Pulitzer-winning Adelphi professor pens Long Island Rail Road composition for area high schools
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and university professor of music at Adelphi University Paul Moravec, who created an original 10-minute instrumental piece about the Long Island Rail Road called "Change At Jamaica," listens as it's being played by students at Garden City High School in Garden City. (April 24, 2013) Credit: Howard Schnapp
A Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and Adelphi professor’s interpretation of the Long Island Rail Road’s sights and sounds will debut tonight with a performance by students from Garden City High School.
"Change at Jamaica," a 10-minute instrumental piece, was penned by Paul Moravec. Garden City is the first of eight high schools that will perform “Change at Jamaica” during spring concerts.
“I decided to write a piece about the Long Island Rail Road because this is something all these various, scattered high schools have in common. Riding the railroad is an experience common to all of them,” Moravec said.
The composition consists of three movements -- leaving from Penn Station to Jamaica; downtime waiting on the platform for the transfer; and heading home on the transfer train.
The concert at Garden City High School begins at 7 p.m. Baldwin, Farmingdale, Garden City, Herricks, North Shore, Oceanside, Oyster Bay and Wantagh high schools will perform the piece at later dates.
