Archive 2006-2008

Sunday, April 27, 2008
Alex Shapiro
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Alex Shapiro!Alex Shapiro is one of the West coast's most familiar composers writing rhythmically driven acoustic and electroacoustic chamber music. Chances are you've heard her music, either in performance or in weekly broadcasts across the U.S. and internationally. Her music is often lyrical and highly expressive. Host John Clare caught up with Shapiro during the Chamber Music America Conference at the Westin Times Square in Manhattan. The two talked about creativity, the virtual world, and music.Online Only!Read Alex's blog, Notes from the Kelp - with lots of photos and original compositions!Hear this episode as an mp3 podcast.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Alex Shapiro, Composer Interview, mp3, New Music
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Jennifer Higdon LIVE
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for composer Jennifer Higdon live at the Public Media Center!
It was a misty day that led to rays of sunshine during a discussion of music and creativity with Jennifer Higdon - with a studio audience! Mani played some of Higdon's String Poetic and audience members got to ask questions, as well as win tickets and cds!


Online Only!
Listen to Mani play "Nocturne" from String Poetic by Jennifer Higdon [mp3 file]

Listen to Mani play "The Blue Hills of Mist" from String Poetic by Jennifer Higdon [mp3 file]

See pictures about the event here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Jennifer Higdon, mp3, New Music
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Special Feature: Glen Roven
The world premiere of The Runaway Bunny, a concerto for violin, speaker and orchestra takes place Tuesday, April 29th at Carnegie Hall.
It's also a new release on Sony/BMG - hear more about it here with soloist Ittai Shapira on the New Releases Blog.

John Clare spoke with Roven recently about the new work. [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:38 AM
Labels: Composer Interview, Glen Roven, mp3, The Runaway Bunny
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Andrew Bishop
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for composer and saxophonist Andrew Bishop!
It's a discussion of friends and old schoolmates on the next Composing Thoughts! Andrew Bishop and I went to Wichita State together and studied with composer Walter Mays. Andrew went on to study at Michigan and now has perfomances across the US. Last winter Andrew stopped by the studios and we caught up about his latest projects. Don't miss hearing his Crooning with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, his Hank Williams Project and views on composition!

Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Andrew Bishop, Composer Interview, New Music
Monday, April 07, 2008
2008 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Congrats to the 2008 winner! David Lang "The Little Match Girl Passion" by David Lang, co-commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Corporation and The Perth Theater and Concert Hall, and premiered October 25, 2007 in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City (G. Schirmer, Inc.).Also nominated as finalists were: "Meanwhile" by Stephen Hartke, premiered November 7, 2007 at the University of Richmond (ELR Music Publishing, Inc.), and "Concerto for Viola" by Roberto Sierra, premiered November 11, 2007 at Barnes Hall, Ithaca, NY (Subito Music Publishing).A Special Citation to Bob Dylan for his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.The prize will be awarded in May on the Columbia University campus.
Posted by MAESTRO at 3:14 PM
Labels: composer awards, New Music, Pulitzer Prize
Composer News - Nemmers Prize
Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho was awarded the Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition on April 2. Presented by the Northwestern University School of Music, Illinois, USA, Saariaho wins $100,000 and a performance of one of her works by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She will also take up residency at the School of Music from January 2009 until 2010.The Nemmers Prize committee, an anonymous panel of three people, commented that Saariaho “[transforms] avant-garde techniques into a world of luminous, shifting colour and emotional depth, mirroring the human experience”. The award is presented biennially, recognising modern composers who have had a significant impact in the field of composition. John Adams won the prize in 2004 and Oliver Knussen two years ago.Saariaho was born in Helsinki in 1952. She studied at the Sibelius Academy and at IRCAM in Paris, which influenced her subsequent work with live music and electronics. She has produced work from every genre, first coming to public attention with Verglendungen (1982-84) for orchestra and tape and Lichtbogen (1985-86) for chamber and live electronics. Her first opera, L'amour de loin (2000) was widely received, earning her the Grawemeyer Award in 2002 and she has since written a second opera, Adriana Mater (2006) for the Opera National de Paris.
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:43 AM
Labels: composer awards, Kaija Saariaho, New Music
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Michael Hersch
On the next Composing Thoughts it's composer Michael Hersch with cellist Daniel Gaisford.We're live at the Public Media Center with Michael Hersch and Daniel Gaisford. The two friends and musicians shared thoughts about creativity, education, and composition. We'll hear the Solo Cello Sonata #2 by Hersch.Online Only! See and hear part of Daniel Gaisford's performance of Hersch's Solo Cello Sonata #2.Movement 1, part 1:

