Post on 10-Feb-2018
Jay GreenbergSchirmer Welcomes GreenbergG. Schirmer is pleased to announce thesigning of an exclusive publishing agree-ment with composer Jay Greenberg.Though still a teenager, the giftedGreenberg has already created a signifi-cant catalogue of solo, chamber, andorchestral literature that examines andbuilds upon classical forms. Theyoungest composer to have an exclusiveagreement with Schirmer/AMP,Greenberg’s other notable first-achieve-ments include exclusive contracts withSony Classical and with IMG Artists.
His first Sony Classical CD showcasesSymphony No. 5 — recorded by theLondon Symphony Orchestra under JoséSerebrier — and his Quintet for Strings— with the Juilliard String Quartet andcellist Darrett Adkins. Marin Alsop andthe Baltimore Symphony recorded histone poem, Intelligent Life, in July forupcoming release on a second Sony all-Greenberg disc. Greenberg’s next pre-miere occurs on 28 October, when theOrchestra of St. Luke’s presents theircommission, a one-movement ViolinConcerto with soloist Joshua Bell, atCarnegie Hall.
Jay GreenbergPHOTO: BILL PHELPS
“A gift for drama and for lyricism,expressed in sophisticated colors andtextures....There is verve in therhythms and invention in the har-monies; the tunes catch the ear.Movement by movement and start tofinish, the architecture has a sturdylogic that does not preclude surprise.It is an impressive debut.”— The New York Times
“Jay Greenberg’s talent is immense....There seems little question that thisyouth has demonstrated a remarkablefacility for writing accomplishedmusic...”— The Los Angeles Times
News from G. Schirmer, Associated Music Publishersand the Music Sales Group
September 2007 Fall’07
�
Fall’
07
Richard Danielpour‘Margaret Garner’ in NYCMargaret Garner, Richard Danielpour’sacclaimed first opera written in collabo-ration with Nobel Laureate librettist ToniMorrison, takes center stage at LincolnCenter on 11 September, when itreceives its New York premiere in an all-new production at New York City Opera.Directed by Tazewell Thompson andconducted by George Manahan,Margaret Garner features mezzo-sopra-no Tracie Luck in the title role (in hercompany debut) and baritone GreggBaker returns to his originating role asRobert, Margaret’s husband. The pro-duction runs for seven performances.
Philip GlassThe Subject of PeaceTwo proud men. A pivotal moment inAmerican history.
This is the story of Appomattox, PhilipGlass’s new opera which premieres on5 October at the San Francisco Opera.Commissioned by the company and fea-turing a libretto by Academy Award-win-ning screenwriter Christopher Hampton,Appomattox is based on the eventsleading up to the historic Civil War-end-ing surrender of Lee to Grant. IanRobertson directs the production whichshowcases baritones Dwayne Croft asGeneral Lee and Andrew Shore asGeneral Grant. Dennis Russell Daviesconducts seven performances of thisintense portrayal of the moment in his-tory.
Michael NymanThe News“Everything is in hand,” Michael Nymanremarked in May as he returned to theChester Music roster with an exclusivepublishing agreement as well as a num-ber of commissions to be completed forthe 2007-08 season. The first premiereoccurs on 20 September at SageConcert Hall, when the Michael NymanBand performs 50,000 Pairs of FeetCan’t Be Wrong, a newly commissionedconcert-opener for the 2007 half-marathon Great North Run. The workexplores the relationship between a run-ner’s physical and mental states.Nyman shares, “I went to LeedsMetropolitan University and spent a daytalking to sports scientists. We recordedfive tapes. [I edited] their words, whichwill be heard in the piece.” The workreceives its London premiere on 6December at The Barbican.
On 4 October, Nyman travels to theVenice Biennale for a concert of threeworld premieres: his Violin Concerto No.2 (for soloist Francesco D’Orazio) andthe orchestral vocal works I sonetti lus-suriosi and The Libertine (for sopranoMarie Angel). Nyman conducts theOrchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale diSanta Cecelia. The Libertine is a con-cert work derived from the score ofLaurence Dunmore’s 2004 film starringJohnny Depp. I sonetti lussuriosi is thecomposer’s setting of Petro Aretino’s16th-century erotic poems that accom-panied Guilo Romano’s drawings in avolume that can be called aRenaissance equivalent of the KamaSutra. The concert is repeated in Romeon the 6th. (I sonetti lussuriosi travelsto The Barbican on 6 December in itsUK premiere, and is a featured compo-
nent of the Barbican Art Gallery’s exhi-bition “Seduced: Art and Sex fromAntiquity to Now.”) On the 12th,Nyman’s Cello Concerto premieres inBeijing with soloist Nina Kotova.European performances follow in 2008,with the UK premiere scheduled withthe Royal Philharmonic in January.
