on an upbeat note. Earlier this month the Governor shared Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, who commissioned the piece in 1942.

The CSO and POPS are carrying on the tradition, commissioning new music from over a dozen composers with the aim: To inspire and uplift, and to help us make sense of this moment in our shared history through the universal language of music. One of the composers they invited to participate is Peter Boyer. 

I began our conversation by asking Mr. Boyer, where was he when the pandemic shut everything down? 

I then asked him to explain exactly what the CSO Fanfare Project is, and how he came to be involved:



He talked about the process of rehearsing and recording cross country with CSO:



The Fanfares were restricted to 60 seconds in Length. I asked the Composer how difficult that made the process:



Then I asked him about his choice of instrument:



Since I had Peter Boyer on the phone, I took the opportunity to ask him about the piece that introduced me to his music, the gorgeous, Rolling River: Sketches on Shenandoah: 



He went on to talk about writing on American Themes and being inspired by this country:



I ended our interview with the question… what’s next for Peter Boyer?



Maestro LOUIS Langree said, about The Fanfare Project, "I can’t imagine a better way to continue our anniversary celebration than using Aaron Copland’s iconic masterpiece to inspire today’s composers to write new work that helps us reflect on this time and to unite around music at a time when we cannot be together in person.” 

My guest has been Peter Boyer, who contributed his piece, Fanfare for Tomorrow to the Project.