Movement 1, part 2

Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Daniel Gaisford, Michael Hersch, New Music
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Lukas Ligeti
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for a composer and percussionist!
[Lukas Ligeti on the deck of his Brooklyn penthouse]
Lukas Ligeti, son of the late György Ligeti, is himself a composer and performer with a wide range of interests. We spoke last fall in Brooklyn about how he started, his work in West Africa, and about creativity.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Lukas Ligeti, New Music
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Yehudi Wyner
Join us for an all new Composing Thoughts with Yehudi Wyner!
It's a conversation with Boston based composer and pianist Yehudi Wyner and host John Clare. Wyner, who is a Pulitzer Prize winner and teaches at Brandeis, discussed composition and creativity.One of the stories Yehudi shares is about his Partita for piano, written in 1952:He tells about Paul Hindemith making notes beneath the staves:
Hear Yehudi discuss studying with Walter Piston, Paul Hindemith and hear a performance of the composer play his Partita 40 years after he wrote it!
And for more information:NPR interview with Wyner and pianist Robert Levin (who premiered the Pulitzer prize winning Piano Concerto by Wyner)Yehudi Wyner's Reflections on the Pulitzer Prize...and other news reports
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, New Music, Yehudi Wyner
Monday, March 17, 2008
RPS Gold Medal: Henri Dutilleux
The celebrated French composer Henri Dutilleux has been awarded The Royal Philharmonic Society’s Gold Medal. Dutilleux, who is 92, will be presented with the medal by the conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier at London’s Wigmore Hall on April 2 following a concert at which the Nash Ensemble will give the premiere of a revised version of Mystère de l’instant. The concert will also include the Diptyque (which weaves in quotations from Benjamin Britten and Jehan Alain) and the string quartet Ainsi la nuit.
Commenting on Dutilleux’s award, Graham Sheffield, the RPS chairman commented that he “has consistently produced work at the very highest level throughout his long composing career, holding steadfastly to his compositional principals and resisting the merely fashionable to create a distinctive and powerful language that is never simplistic. His music deals with the issues of our day, but remains timeless, and its gentle sincerity makes it communicate at every level.”

Following study at the Paris Conservatoire, Dutilleux won the Prix de Rome in 1938 and, after war service, worked as head of music production for Radio France from 1945 to 1963. He also taught at the Paris Conservatoire and was composer-in-residence at Tanglewood in the 1990s. His relatively modest output includes two symphonies, two concertos, piano music (much of it written for his wife Geneviève Joy), chamber works and songs. Last year he was acknowledged for lifetime achievement at the MIDEM Classical Awards.

Via James Jolly, Gramophone.
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:15 AM
Labels: composer awards, Henri Dutilleux, New Music
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Krzysztof Penderecki
It's the legendary composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki on the next Composing Thoughts!
Maestro Penderecki is an internationally renown musician, with performances of his music taking place daily around the world. This October (2008) the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform his Concerto Grosso as well as an all Penderecki chamber music concert!

Last summer the Polish master was in Saratoga Springs, NY to conduct his Symphony No. 2 "Christmas Symphony" (a standing ovation for the performance seen left) and spoke to me the next morning before a chamber music rehearsal. There was a small dance studio open, and we had some coffee and talked about his long and varied career, from the early days of experimental music under the Communist regime, to his most recent work, the Eighth Symphony, Songs of Transience.

Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file]
Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Krzysztof Penderecki, mp3, New Music
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Karel Husa
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for a legendary composer and conductor! Karel Husa is a Pulitzer Prize winning composer who now spends time between New York and North Carolina. He taught at Cornell University in Ithaca for over three decades and continues to write music.Husa's music had a deep impact on me, first hearing it in college, when the wind ensemble played his Music for Prague 1968. Other pieces like the 3rd String Quartet and First Symphony were also important studying their sounds and scores. Later while talking with his student Steven Stucky was able to set up an interview with him.I arrived the night before and had breakfast with Karel and his wife Simone. Our discussion included Ravel and Messiaen, food and travel. Afterwards we went to his study and talked for quite awhile, from composition to teaching, conducting and war.See our original post here.
Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Karel Husa, mp3, New Music
Thursday, March 06, 2008
AMC Awards
44th ANNUAL AMERICAN MUSIC CENTER AWARDSTO HONOR SEVEN OUTSTANDING LEADERS IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN MUSIC ON MAY 5, 2008In 2008, the American Music Center (AMC) honors seven American leaders in contemporary music. A formal ceremony will be held at the Chelsea Art Museum on Monday, May 5, 2008 from 5:30 to 7:30pm; and will take place as part of the American Music Center’s Annual Meeting, open to AMC members, the press, and invited guests.AMC’s Founders Award will be presented to:Steve ReichAMC’s Letter of Distinction will be presented to:Robert Ashley, Joan La Barbara, Edgar Meyer, Ned Rorem, and Joan TowerAMC’s Trailblazer Award will be presented to:Derek Bermel“The individuals we are honoring in our award ceremony this year,” announces AMC Chief Executive Officer Joanne Hubbard Cossa, “are musical icons who have greatly impacted our musical community not just through their own compositions, but also through their extensive contributions as musical citizens.”Hubbard Cossa continues, “Each person represents a wide spectrum of musical styles and approaches. Robert Ashley redefined our concept of the word ‘opera’ in a series of magical works which erase the boundaries between speech and song. Joan La Barbara has shown us how the voice is capable of an endless variety of sounds, not only through vocal explorations in her own compositions but also in her performances of works by a broad range of composers. Edgar Meyer, equally proficient at classical music and country music, erases the boundaries between these styles in his own works, and in doing so has bridged seemingly-impossible-to-bridge audiences.“Ned Rorem continues to lavish us with a remarkable American art song repertoire that is as great a cultural legacy as the renowned lieder and chansons of Europe, while also creating an important catalog of concertos which are championed by soloists and orchestras in concert halls and on recordings. Joan Tower creates vibrant music for chamber ensembles and orchestras, including the multi-Grammy Award-winning work Made in America, which was co-commissioned and performed by orchestras in each of the 50 United States. Steve Reich, recipient of our Founders Award, transformed the way we listen and think about music, and his work continues to have a profound and lasting influence on all musical genres.“Lastly,” notes Hubbard Cossa, “Derek Bermel, our Trailblazer Award honoree, is an exciting voice in our community not only as a composer and virtuoso clarinetist, but also as a mentor to young composers as the founding director of the ‘Making Score’ program of the New York Youth Symphony.”The American Music Center has awarded the Letter of Distinction annually since 1964 to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to the field of contemporary American music. This year’s Letter of Distinction recipients join a celebrated group of individuals and organizations who have received this honor, including George Balanchine, Leonard Bernstein, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Morton