Paula J. Diehl
Paula J. Diehl
Paula Diehl (nee Jespersen), who came from China to this country as an infant with her Danish parents, was brought up in Northern New Jersey. She studied piano as a child and, after spending a number of years with her husband and three children in the Arab World, began an in-depth study of music theory and composition, first at American University, (Washington, DC), then at Temple University's School of Music, from which she received a Master of Music in Music Composition in 1982.Paula Diehl (nee Jespersen), who came from China to this country as an infant with her Danish parents, was brought up in Northern New Jersey. She studied piano as a child and, after spending a number of years with her husband and three children in the Arab World, began an in-depth study of music theory and composition, first at American University, (Washington, DC), then at Temple University's School of Music, from which she received a Master of Music in Music Composition in 1982. As a result of her basic music studies, Diehl began to understand the meaning of 'system' as applied to the making of music. This led to experimentation with new ones, resulting in SEPARATION, a new total composition system (1978). Diehl has been developing the system ever since and writes music exclusively according to its rules. Diehl formed SOUNDS (1982-1984), a 4 to 6 member ensemble, to perform prestructured improvisations according to the rules of SEPARATION. :In 1985 Diehl entered the field of dance, writing music to represent her choreographic ideas as well as choreographing dance to represent her musical ideas. By 1992, having said more or less what she wanted to in dance, she left the field but continued writing music on a regular basis. Diehl has had seven musical works recorded, six of which have been released on CD. The seventh is supposed to be released early in 2004. Of the music recorded two are choral pieces kwitn pipe organ, one is a string quartet, three are for various sizes of orchestra and the last is for a trio of clarinet, violin and cello.
CHILDREN For two guitars, bass and piano. C. 4'. 2001 REST Countertenor (composed) and KB (prestructured improv) C. 4'. 2001 VENUES Unaccompanied viola solo. C. 8'. 2002 TRUE NORTH For two violins and cello. C. 9 1/2'. 2002 WITHOUT REMAINDER For two violins and viola. C. 13'. 2002
Notes on SEPARATION, my music system: all my music is organized and written according to the principle of gradual decrease of interlock (or overlap) of Fourths. There are four such stages. The fifth stage is one of complete separation between working Fourths, the sixth is one of closure on the octave. In all my recent work - since 2001 - I have been closing my compositions at the end of the fourth stage of overlap. The music in all stages of my music is between Fourths which are open or closed on each side. A strict foundation of bilateral symmetry is required for each composition; otherwise, a feeling that something is not right is generated. The goal of music written according to SEPARATION principles is intervallic independence.