Alfred SchnittkeSymphony No. 9On 7 November, Dennis Russell Daviesand The Juilliard Orchestra present theUS premiere of Alfred Schnittke’sSymphony No. 9.
Schnittke left the work unfinishedupon his death in 1998. His widow Irinafelt the three movements Schnittkeshakily penned were a testament to herhusband’s musical legacy; she activelysought to engage a colleague who coulddecipher, and, where necessary, careful-ly correct and complete the score. Aftertwo unsuccessful attempts to recon-struct the work, Russian composerAlexander Raskatov was asked to takeon the task. Schnittke once calledRaskatov “one of the most interestingcomposers of his generation,” and asRaskatov set about reconstructing thework, he had the distinct impressionthat Schnittke intended to add a fourthmovement. In turn, Raskatov decided toadd a completely separate composition— Nunc dimittis, a vocal-symphonic epi-logue. Based after the New Testamentpassage of Simeon’s Song of Praise(Luke. 2: 29-32), Raskatov set texts byRussian-born poet and Nobel LaureateJoseph Brodsky and the Orthodox monkStarets Siluan. Raskatov notes that theNunc dimittis can be performed inde-pendently and he chose these textsbecause they “are exactly in tune withthe idea of this symphony: a ‘farewell.’ ”
Symphony No. 9 was co-commis-sioned by The Juilliard Orchestra alongwith the Dresden Philharmonic — who
Tracie Luck willsing the title role
in “MargaretGarner,” the opera
by RichardDanielpour and
librettist ToniMorrison.
PHOTO: CAROL ROSEGG,NEW YORK CITY OPERA
“This is an opera about men andevents. There is hardly a person inpublic life today with the moral andintellectual stature of these two men,and I wanted to — well, honor themisn’t the right word — but put them onthe stage and see what they wereabout.”— Philip Glass
McLean House, April 1865, whereRobert E. Lee surrendered toUlysses S. GrantPHOTO: TIMOTHY H. O’SULLIVAN
Philip GlassAppomattox 105'Christopher Hampton, libretto2S, 2Mz, 2T, 3Bar, B-Bar, 2BSATB (40 – 60 voices, as available)2(pic).2+ca.2+Ebcl+bcl.2+2+cbn/4.3.2+btbn.1/perc/pf.cel.hp/str
Alfred SchnittkeSymphony No. 9 38'3(pic).3(ca).3(bcl).3/4231/3perc/cem/str
�
Orchestra; and the Miami StringQuartet’s premiere of a commission byMusic from Angel Fire. Tower celebra-tions continue into fall 2008 with a 6September birthday concert at MerkinConcert Hall.
Tan DunAround the WorldThis season brings an international cel-ebration of Tan Dun’s music with a hostof major operatic and orchestral events.
This fall, on the heels of its US pre-miere in a new production by AmonMiyamoto at the Santa Fe Opera, Tan’sopera Tea: A Mirror of Soul receives twonew productions: its Austrian premiereat the Neue Oper Wien (Vienna) inSeptember (directed by Carlos Wagner)and the November Nordic premiere atthe Stockholm International ComposersFestival (in a production by ChiangChing). Tea brings an ancient tale to the21st century as Tan combines the lyri-cism of Italianate opera, lush Westernorchestration, a male “Greek chorus,”gamelan-like percussion, and the organ-ic sounds of nature — water, paper, andstones.
In October, Tan’s multi-media concer-to The Map comes to the BaltimoreSymphony for three concerts featuringIlya Finkelshteyn as soloist. InNovember, the composer travels toStockholm — not only for the Tea per-formances — but also as the featuredcomposer in the Royal StockholmPhilharmonic’s week-long festival cele-brating his orchestral and chambermusic. Acclaimed festival performersinclude violinist Cho-Liang Lin, cellistAnssi Kartunen, and percussionistsDavid Cossin, Tamao Inano, and HarukaFujii. Tan conducts the Royal StockholmPhilharmonic and soloist Yuan Li in the
“At this age, I feel fortunate indeed tobe blessed with health, happiness,and continuing active involvement inmusic as a composer, performer, andteacher.”— Joan Tower
premiered the work on 16 June 2007led by Davies, and the BrucknerOrchester Linz, which presents theAustrian premiere on 26 April 2008.
