James DeMars

Two World Concerto

            Deeply creative artists by nature must evolve with their constantly changing experiences.  They begin in one place, creating art that reflects their place, and almost inevitably move on as their artistic vision encounters new and stimulating influences.   This is certainly reflected in the music of James DeMars, professor of music composition at Arizona State University in Tempe.  He holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Minnesota, where he—rather typically for those times for young academically-trained “classical” composers—was immersed in the severe and challenging music post-World War II European composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen.  As DeMars matured he became fascinated with so-called “world music,” or that of non-European musical traditions.