My brother, UNC Professor Robert Millikan, passed away on October 7, 2012. Bob and I were very close, and the idea of composing a “Millikan Symphony” in his honor came to me only days after his death. As I read through the over one hundred comments by colleagues, students, and friends on the memorial website, I was struck by the positive impact Bob had made on so many people’s lives. I wanted to honor both Bob and his legacy. I met with Andy Olshan before the funeral and the rowers afterward, and plans for a collaborative weekend began to germinate. Honoring the Life and Legacy of Robert C. Millikan took place March 20-22, 2015 in Chapel Hill, NC.
I am deeply grateful to my collaborators: Andrew Olshan, Jay Levine, Donald Oehler, Elizabeth Collini, Micah Boyd, and Rev. Tammy Lee, and to the UNC Department of Epidemiology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill Philharmonia, UNC Department of Music, UNC Men’s Crew, and Chapel of the Cross for their support.
MILLIKAN SYMPHONY
When I was very young Bob transcribed my first compositions and made them into a little book. It has always been something I've treasured. In the first days following his death, I thought of this book and remembered that there was a half sheet of manuscript paper tucked in the back with the beginnings of a theme that Bob and I had playfully written together as kids. We triumphantly titled it “Millikan’s Symphony in A minor” in big block letters. I took it out, having not looked at it in many years, and discovered that interestingly it began with the interval of a descending minor 9th. It was then that the idea came to me to compose a “Millikan Symphony” for Bob, based in part on this theme.
“Millikan Symphony” is a 48-minute work for full orchestra written in four movements, each honoring an area of Bob's work and accomplishment: Science, Animals, Rowing, Violin. My intention with this composition was not to simply write a piece for the orchestra to play, but to compose a work in collaboration with the UNC/regional community.
SCIENCE
On November 2, 2013 I attended the Carolina Breast Cancer Study Symposium, a study Bob directed for 16 years, and met researchers and members of the breast cancer advocacy community. On March 21, 2014 I attended the inaugural Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Seminar, “Reproductive Factors in Relation to ER- Breast Cancer in African American Women: Results from the Black Women’s Health Study and the AMBER Consortium,” an illuminating lecture by Julie R. Palmer. Before composing this movement I collaborated extensively with three of Bob's former doctoral students: Leila Family, Katie O’Brien, and Lauren McCullough to learn the science of breast cancer and discover ways to apply it to music.
Science is based on multistage carcinogenesis process at the molecular level, in particular the interaction between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The material is gestural/motivic and develops through repetition and increasing density as the oncogenes move from background to middle ground to foreground, gradually “recruiting” the orchestra. Oncogenes first appear in the muted brass and extreme ranges of the oboe and bassoon. Prior solo string passages are proto-oncogenes. A chorale plays a significant role, appearing in the woodwinds in its entirety at the beginning. As the chorale and string texture thins, the oncogenes grow in complexity.
ANIMALS
Animals is a pastoral movement. Bob was a veterinarian prior to entering public health, and loved spending time in nature. In 2006 he spent the year in Ireland as a Fulbright scholar. His focus was a melanoma research project but he also accompanied local veterinarians in the countryside working with sheep herds. Professor Jay Levine, DVM told me some of the stories Bob shared with him about that experience. Jay also provided me with recordings of night sounds of bog marshes, forests sounds, and sounds in the vet hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University where Bob held an adjunct professorship. Philip Kass, DVM, one of Bob's colleagues from vet school told me, “I found out that Bob was a violinist when I was working in the UC Davis VMTH ICU one night and I heard someone around the corner playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, who turned out to be Bob.” All of these are inspiration for the movement.