Joan TowerAt 70This September, Joan Tower begins her70th-birthday celebrations with a sea-son-long composer residency at theChamber Music Society of LincolnCenter. Concerts feature performancesof her works And…They’re Off, ForDaniel, and the world premiere of A Giftfor piano and winds. In the spring, vio-list Paul Neubauer performs Wild Purple(a piece he commissioned for Tower’s60th birthday) and he adds to therepertoire with the world premiere ofSimply Purple. Violinist Cho-Liang Linjoins Gary Hoffman (cello) and André-Michel Schub (piano) to offer the NewYork premiere of her recent work Trio LaJolla (a co-commission with the La JollaMusic Society and the Virginia ArtsFestival).
Other Tower season highlightsinclude: the premiere of her first choralcommission I Can, written for the YoungPeople’s Chorus of New York; her newDumbarton Quintet featuring the com-poser at the keyboard; continuing con-certs of her groundbreaking orchestralcommission Made in America; theToronto Symphony’s weekend featuringthe Violin Concerto with soloist JacquesIsraelievitich (led by Peter Oundjian);Marin Alsop and the BaltimoreSymphony presenting the Concerto for
first performances of his Concerto forZheng and String Orchestra (anarrangement of the Pipa Concerto). Alsoin Oc tober, Tan’s Secret Land is fea-tured at the Beijing Music Festival.
In December, the Brooklyn Academyof Music’s Next Wave Festival intro-duces New York audiences to The Gate:Orchestral Theatre IV. BrooklynPhilharmonic music director MichaelChristie conducts the New York-pre-miere performances and has a post-event dialogue with the composer onthe 7th.
Tan’s spring schedule includes aPiano Concerto premiered by the NewYork Philharmonic and soloist LangLang (conducted by Leonard Slatkin)and the Metropolitan Opera’s revival ofThe First Emperor in May with PlácidoDomingo in the title role.
John TavenerHappenings“I am delighted to continue my contractwith Chester Music and my valued rela-tionships with colleagues and friendswithin the company,” noted JohnTavener on the recent renewal of hislong term exclusive relationship withChester Music. Managing DirectorJames Rushton shared, “It is veryrewarding to have signed this exception-ally long term extension to Sir John’scareer-long relationship with ChesterMusic. It is a privilege to be the publish-er of all of [his] output and greatlyencouraging to be able to look aheadwith certainty to the many new and orig-inal projects planned for the next sever-al years.” Tavener added, “Deo Volens, Iwill produce yet more music!”
And Tavener produces. On 26September, Nicola Benedetti joinsAndrew Litton and the LondonPhilharmonic for the world premiere ofthe violin concerto Lalishri at London’sRoyal Festival Hall. A co-commission ofthe London Philharmonic and theSouthbank Centre, Lalishri is inspiredby the 14th-century Hindu saint andpoet Lalla Yogishwari. “Her poetry, withits combination of intensity and simplici-ty made me think of the ‘innocent inten-sity’ of Benedetti’s playing,” Tavener
Off Press: ‘Joan Tower: TheComprehensive Bio-Bibliography’ byEllen K. Grolman
SCARECROW PRESSISBN–13: 978-0-8108-5653-0ISBN–10: 0-8108-5653-0
John TavenerLalishri 30'Violin; str
John TavenerPHOTO: RICHARD HAUGHTON
Roger Honeywell, Kelly Kaduce,
and Haijing Fu in Tan Dun’s ‘Tea’ production
by Santa Fe OperaPHOTO: KEN HOWARD, SANTA FE OPERA
�
explained. “Indeed the solo violin repre-sents the song of Lalla. When Lalla dis-covered ‘atma’ or the true ‘self’ (whichis none other than God inside her) shedanced naked throughout Kashmir. Thisspiritual nakedness manifests itself inbodily nakedness. The music is in fivesections moving through dance, ecstatictrance to a musical expression ofbliss…” Benedetti has recorded thework for Deutsche Grammophon; theCD release coincides with the premiere.
