The Oregon Bach Festival has commissioned a new work by a Grammy-winning composer that commemorates Americans who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“An American Mosaic” by Richard Danielpour will premiere Dec. 6 with a performance by celebrated pianist Simone Dinnerstein. The new work is composed of 15 miniatures, each of which honors people touched by the virus, including parents, caretakers and those who died from its effects.

Los Angeles-based Danielpour and New York-based Dinnerstein embarked on the collaborative project this summer; all communications have taken place through Zoom. Likewise, the Dec. 6 premiere, which will begin at 2 p.m. Pacific time, will be virtual. 

“In these challenging and unparalleled times, I believe that music and our accessibility to it is even more important than it might have been in the past,” Danielpour said. “When certain artistic works speak to all of us, and unite us, rather than divide us, these works become a catalyst for hope, courage and consolation.”

The commission follows the Oregon Bach Festival’s 2018 commission of Danielpour’s 100-minute work “The Passion of Yeshua” with the Buffalo Philharmonic and the SDG Foundation. The work premiered at the Oregon Bach Festival with JoAnn Faletta conducting and has since seen other performances in Los Angeles and Buffalo, New York. A recording was released on Naxos in March.  

Additional details will be announced later.