ROWING
I attended my first UNC Men's Crew practices May 1st and 2nd, leading up to the Millikan Cup on May 5, 2013. I was given the opportunity to go out in the launch with the coaches so that I could videotape the rowers in action and learn more about the sport. The tempos in Rowing are based on the actual stroke rates for the 2000 meter race. I scored the music to my video of the 2013 Millikan Cup after studying crew racing procedures and many race videos. In 2014 I interviewed Head Coach Micah Boyd about the different phases and specific challenges of the 2000 meter race, and had the opportunity to speak with the rowers as well. Everyone agreed that the most difficult part of the race was the grueling third 500! For three seasons I have attended UNC rowing practices, Millikan Cup regattas, and followed the team’s national races through live stream. Rowing is a sport of precision, rigor, and above all teamwork – qualities Bob prized and encouraged as a coach. Bob served as the UNC Crew faculty advisor for over 16 years. (Check out the 2013 Millikan Cup video with music from Millikan Symphony, III. Rowing!)
VIOLIN
The final movement, Violin, is a violin concerto written in three distinct sections: Urgently, Expressively, Finale-Dance. The original Millikan Symphony theme is developed in what is the most personal movement of the four, honoring Bob’s lifelong love of music and the violin, which he played in orchestras and string quartets throughout his life. Bob left me his CDs and extensive library of music. I spent many hours studying the markings he wrote in his violin parts with his incredible attention to detail. On March 21, 2014 violinist Jennifer Curtis, Chapel Hill Philharmonia music director Donald Oehler and I met to discuss the Millikan Symphony in depth. Jennifer immediately connected with the concept and creative process of the piece. We had two opportunities to work together while I was composing the movement, as well as in preparation for the premiere.
COLLABORATORS
Andrew Olshan - Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology, UNC Chapel Hill
Jay Levine - Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University
Elizabeth Collini - Rowing Director, UNC Men’s Crew
Micah Boyd - Head Coach, UNC Men's Crew
Donald Oehler - Music Director, Chapel Hill Philharmonia
Reverend Tambria Lee - Associate for Campus Ministry, Chapel of the Cross
Ann Millikan - Composer/Project Coordinator
www.millikansymphony.com
PRESS
Music, athletics and epidemiology join to honor late professor
A moving experience
Researchers explore breast cancer disparities at symposium to honor Millikan
Ann Millikan's pre-concert talk, Millikan Symphony world premiere, March 20, 2015
(video may take a moment to load)
I am deeply grateful to my collaborators: Andrew Olshan, Jay Levine, Donald Oehler, Elizabeth Collini, Micah Boyd, and Rev. Tammy Lee, and to the UNC Department of Epidemiology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill Philharmonia, UNC Department of Music, UNC Men’s Crew, and Chapel of the Cross for their support.
MILLIKAN SYMPHONY
When I was very young Bob transcribed my first compositions and made them into a little book. It has always been something I've treasured. In the first days following his death, I thought of this book and remembered that there was a half sheet of manuscript paper tucked in the back with the beginnings of a theme that Bob and I had playfully written together as kids. We triumphantly titled it “Millikan’s Symphony in A minor” in big block letters. I took it out, having not looked at it in many years, and discovered that interestingly it began with the interval of a descending minor 9th. It was then that the idea came to me to compose a “Millikan Symphony” for Bob, based in part on this theme.
“Millikan Symphony” is a 48-minute work for full orchestra written in four movements, each honoring an area of Bob's work and accomplishment: Science, Animals, Rowing, Violin. My intention with this composition was not to simply write a piece for the orchestra to play, but to compose a work in collaboration with the UNC/regional community.
SCIENCE
On November 2, 2013 I attended the Carolina Breast Cancer Study Symposium, a study Bob directed for 16 years, and met researchers and members of the breast cancer advocacy community. On March 21, 2014 I attended the inaugural Robert C. Millikan Cancer Epidemiology Seminar, “Reproductive Factors in Relation to ER- Breast Cancer in African American Women: Results from the Black Women’s Health Study and the AMBER Consortium,” an illuminating lecture by Julie R. Palmer. Before composing this movement I collaborated extensively with three of Bob's former doctoral students: Leila Family, Katie O’Brien, and Lauren McCullough to learn the science of breast cancer and discover ways to apply it to music.