Tavener’s mass Solemnitas inConceptione Immaculata BeataeMariae Virginae premiered 12 August inZurich, Switzerland. Solemnitas is acommission from the internationalReligio-Musica-Nova Festival. The masshas its US premiere on 7 March 2008in New York City’s historic St. ThomasChurch.
Samuel Barber, William Schuman100 and CountingSkip ahead in your calendar to 2010.Place a big “SB” on 9 March and alarge“WS” on 4 August.
Join us in celebrating the centennialsof Samuel Barber and WilliamSchuman. The musical legacies ofthese most venerable icons are distin-guished in the American repertory forthose who perform and for those whoenjoy listening.
Orchestral CD Samplers“Samuel Barber at 100,” “Orchestra,”and “Russian and Post-Soviet” are ournewest CD samplers.
Plan for the fast-approaching centen-nial with two-dozen orchestral clips onour Barber sampler.
To inspire concert programming, thethree-disc “Orchestra” contains 107excerpts published by members of theMusic Sales Group in a collection of thebest in orchestral music from the 20thcentury and the dawn of the 21st.
“Russian and Post-Soviet” offers afascinating chronological survey oforchestral literature available for rentaland licensing from G. Schirmer in NorthAmerica. Request copies fromschirmer@schirmer.com.
Happy 20th to Bang on a CanCongratulations to Bang On a Can for20 years of passionate and vibrantadvocacy as movers and shakers in thecontemporary music world. Founded bycomposers Michael Gordon, DavidLang, and Julia Wolfe, BOAC and theBOAC All-Stars ensemble have trans-formed the musical landscape of NewYork City with its annual Marathons bypresenting a wide-range of adventurousmusic to audiences eager for what’snew and on the cutting edge. Six yearsago, BOAC expanded its reach to NorthAdams, MA, with their summer instituteand festival at the MassachusettsMuseum of Contemporary Art. The 20thanniversary brings a BOAC All-Stars tourof several regional marathons whichbegins in October and returns to NewYork City in June 2008 for its flagshipMarathon at the World FinancialCenter’s Winter Garden.
Editions ChoudensThe Music Sales Group is pleased toannounce the acquisition of the Frenchmusic publisher Editions Choudens.Founded in 1845 by Antoine deChoudens, the catalogue of over 1500titles is known worldwide for its roster ofFrench opera and operetta, showcasingsuch 19th-century works as GeorgesBizet’s Carmen, Jacques Offenbach’sLes Contes d’Hoffmann, HectorBerlioz’s Les Troyens, AndréMessager’s Veronique and LouisGanne’s Les Saltimbanques. TheChoudens publishing tradition contin-ued through the 20th-century to pres-ent-day, cultivating the concert music ofsuch influential educators and com-posers as Marcel Landowski, JeanProdromidès, and Daniel-Lesur.
Editions Choudens also activelybranched out into the arena of filmmusic, building a collection of over 500film scores, including many of the clas-sics of 1940s and 1950s French cine-ma such as “Les Visiteurs du Soir” and“La Ronde de l’Amour.” G. Schirmer willrent orchestral suites from selectedfilms. For more information or perusalmaterials, contact us atschirmer@schirmer.com.
