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The Ambassador’s Wife

And Other Stories

George David Kieffer composer
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz conductor

Release Date: September 10, 2021
Catalog #: NV6365
Format: Digital
21st Century
Orchestral
Orchestra

Composer George Kieffer and Navona Records are proud to present THE AMBASSADOR’S WIFE, a collection of stories and dialectical thought conveyed through the sounds of the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Featured on this album is Kieffer’s Fanfare for the Olympics, a piece dedicated to the sacrifices made and triumph achieved by athletes, which premiered at the 2015 Special Olympics. Additionally, this album features tunes inspired by various timestamps in Kieffer’s life, from vivid dreams to exposure to great literature, and encounters with distinctive individuals and their powerful stories. Explore themes of aspiration, duality, survival, forgiveness, love, and many more in this multifaceted work.

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Track Listing & Credits

# Title Composer Performer
01 From Here George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 5:39
02 The Wonder Of All Things George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 3:42
03 The Ambassador’s Wife George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Scott McRae City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 6:09
04 The Clown Elegy George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 5:30
05 Fanfare For The Olympics George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 3:08
06 Saturday George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 5:08
07 Cold Mountain George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 4:21
08 Christmas In Manhattan / Her Manhattan George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Scott McRae City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 3:26
09 Ella’s Theme George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 5:40
10 Forgiveness George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 5:10
11 C’est La Vie George David Kieffer arr. George David Kieffer & Vincent Gillioz City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra | Vincent Gillioz, conductor 3:53

All compositions and recordings copyright © 2021 George David Kieffer, dba GDK Music. ASCAP.
Christmas in Manhattan and The Wonder of All Things copyright © 2020 George David Kieffer.

Recorded September 25, 2019 at Smecky Music Studio in Prague, Czech Republic
Concertmaster Lucie Svehlova
Recording Engineer Vitek Kral
Assistant Engineer Michard Hradisky
Mixing & Mastering Rafal Smolen
Translator/Music Assistant Stanja Vomackova
Orchestra Contractor James Fitzpatrick for Tadlow Music Ltd.

General Manager of Audio & Sessions Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette

Executive Producer Bob Lord

Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
A&R Chris Robinson

VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland, Sara Warner

Artist Information

George Kieffer

Composer

George David Keiffer was born in New York City NY, and was raised in the San Francisco Bay area where he studied piano with Val Richie. He graduated with a degree in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara and was named “Outstanding Male Graduate” upon graduation. He received a J.D. degree from UCLA law school and entered the practice of law.

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Notes

Wherever we are in time and place, there is the here and now and there is the then, past and future. Our story. In this piece, I look back and forward, an inner conversation, embracing success, failure, satisfaction, regret, and finally hope. I stand high on a hill, a 360° view, having come a long way in my story. And still, I hope, with a long way to go From Here.

— George David Kieffer

A very young boy, his back to us, is playing his lesson on an upright piano. He then ascends into the sky and flies over the land, seeing many wondrous things before coming upon a beautiful field where an orchestra is playing his same piece. And now he is conducting the orchestra! Ah, but no, he is back at the piano.

— George David Kieffer

A young woman has married a much older man and must live with the consequences, as will her friend and lover.

— George David Kieffer

The different sides of the clown. Is his melody—his story—happy or sad?

— George David Kieffer

From childhood I have been enthralled by the Olympics and awed by the enormous sacrifices made by the athletes for the honor of competing, where in a single moment all can be won or lost. Stories all! How grand! So let the games begin! This piece premiered at the 2015 Special Olympics.

— George David Kieffer

Such a day is Saturday! We rise slowly, stretch, and then meet the day with new resolve, completing chores and diving into the much-anticipated night, finally resting peacefully. A journey through the day.

— George David Kieffer

Many years ago my wife summarized for me the book she was reading—Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier. I was entranced, went to the piano, and composed this tune.

— George David Kieffer

This piece was composed originally with George Gershwin in mind. It was his Manhattan. But “His Manhattan” did not sound poetic enough, so I titled it “Her Manhattan.” Then, the more I listened, it was clear: I had been reflecting on a dream I had had in my adolescence of spending Christmas in love in Manhattan.

— George David Kieffer

I was in Moscow a few years before the fall of the Soviet Union. In a bar, a young woman with a lovely voice was singing a Barbara Streisand song with a heavy Russian accent. My travelling companion asked her to join our table and we ultimately heard her story: an Azerbaijani Jew persecuted by Soviet authorities, she had lost a child under horrible circumstances. A brave struggle for survival. The piano recounts the tale she told.

— George David Kieffer

A gentle sermon and dialogue regarding this essential virtue.

— George David Kieffer

It seemed most appropriate to place this piece after the sermon about forgiveness. After all, we’re only human and it’s just life, with all its irony. So let it be. Say with me: C’est La Vie.

— George David Kieffer