Science is based on multistage carcinogenesis process at the molecular level, in particular the interaction between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The material is gestural/motivic and develops through repetition and increasing density as the oncogenes move from background to middle ground to foreground, gradually “recruiting” the orchestra. Oncogenes first appear in the muted brass and extreme ranges of the oboe and bassoon. Prior solo string passages are proto-oncogenes. A chorale plays a significant role, appearing in the woodwinds in its entirety at the beginning. As the chorale and string texture thins, the oncogenes grow in complexity.
ANIMALS
Animals is a pastoral movement. Bob was a veterinarian prior to entering public health, and loved spending time in nature. In 2006 he spent the year in Ireland as a Fulbright scholar. His focus was a melanoma research project but he also accompanied local veterinarians in the countryside working with sheep herds. Professor Jay Levine, DVM told me some of the stories Bob shared with him about that experience. Jay also provided me with recordings of night sounds of bog marshes, forests sounds, and sounds in the vet hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University where Bob held an adjunct professorship. Philip Kass, DVM, one of Bob's colleagues from vet school told me, “I found out that Bob was a violinist when I was working in the UC Davis VMTH ICU one night and I heard someone around the corner playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, who turned out to be Bob.” All of these are inspiration for the movement.
ROWING
I attended my first UNC Men's Crew practices May 1st and 2nd, leading up to the Millikan Cup on May 5, 2013. I was given the opportunity to go out in the launch with the coaches so that I could videotape the rowers in action and learn more about the sport. The tempos in Rowing are based on the actual stroke rates for the 2000 meter race. I scored the music to my video of the 2013 Millikan Cup after studying crew racing procedures and many race videos. In 2014 I interviewed Head Coach Micah Boyd about the different phases and specific challenges of the 2000 meter race, and had the opportunity to speak with the rowers as well. Everyone agreed that the most difficult part of the race was the grueling third 500! For three seasons I have attended UNC rowing practices, Millikan Cup regattas, and followed the team’s national races through live stream. Rowing is a sport of precision, rigor, and above all teamwork – qualities Bob prized and encouraged as a coach. Bob served as the UNC Crew faculty advisor for over 16 years. (Check out the 2013 Millikan Cup video with music from Millikan Symphony, III. Rowing!)
VIOLIN
The final movement, Violin, is a violin concerto written in three distinct sections: Urgently, Expressively, Finale-Dance. The original Millikan Symphony theme is developed in what is the most personal movement of the four, honoring Bob’s lifelong love of music and the violin, which he played in orchestras and string quartets throughout his life. Bob left me his CDs and extensive library of music. I spent many hours studying the markings he wrote in his violin parts with his incredible attention to detail. On March 21, 2014 violinist Jennifer Curtis, Chapel Hill Philharmonia music director Donald Oehler and I met to discuss the Millikan Symphony in depth. Jennifer immediately connected with the concept and creative process of the piece. We had two opportunities to work together while I was composing the movement, as well as in preparation for the premiere.
COLLABORATORS
Andrew Olshan - Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology, UNC Chapel Hill
Jay Levine - Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University
Elizabeth Collini - Rowing Director, UNC Men’s Crew
Micah Boyd - Head Coach, UNC Men's Crew
Donald Oehler - Music Director, Chapel Hill Philharmonia
Reverend Tambria Lee - Associate for Campus Ministry, Chapel of the Cross
Ann Millikan - Composer/Project Coordinator
www.millikansymphony.com
PRESS
Music, athletics and epidemiology join to honor late professor
A moving experience
Researchers explore breast cancer disparities at symposium to honor Millikan
Ann Millikan's pre-concert talk, Millikan Symphony world premiere, March 20, 2015
(video may take a moment to load)
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