Editions Choudens book trade inkstamp
IMAGE: SEVENROADS.ORG
Bang on a Can at 20
John TavenerSolemnitas inConceptioneImmaculate BeataeMaria Virginis 100'S, 2T, Bar, 4B, SATBchorus; str 4tet; org, 4tpt, 3tbn,btbn, timp, 2perc,str
Fall’07Jerusalem MusicFestivalSeptember 6Dorman (GS)� Jerusalem MixFestival PlayersJerusalem, Israel
September 6Henze (CH)� PhaedraPeter Mussbach, stagedirectorStaatsoper Unter denLinden Berlin andEnsemble Modern/BoderBerlin, Germany
September 7Tan Dun (GS)� The MapAnssi Karttunen, celloTampere PhilharmonicOrchestra/StorgårdsTampere, Finland
September 11-29Danielpour (AMP)� Margaret GarnerTazewell Thompson,stage directorNew York CityOpera/ManahanNew York, NY
September 11-22Tan Dun (GS)� Tea: A Mirror of SoulCarlos Wagner, stagedirectorNeue Oper Wien andAmadeus Ensemble-Wien/KobéraVienna, Austria
September 14McCabe (NOV)� Symphony“Labyrinth”Royal LiverpoolPhilharmonic/PetrenkoLiverpool, England
November 7Schnittke (GSR)� Symphony No. 9Juilliard Orchestra/DaviesJuilliard School, New York, NY
TonsättarfestivalTan Dun (GS)November 8� Zheng ConcertoYuan Li, zheng� Paper ConcertoDavid Cossin, percussionRoyal StockholmPhilharmonic/Tan DunNovember 10� Orchestral Theater I� Out of Peking OperaCho-Liang Lin, violin� The MapAnssi Karttunen, cello NorrkopingsSymfoniorkester/JiaNovember 13� Concerto for Six� Eight Colors� Elegy: Snow in June� Seven Desires� Silk RoadNancy Allen Lundy,soprano� Secret LandNovember 15, 17� Tea: A Mirror of SoulMuhai Tang, stage directorTonsättarfestival/Tan DunStockholm, Sweden
November 11Thomas (GS)� ScatWalden ChamberPlayersWilliamstown, MA
November 12, 13Talbot (CH)� Path of MiraclesChoral Ensemble/ClurmanWintergarden, New York, NY
October 18Sørensen (WH)� RequiemArs Nova/HillierCopenhagen, Denmark
Thomas (GS)� Terpsichore’s DreamUtah Symphony NewMusic Group/ColnotSalt Lake City, UT
October 21Thomas (GS)� Dancing Helix RitualsVerdehr TrioWashington, DC
October 27Thomas (GS)� Juggler of the DayCornell University GleeClub/TuckerIthaca, NY
October 28Greenberg (GS)� Violin ConcertoJoshua Bell, violinOrchestra of St. Luke’s/AbbadoNew York, NY
Lang (RP)� The Little Match GirlPassionTheatre of Voices/HillierNew York, NY
November 3Rodríguez (GS)� Cancion de los NiñosChildren’s Chorus andOrchestra of Tepoztlan/JonesTepoztlan, Mexico
November 5Auerbach (SIK)� Symphony No. 1,“Chimera”Wolfe (RP)� My Beautiful ScreamPhilharmonic Orchestraof Hradec Kralove/NemcovaHradec Kralove, CzechRepublic
October 5Glass (DUN)� AppomattoxRobert Woodruff, stagedirector San Francisco Opera/DaviesSan Francisco, CA
Composer PortraitOctober 5Salonen (CH)� MemoriaImani Winds � Three PreludesTony Arnold, soprano Darrett Adkins, celloFloofManiaMeetingPrologueMiller TheatreNew York, NY
October 6Bainbridge (NOV)� Music SpaceReflectionRoyal Danish Academyof Music/AustinCopenhagen, Denmark
Composer PortraitOctober 11Dorman (GS)� Concerto in AEliran Avni, piano� Piccolo ConcertoMindy Kaufman, piccoloMandolin ConcertoAvi Avital, mandolin� Concerto GrossoMetropolis Ensemble/Cyr Angel Orensanz CenterNew York, NY
October 12Saariaho (CH)� Notes on LightAnssi Karttunen, cello Swedish RadioSymphony/SarasteStockholm, Sweden
October 18Sheng (GS)� String Quartet No. 5"The Miraculous"Emerson String QuartetSUNY Stony BrookStony Brook, NY
September 15-20Henze (CH)� PhaedraPeter Mussbach, stagedirectorTheatre de la Monnaieand Ensemble Modern/BoderBrussels, Belgium
September 20Saariaho (CH)� Asteroid 4179:ToutatisBBC Scottish SymphonyOrchestra/VolkovGlasgow, Scotland
Warsaw AutumnFestivalSeptember 21Saariaho (CH)� Notes on LightAnssi Karttunen, cello National Polish RadioSymphony/de LeeuwSeptember 26Vir (NOV)� HayagrivaKlangforum Wien/FurrerWarsaw, Poland
September 26Tavener (CH)� LalishriNicola Benedetti, violin London Philharmonic/LittonLondon, England
September 28Frank (GS)� BarcarolaLatinamericanaThomas (GS)� Love TwittersNicola Melville, piano Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN
October 4Gudmundsen-Holmgreen (WH)� PlateauxJuho Pohjonen, piano Danish NationalSymphony/SpanjaardCopenhagen, Denmark
� World premiere� National premiere� New York City
premiere
November 15Gudmundsen-Holmgreen (WH)� Last GroundKronos QuartetCopenhagen, Denmark
November 28Laderman (GS)� Interior Landscapes IIDavid Kaplan and GregAnderson, pianosYale UniversityNew Haven, CT
