Stemming from a piano work finished in 2003, Summer and Shade: Three Dream-dances for Orchestra comprises three movements the composer describes in a statement as "abstractions, or ideas, of dances, rather than being truly danceable." The first movement, originally for the left hand in its piano version, is a tango that pays homage to Ravel; the second contains fragments of a waltz also called Summer and Shade (ca. 1920) by an unknown composer; and the third is a fandango originally dedicated to Gy‹rgy Ligeti and his etudes. The entire orchestral work is dedicated to the Mannes Orchestra and conductor David Hayes, who leads the ensemble in the world premiere.

Born in Indiana in 1966, Fitch began his early musical training on the double bass at 11 and later completed his doctoral studies at Indiana University in Bloomington. His work has been performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago and American Composers Orchestra, among other ensembles, and at such festivals and venues as the Norfolk Chamber Music, June in Buffalo, and Carnegie and Merkin Halls.

Fitch is also the recipient of multiple Dean's Prizes and the Kate and Cole Porter Memorial Fellowship from Indiana University, three ASCAP Young Composer and three National Society of Arts and Letters awards, a Fromm Foundation commission and most recently, a commission from the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble. He currently serves on the composition and chamber music faculties of Mannes College The New School for Music and Bard College, and is published by Non Sequitur Music and MMB Music, Inc. of St. Louis.

Summer and Shade receives its world premiere on October 8 in a performance sponsored in part by the American Music Center. Also on the program are Brahms's Symphony No. 3 and excerpts from Wagner's G‹tterd‹mmerung. Visit www.symphonyspace.org for more information.