Young composer makes a splash with his whale-inspired theme

Stephen Feigenbaum

Like a lot of 12-year-olds, Stephen Feigenbaum didn't always look forward to practicing the piano for his weekly lessons. But instead of sloppily sliding through scales, the Winchester native dropped the piano instruction and started composition classes.

Now a 19-year-old sophomore at Yale University, Feigenbaum recently saw one of those compositions brought to life by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. Commissioned by conductor Charles Ansbacher to write a piece about whales for the "Green Masterpieces" concert at the Hatch Shell, Feigenbaum created "Speak, Sing, Whale."

The approximately eight-minute orchestral piece premiered last Wednesday and integrates whale songs provided by Ocean Alliance, a whale research center. A second performance is scheduled for this evening at Jamaica Pond, as part of the orchestra's "Neighborhood Concerts" series.

This is the second time the aspiring composer has been commissioned by the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. He created a Halloween-themed piece called "Absolutely Fearless" last year for a collaboration of the orchestra and the Boston Children's Chorus.

Though Feigenbaum has heard his compositions played in venues like Jordan Hall, he said this is one of the most exciting premieres. Because the orchestra plays in a relaxed setting in free public spaces, he said, the sounds can reach people not normally interested in classical music. Feigenbaum said he appreciates the improvisational elements in jazz and rock music. It is the merging of these two musical styles he hopes to examine in future compositions.

"I want to explore the fact that a string quartet can be as rocking as a band," he said. "You can dig in it, dig into the instruments, just the same."

KIMBERLY SANFELIZ