November 30Talbot (CH)� MandalaRoyal Academy of MusicHarp EnsembleLondon, England
November 31Sallinen (NOV)� Concerto for Clarinet,Viola and ChamberOrchestraChristoffer Sundqvist,clarinet; Tommi Aalto,viola; Finnish RadioSymphony/KamuHelsinki, Finland
On 7 July, ovations wereheard throughout the piazzain Spoleto, Italy, after the50th Festival dei Due Mondipresented a memorial con-cert on what would havebeen founder Gian CarloMenotti’s 96th birthday.David Charles Abell con-ducted the composer por-trait evening which featuredthe orchestral work‘Apocalisse,’ excerpts fromthe operas ‘Amahl and theNight Visitors’ and ‘TheConsul, ‘and the choralwork ‘Landscapes andRemembrances.’PHOTO: COURTESY FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDI
Key to abbreviations:AMP AssociatedMusic Publishers
CH Chester MusicDUN DunvagenGS G. Schirmer
GSR G.SchirmerRussian
NOV NovelloRP Red Poppy
SIK SikorskiWH Wilhelm Hansen
Fall’
07Concert Reviews
Mark AdamoFour AngelsDotian Levalier, harpNational Symphony/Slatkin7 June 2007; Washington, DC…one of the best new pieces MusicDirector Leonard Slatkin has champi-oned — an ambitious, eloquent andoften radiantly beautiful confection foran instrument that is notoriously diffi-cult for a composer to work with....
Adamo’s scoring for harp struck meas direct, idiomatic and appealing....There was inventive play with orchestralsound effects throughout the concer-to…but they were always put to lyricalends. Tim Page, The Washington Post
Michael GordonEvery Stop on the F TrainYoung People’s Chorus of New YorkCity/Nuñez9 July 2007; New York, NYA surprisingly inventive setting of thesubway map — the text being the listpromised in the title — the work pres-ents a unison melody for the Queensstops, a two-part canon for the stationsin Manhattan and a four-part canon forthose in Brooklyn. Along the way, Mr.Gordon’s cross-rhythms create theclacking sound of the subway itself. Allan Kozinn, The New York Times
Gian Carlo MenottiThe Saint of Bleecker StreetCatherine Malfitano, stage directorCentral City Opera/France21 July 2007; Denver, CO...it’s hard to imagine a more relevantopera in a world racked by religious divi-sions and mindless violence....
But operagoers who can embrace thereligious aspects of this opera or setthem aside will discover a powerful,deeply human story about a group ofeveryday people who seem extraordi-narily authentic in both their weakness-es and strengths.Kyle MacMillan, The Denver Post
Gavriil PopovSymphonic Suite No. 1, from the film“Komsomol: Patron of Electricity”Tatiana Pavlovskaya, sopranoVladislav Sulimsky, baritoneLos Angeles Philharmonic/Salonen25 May 2007; Los Angeles, CAThe film is worth reviving if for no otherreason than its extraordinary music. Itbegins weirdly with a theremin wailingalong with a song for a soprano andbaritone. The young composer did notyet have a voice, and Stravinsky,Scriabin and Schoenberg keep poppingup in his early work. But Popov was cos-mopolitan with flair.Mark Swed, The Los Angeles Times
Robert X. RodríguezFridaFestival de Mayo25 May 2007; Guadalajara, Mexico“Sensational! Impacting! Magnificent!”These are some of the enthusiasticwords uttered by the public who attend-ed the performance of the opera Fridalast Friday at the Teatro Degollado. Mymind is still full of the images andsounds of this work, which has hadmany successful performances in theUnited States and Germany since itscreation in 1991. The opera is vibrantwith life, expressing Frida's motto “¡Vivala vida!”Charles Nath, El Informador
Kaija SaariahoTerra MemoriaEmerson String Quartet15 June 2007; New York, NYMs. Saariaho’s elegant music beginsand ends in whispery near-silence. Hercare for the sound properties of instru-ments is a double gift to listeners. Theoverlapping conversations betweenvoices are received as counterpoint,and yet the assembled sounds create asingle cloudlike sonority. Most of thepiece sings in a pervasive tenor-to-tre-ble range reminiscent of Ravel or Fauré.The more Ms. Saariaho engages thepast, the more original her musicbecomes.Bernard Holland, The New York Times
Bright ShengThe Nightingale and the RoseChristopher Wheeldon, choreographerNew York City Ballet/Sheng8 June 2007; New York, NYNightingale may break your heart....