Feldman, Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Reich, Michael Tilson Thomas, Virgil Thomson, Randy Weston, the Kronos Quartet, Bang on a Can, and the American Composers Orchestra.The Founders Award was established in 1999 and is named in honor of the six founders of the American Music Center. The Founders Award, which celebrates lifetime achievement in the field of new American music, is awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Previous winners have included Elliott Carter and Lou Harrison.The Trailblazer Award was inaugurated in 2003 to recognize and celebrate early and mid-career individuals deserving of support and applause for their efforts toward furthering new music. Last year’s Trailblazer Award recipient was eighth blackbird.
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:15 PM
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Composer Awards: AAAL
FIFTEEN COMPOSERS RECEIVE AWARDS TOTALING $165,000New York, March 5, 2008 -- The American Academy of Arts and Letters announced today the fifteen recipients of this year's awards in music, which total $165,000. The winners were selected by a committee of Academymembers: Robert Beaser (chairman), Martin Bresnick, John Harbison, Shulamit Ran, Gunther Schuller, and Yehudi Wyner. The awards will be presented at the Academy's annual Ceremonial in May. Candidates for music awards are nominated by the 250 members of the Academy.The winners of this years awards are:Kati AgócsTimothy AndresVirko BaleyJacob BancksDonal FoxTed HearneJames MathesonAndrew McPhersonJames MobberleyJohn Christian OrfePablo OrtizKay Kyurim RhieKate SoperStephen Andrew TaylorAnna WeesnerAcademy Awards in MusicFour composers will each receive a $7500 Academy Award in Music, which honors outstanding artistic achievement and acknowledges the composer who has arrived at his or her own voice. Each will receive an additional $7500 toward the recording of one work. The winners are Virko Baley, Donal Fox, Pablo Ortiz, and Anna Weesner.Goddard Lieberson FellowshipsTwo Goddard Lieberson fellowships of $15,000, endowed in 1978 by the CBS Foundation, are given to mid-career composers of exceptional gifts. This year they will go to James Matheson and Stephen Andrew Taylor.Walter Hinrichsen AwardJames Mobberley will receive the Walter Hinrichsen Award for the publication of a work by a gifted composer. This award was established by the C.F. Peters Corporation, music publishers, in 1984.Charles Ives FellowshipsHarmony Ives, the widow of Charles Ives, bequeathed to the Academy the royalties of Charles Ives' music, which has enabled the Academy to give the Ives awards in music since 1970. Two Charles Ives Fellowships, of $15,000 each, will be awarded to Kati Agocs and Kay Kyurim Rhie.Charles Ives ScholarshipsSix Charles Ives Scholarships of $7500, given to composition students of great promise, will be awarded to Timothy Andres, Jacob Bancks, Ted Hearne, Andrew McPherson, John Christian Orfe, and Kate Soper.
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:51 AM
Labels: composer awards
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Robert Beaser
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for composer and conductor Robert Beaser! We caught up with Maestro Beaser one afternoon at his Upper West Side apartment in Manhattan. I had always been a fan of the American Composers Orchestra, so it was a real joy to meet with one of the driving forces behind the orchestra - formerly the composer in residence, he is currently the Artistic Director.We talked about creativity, composing and teaching - and even heard some of his works on his stereo.
See our original post here.Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, mp3, New Music, Robert Beaser
Friday, February 29, 2008
Special Feature: Ten for Carter
Network for New Music is celebrating the 100th birthday of Elliott Carter early with new works for the piano tonight and Sunday. Composers commissioned include Milton Babbitt, Uri Caine, Jeffery Cotton, Alvin Curran, Jennifer Higdon, Jeffrey Mumford, Augusta Read Thomas, Maurice Wright, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Harrisburg's own Jeremy Gill. These "Ten for Carter" works will be played by pianists Marilyn Nonken and Stephen Gosling.
Host John Clare spoke to Gill about the project...hear their interview:

