In Memoriam is a work for solo cello and string orchestra (or string quartet), written in memory of a great musician and dear friend, David Tonkonogui (1958-2003). I was very thrilled when my son Julian was chosen to be the first recipient of Music of Remembrance's David Tonkonogui Memorial Award. David meant so much to all of us in our household and was such an inspirational teacher for Julian, fostering his passionate love of music. When Mina Miller, the artistic director of Music of Remembrance, and I were discussing what short work Julian would play as part of his prize for the MOR spring concert, I suggested that perhaps I could write something. I was very interested in the possibility because of my deep affection for David Tonkonogui and everything that he represented as an artist and as a person. Mina embraced the idea, so during the end of March and beginning of April, I wrote this work.

In Memoriam is basically in three parts: the first section is funereal in spirit, reflecting on the tragedy of death for someone so young and so gifted -- and so remarkable. There is a consistent sadness and poignancy in this opening section. The middle section begins with the string quartet and then the material is repeated and embellished in the cello. I wanted this to be positive in feeling, thinking of all the great accomplishments of this wonderful man, individually and as a father and husband. It has a somewhat otherworldly quality but hopefully the experience is uplifting; a tribute to the extraordinary meaning that David Tonkonogui's life meant to all that knew him. Finally, the coda brings back a little part of first section in a much shortened version, which is also much thinner texturally, to end on a single note -- the lowest or purest note on the cello.

Music Director of the Seattle Symphony since 1985, Principal Conductor of the Eastern Music Festival, member of the NEA's National Council on the Arts, and a founding member of MOR's Advisory Board, Gerard Schwarz has been a frequent guest conductor with Music of Remembrance. His composition In Memoriam, recorded on MOR's fourth CD, For a Look or a Touch (Naxos), was his first MOR commission. Rudolf and Jeanette (2007) was his second. Schwarz has helped to build numerous orchestras including Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, the New York Chamber Symphony, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tokyo Philharmonic. He began his conducting career in 1966, and within ten years he was appointed Music Director of the Waterloo Music Festival, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony, Eliot Feld Dance Company and the Erick Hawkins Dance Company. In 1981 he founded the Music Today Contemporary Series and served as its Music Director through 1989. From 1982 to 2001, he was Music Director of New York's Mostly Mozart Festival and currently serves as its Conductor Emeritus. Maestro Schwarz co-founded the New York Chamber Symphony in 1977 and served as its Music Director through the ensemble's 25th anniversary season in 2002. He was Music Director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra from 2001 through 2006. His nearly 100 recordings with the Seattle Symphony alone have resulted in eleven Grammy nominations, three ASCAP awards, and Record of the Year and Stereo Review awards, and have been mainstays on the classical Billboard charts. Born to Viennese parents, Schwarz is a graduate of The Juilliard School. He is a recipient of the Ditson Conductor's Award from Columbia University and was named 1994 Conductor of the Year by Musical America. He holds honorary doctorates from The Juilliard School, Seattle University, the University of Puget Sound, Cornish College of the Arts and Fairleigh Dickinson University, as well as an Honorary Fellowship from John Moores University.