This strange little ballet...retells instylized movement an Oscar Wilde fairytale...a thing of complex and nuancedemotions....The commissioned score byBright Sheng, City Ballet’s resident com-poser, sets the atmosphere from itsmagical first moments, providing auralcolor and near-melodic climaxes thatdelicately support the ballet’s emotionalclimaxes...Bernard Holland, The New York Times
Tan DunTea: A Mirror of SoulAmon Miyamoto, stage directorSanta Fe Opera/Renes21 July 2007; Santa Fe, NMTea blends elements of Western opera,oratorio and mystery plays with stylisticinfluences from shadow puppetry,Peking opera, Japanese court musicand the shamanistic “ghost operas”[Tan] saw while growing up....A concertoelement comes from three onstage per-cussionists who participate in theaction....No single creative elementmaintains superiority for very long andthis music theater piece projects anever-changing, lovely...sonic palette...Craig Smith, The New Mexican
Joan TowerStrike ZonesNicholas Tolle, percussionTanglewood Music CenterOrchestra/Asbury1 August 2007; Lenox, MA…the real dazzler of the festival wasStrike Zones, Joan Tower’s 2001 per-cussion concerto…Ms. Tower wrote thework for Evelyn Glennie and tailored itto her iron-clad technique, unerringmusical instincts and magnetic person-ality. But the student percussionisthere, Nicholas Tolle, was unfazed: mov-ing down the line of instrumentsarrayed across the stage, he gave a full-throttle performance of this rhythmicallycomplex, irresistibly visceral score.Allan Kozinn, The New York Times
Mark AdamoFour Angels 25'Harp; 2(pic).2(ca).2(bcl).2(cbn)/4.2.2+btbn.1/timp.3perc/pf(cel)/str
Michael GordonEvery Stop on the F Train 7'Treble voices
Gian Carlo MenottiThe Saint of Bleecker Street full eve2S, 4Mz, 2Bar, B; SSAATTBB2+pic.2+ca.2+bcl.2+cbn/4331/timp.3perc/hp.pf/str; stage music: pic, 3tpt, tbn, tba, 2perc
Gavriil PopovSymphonic Suite No. 1, from the film“Komsomol: Patron of Electricity” 18'Soprano, Baritone;1+pic.2.3+Ebcl+bcl.asx.2+cbn/4331/timp.3[+]perc/cel.2hp/str (12.10.8.8.6);theremin[=vc]
Robert Xavier RodríguezFrida full eveS, Mz, A, T, Bar, B; 3 Calaveras (death figures), character voices, opt chorus0.0.1(asx).0/0.1(flugel).0.0/perc/acn.pf/vnalt: 0.0.1(asx).0/0.1(flugel).1.0/perc/acn.gtr.pf/str(1.0.1.1.1)
Kaija SaariahoTerra Memoria 15'string quartet
Bright ShengThe Nightingale and the Rose 20'2(pic,afl)+pic.3(ca).3(Ebcl:bcl).3(cbn)/4.3Ctpt(Bbtpt).2+btbn.1/timp.4perc/hp/str
Tan DunTea: A Mirror of Soul 108'B-bar chorus;3Perc; amp bfl(pic), bcl(Ebcl), 2Ctpt, 2tbn, 3ripieno perc [opera version only], 2hp, str (8.8.6.6.4)
Joan TowerStrike Zones 20'Percussion;2(2pic).2.2.2/4330/timp.2perc/pf(cel)/str
Stephen AlbertSymphony No. 1, “RiverRun”Symphony No. 2Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/PolivnickNaxos CD 8.559257...one of the most fascinating andworthwhile issues in Naxos’s extensive“American Classics” series.
...Albert’s First Symphony...is a vigor-ous work...his music is inherently sym-phonic, employing ostinatos and motivicdevelopment as the basis for organicmusical argument....
Stylistically, Albert’s SecondSymphony resembles [his] FirstSymphony only in its brief centralScherzo....It is evident, though, thatAlbert was striking out in another direc-tion in this final composition: it occu-pies a darker, bleaker landscape...