mp3 file

Network for New Music Ensemble will also perform chamber music by Carter: his trio Con Leggerezza Pensosa, an homage to Italo Calvino; Steep Steps, for solo clarinet; Figment no. 2: Remembering Mr. Ives, for solo cello; and excerpts from 4 Lauds, for solo violin.

Performances are tonight at Symphony Space in NYC and Sunday afternoon at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:41 AM
Labels: Elliott Carter, Jeremy Gill, Network for New Music, Ten for Elliott
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Mark O'Connor
We'll fiddle around on the next Composing Thoughts with the amazing Mark O'Connor!
It was a Saturday afternoon last fall when Zach Baldwin-Way and I made our way to midtown Manhattan to talk with Mark O'Connor. He was laid back and had lots of great stories, from how the name for Butterfly's Day Out was created to taking multiple lessons with different instruments and genres as a teenager!
You might have seen Mark recently with the Baltimore Symphony or at the Forum in Harrisburg with the Wednesday Club - he's touring all over, from his Hot Swing Trio to his Symphony No. 1 "Appalachian Waltz" to just himself solo!

See our original post here.

Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Mark O'Connor, mp3, New Music
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Special Feature: Six Wooden Blocks
Six Wooden Blocks, a contemporary poem (printed below) by Sally McNall, so inspired artist G. Daniel Massad and composer Scott Eggert (pictured right) that they each created their own artistic responses. Massad's painting, part of the G. Daniel Massad: Loading the Work exhibition will be featured in a gallery talk and performance Sunday February 24th at 2 p.m. in the Palmer Museum galleries at Penn State. Karen Bentley Pollick, violin; Dennis Parker, cello; and Justin O'Dell, clarinet, will perform Eggert's original composition.Host John Clare spoke with Eggert (pictured left) about creativity and composition, hear a portion of their discussion:Interview [mp3 file]Six Wooden Blocks by Scott Eggert will receive its world premiere this Saturday, February 23, at 7:30 PM in Zimmerman Recital Hall at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA.Six wooden blocksSally Allen McNall—named revenge, remorserepentance, regretremembrance, releaseYou might spenda whole morningstacking themin one orderthen anotherYou might workchronologicallytheologicallyor attempt magicEach is staineda different color,shades of indigo and violetnone paleThey are fashionedof heartwood,oiled, heavy,never softeningto the touch
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:13 AM
Labels: G. Daniel Massad, LVC, Sally McNall, Scott Eggert, Six Wooden Blocks
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Scott McAllister
On the next Composing Thoughts don't miss Scott McAllister!
Scott McAllister is on faculty at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and grew up in Pennsylvania. Most recently his trombone concerto, Tarkus was premiered by the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Malina and soloist Brett Phillips (also on the faculty of Baylor University!).Scott and I talked off and on before the premiere mostly through email, and finally he came by the Public Media Center one afternoon before the premiere of Tarkus. He met a few of his fans at the station, and then answered questions, ranging from his teaching to his incorporation of popular music in his creative process.Read the original post here.Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, mp3, New Music, Scott McAllister
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Grammy Awards Show
Join us for a special Composing Thoughts with composers nominated for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards!We are pleased that many of our past guests are up for a Grammy Award:
For Best Classical Contemporary Composition [A Composer's Award. (For a contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year.)]David CheskyChesky: Concerto For Bassoon And OrchestraRossen Gergov, conductor; Symphony Orchestra Of Norrlands Opera**Jennifer HigdonHigdon: ZakaEighth Blackbird*Joan TowerTower: Made In AmericaLeonard Slatkin, conductor; Nashville Symphony Orchestra
Best Orchestral Performance (Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra.)José Serebrier Shostakovich: The Golden AgeJosé Serebrier, conductor; Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Best Choral Performance (Award to the Choral Conductor, and to the Orchestra Conductor if an Orchestra is on the recording, and to the Choral Director or Chorus Master if applicable.)Krzysztof PendereckiPenderecki: Symphony No. 7 'Seven Gates Of Jerusalem'Antoni Wit, conductor; Henryk Wojnarowski, chorus master; Boris Carmeli, Ewa Marciniec, Aga Mikolaj, Wieslaw Ochman, Olga Pasichnyk & Romuald Tesarowicz; Warsaw National Philharmonic Choir; Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestraand we had a chance to talk with violinist Anastasia Khitruk who is nominated forBest Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra) (Award to the Instrumental Soloist(s) and to the Conductor.)Rózsa: Violin Concerto, Op. 24Dmitry Yablonsky, conductor; Anastasia Khitruk; Russian Philharmonic OrchestraUPDATE! Congratulations to all the winners - Joan Tower, who swept her three nominated categories and to eighth blackbird who won Best Chamber Music Performance. Read about the other winners on Dr. Dick's blog.
Other nominations include *Joan Tower: Made In America for Best Classical Album, and Best Orchestral Performance; and in the **Best Chamber Music Performance, eighth blackbird is also nominated for their "strange imaginary animals."
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Anastasia Khitruk, Composer Interview, David Chesky, Grammy Awards, Jennifer Higdon, Joan Tower, Jose Serebrier, mp3, New Music
Friday, February 08, 2008
Special Feature: Mark O'Connor
Violinist and Composer Mark O'Connor performs Sunday afternoon at the Forum in Harrisburg for the Wednesday Club.
Host John Clare spoke to O'Connor about his music and performing. Listen to the interview:
Part 1, About the instruments he plays [mp3 file]
Part 2, about teaching [mp3 file]
Part 3, about his upcoming projects [mp3 file]

