A Symphony in Progress
Provided below are the first three movements of Symphony for Piano and Orchestra in C Minor, a musical work that expresses the existence of the universe from the beginning of life to the end of it all. The composition of this symphony began in 2024, and it is an ongoing project.
The first movement, my representation of the creation of the universe, was premiered live with the Chicago Arts Orchestra. It depicts the formation of nonliving entities such as oceans, mountains, and celestial bodies. The beauty of the universe is laid out in stillness, waiting for life to start.
The subsequent movements depict primordial soup bubbling with life, evolution, and the arrival of humans exploring the beauty of nature. They encounter and overcome struggles, evolving to a higher level beyond instinctual needs, expressing feelings of love and growth.
In the sixth and final movement, we reach the apocalypse, the end of existence as we know it. Subsequently, life continues beyond the human experience, and Nirvana is reached as the symphony comes to a powerful and transcendent conclusion.
Gershenhorn: Symphony for Piano and Orchestra in C Minor, I. Moderato (Highlights)
Gershenhorn: Symphony for Piano and Orchestra in C Minor, I. Moderato (full recording)
My first professionally recorded composition, Emotions of COVID-19 Lockdown, was debuted on WFMT 98.7, Chicago’s Classical radio station. This work is the embodiment of my composing style; whenever I have an experience that is uniquely impactful, it gets stored in my brain as a melody. The memories of COVID are represented in this piece as different melodies, describing a wide range of feelings from despondency and frustration to hope and peace.
WFMT 98.7, Chicago’s classical radio station, featured and premiered my original composition on July 4th, 2020 on the “American Composer Highlights” broadcast. The work was composed in April 2020 during the global COVID-19 lockdown.