Albert believed that a composer didnot need to be innovative to be original.His work bears this out: these are sym-phonies that should appeal to all music-lovers.Phillip Scott, Fanfare
Leon KirchnerPiano Sonata No. 1Piano Sonata No. 2Interlude IInterlude IIFive Pieces for PianoThe ForbiddenJonathan Biss, Jeremy Denk, Joel Fan,Leon Fleisher, Max Levinson, and PeterSerkin, pianistsAlbany Records TROY 906The 1948 First Sonata — a mid-centurymasterpiece, plain and simple — isharder-edged and more incisive, thelater works more harmonically plushand imbued with fin-de-siecle yearning;but the compositional personality isnevertheless remarkably consistent…
This is essential listening for lovers ofmodern piano music.Mark L. Lehman, American RecordGuide
John CoriglianoSnapshots: Circa 1909Corigliano QuartetNaxos CD 8.559180The disc opens with the beautifullyyearning Snapshot: Circa 1909,inspired by a photograph of Corigliano’sfather, who was also named John andeventually became concertmaster of theNew York Philharmonic, at about 8,playing the violin and standing next tohis older brother, who is playing the gui-tar. An evocative violin melody soarsover guitarlike strumming, and the workfades away with a dreamy, delicatemelody…Vivien Schweitzer, The New York Times
CD Reviews
Joan TowerConcerto for OrchestraMade in AmericaTamborNashville Symphony/SlatkinNaxos CD 8.559328Made in America...typifies Tower’ssplendid ear for sonority and her subtleharmonic sense, not to mention herease and authority operating within theAmerican symphonic syntax as definedby Copland and his circle....Virtuosicdemands permeate Tower’s 1991Concerto for Orchestra, where soloistsand smaller instrumental groups assertboth their individual profile and facilityto engage in chamber-like combat withtheir neighbors....Decisive percussionplayers brilliantly dominate throughoutTambor...Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
New Scores
Gabriela LenaFrankDanza de losSaqsampillosPiano duoPlaying score50486568$22.95This ferociouslyenergetic workwas inspired bythe jungle-dwellingwarrior devil ofAmazonian Perúknown as thesaqsampillo.Gabriela Lena Frank
Sueños de Chambi: Snapshots for anAndean AlbumViolin and pianoScore and part 50485738 $24.95A set of seven pieces inspired by thephotography of Martin Chambi.
John HarbisonSongs America Loves to Sing:Variations on Common TunesFlute, clarinet, violin, cello, and pianoScore and parts 50486371 $35.00“It is a distant, quaint vision: the family around the piano singing familiar songs, a Currier and Ives print, an album of sepia photo-graphs. But I remember it well (or did I imagine it?).”— John HarbisonHarbison's unique settings of familiarAmerican songs include “AmazingGrace,” “Careless Love,” “Will the CircleBe Unbroken?,” “Aura Lee,” “What aFriend We Have in Jesus,” “St. LouisBlues,” “Poor Butterfly,” “We ShallOvercome,” “Ain't Goin' to Study War NoMore,” and “Anniversary Song.”
John HarbisonBut Mary Stooda cappella chorusand soprano withchorus and stringsChoral score50486370$3.95The first twochoral movementsmemorialize thecomposer's moth-er and mother-in-law. The finalmovement depictsMary Magdalene,inspired byHarbison's workwith Bach’s St.John Passion.
September 2007News from G.Schirmer, Associated Music Publishers and the Music Sales Group
G. Schirmer, Inc.257 Park Avenue South 20th FloorNew York, NY 10010 USATelephone 212 254 2100Fax 212 254 2013
Opening bars from Avner Dorman’s new chamber piece Jerusalem Mix. World premiere: 6 September 2007.
Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival. Jerusalem, Israel. Copyright © 2007 by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) New York, NY.
International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Fall’
07
www.schirmer.com
To receive Schirmer News by E-mailcontact us at news@schirmer.com
Copyright © 2007 by G.Schirmer, Inc.Articles from Schirmer News may be copied fornon-commercial educational and informationalpurposes provided that credit is given to G.Schirmer News as the source.
Address Service Requested
With this issue, SchirmerNewsinaugurates a new design anda new quarterly schedule.
Pre-sorted1st Class
US PostagePAID
Permit #247Pittston, PA