(2008) Impressions
Duration: 15 minutes | Commissioned by The New Century Chamber Orchestra
Program Notes
IMPRESSIONS, Suite For Chamber Orchestra, was commissioned by the New Century Chamber Orchestra in 2008. Written originally for NCCOs as a season opener, the purpose of the piece was to showcase the orchestra’s performers’ diversity and uniqueness and create a musical portrait of the first impressions between the musicians of the orchestra and the composer herself. The first movement is a set of variations for each of the orchestra’s five sections. The second movement, Dança Brasileira, echoes Assad’s homeland. The film noirs of Hollywood inspired the middle movement, Slow Waltz, while Perpetual Motion, the fourth movement, showcases skill and proficiency. The last movement serves as a bridge, and the suite concludes by reflecting on its opening.
- Personas. Theme & Variations
- Fusion. Dança Brasileira
- Affection. Slow Waltz
- Precision. Perpetual Motion
- Unity. Coda
“Lushly film-score-ish, with echoes of black spirituals, dances from Brazilian salons of yore — and Vivaldi’s sunshine.“
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS ‘
“… brilliant and entertaining Impressions.” –
San Francisco Classical Voice
“Impressions is full of infectiously Brazilian high spirits and enveloping warmth.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Gorgeous … one of the more enjoyable new works I’ve heard in recent years.”
SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE
“… Dynamic, fresh.”
Stewart Oksenhorn, The Aspen Times
Performance history
- March 15, 2026Sphinx Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- March 12, 2026Sphinx Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- March 11, 2026Sphinx Plays Assad | Impressions
- March 5, 2026SPHINX Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- February 26, 2026Sphinx Plays Assad.| IMPRESSIONS
- February 24, 2026SPHINX Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- February 21, 2026SPHINX Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- February 19, 2026SPHINX Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 25, 2025SPHINX Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 22, 2025SPHINX Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 21, 2025Sphinx Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 19, 2025SPHINX plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 17, 2025Sphinx Virtuosi at Carnegie Hall
- October 10, 2025Sphinx Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 8, 2025Sphinx Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 5, 2025Sphinx Plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- October 3, 2025Sphinx plays Assad | IMPRESSIONS
- April 10, 2025Sinfônica de Campinas
- March 9, 2024IMPRESSIONS, Suite For Chamber Orchestra | Fort Wane, Indiana
- February 24, 2024IMPRESSIONS, Suite For Chamber Orchestra | Reading, PA
- November 6, 2022IMPRESSIONS – ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
- November 5, 2022IMPRESSIONS – ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
- August 3, 20222 IMPRESSIONS, SUITE FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – Japan
- July 9, 2022IMPRESSIONS, SUITE FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – Japan
- March 12, 2022IMPRESSIONS SUITE – Ashland Symphony Orchestra
- October 14, 2021IMPRESSIONS SUITE – Richmond Symphony Orchestra
- July 18, 2021IMPRESSIONS, SUITE FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
- July 16, 2021IMPRESSIONS , SUITE FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
- July 11, 2021RIVER CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – IMPRESSIONS (Anglican Church) Livestream at facebook.come/rcorch
- January 25, 2020IMPRESSIONS SUITE FOR STRINGS – Orchesterverein Wiedikon – Zurich, Switzerland
- January 5, 2020Suite For Lower Strings – Boca Raton, FL.
- November 7, 2019IMPRESSIONS Suite for Strings – ENSEMBLE URBAIN, Montreal, QB
- May 5, 2019KINETIC/Aperio Collaboration – MATCH Series (Houston, TX)