Read the Patriot News article here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:30 AM
Labels: Composer Interview, Harrisburg, Mark O'Connor, mp3, Wednesday Club
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Steven Stucky
It's the music of Pulitzer Prize winner Steven Stucky on the next Composing Thoughts!
Stucky is the second composer whose music we have revisited, and its always a delight to hear what he's working on. Turns out the Ithaca/Los Angeles composer is busy working on a LBJ work for the Dallas Symphony. We talk with Steve about his role at the LA Philharmonic, teaching at Cornell, and technology.
See the original post here.
Online only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, mp3, New Music, Steven Stucky
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Daron Hagen
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Daron Hagen!
Daron Hagen writes operas, concerti, chamber music and leaves his mark on each piece and performer. I first met Daron in Las Vegas where he was recording with the UNLV Opera Theater. We had a nice chat and stayed in touch, eventually Daron appearing twice on "20/20 Hearing" (a Las Vegas themed show, and his own episode), so when I moved to the east coast, it was a no brainer to meetup with Daron in NYC. We did see each other at various concerts, and finally met up one morning with lots of great coffee and talked with the mics on.Don't miss music from Bandana, a serenade and much more on this week's episode.Read the original posting here.
Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Daron Hagen, mp3, New Music
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Daniel Asia
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with Daniel Asia!
Don't miss a wonderful episode with music from the Cypress String Quartet, oboist Alex Klein, trombonist Benny Sluchin, American Brass Quintet and The Phoenix Symphony! We'll also talk about creativity and teaching composition.

Read the original post here.

Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Daniel Asia, mp3, New Music
Monday, January 14, 2008
Special Feature: Bernstein Festival
This last week, The Philadelphia Orchestra began its Leonard Bernstein Festival at the Kimmel Center. The three week festival (January 10th to February 2nd) celebrates the great American composer, conductor and educator with concerts, talks, and films.
Part of the project includes two commissions for the orchestra and soloists with Jennifer Higdon (pictured with Clare below at intermission). She spoke recently before the premiere of her Concerto 4-3 with host John Clare.
Interview [mp3 file](about 10 minutes)Higdon's The Singing Rooms premieres Thursday night, and both concerti are performed next week with Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony.Clare also spoke with the Philadelphia Orchestra Animateur, Thomas Cabaniss. That conversation will be posted soon.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:02 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, Jennifer Higdon, Leonard Bernstein, mp3, Philadelphia Orchestra, Special Feature, world premiere
Special Feature: John "Buzz" Jones
John "Buzz" Jones (pictured right) has a new composition, Axiom Asunder, with several ensembles collaborating for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. It's a free concert at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Sunday afternoon, January 20th at Three o'clock.

Host John Clare recently spoke with Buzz about the new work.
Interview [mp3 file]

The program notes by Dr. Jones:
Why the title Axiom Asunder? The answer lies in simple word definition and in how each musical episode was constructed to form a cohesive whole. I would suggest that Jazz is an axiom – that is, a self evident and universally recognized form of art. In this composition, asunder refers to the division by historical period of America’s indigenous music into related episodes.The genesis of Axiom Asunder began at The International Association for Jazz Education Conference in New Orleans almost four years ago. I participated in a clinic with Jazz historian and performer Rueben Alvarez as he presented an interactive session on Afro-Cuban rhythms. As I played through and clapped Latin patterns ranging from Rumba and Guaguanco to Guiro and Tumbao, the overall structure of this music took shape. Tracing the circuitous path of West African polyrhythms to their many tangents in the United States seemed an overwhelming task at first but the joy of making new discoveries overcome my reticence.In March, 2003, thanks to a college development grant, I was able to travel to three city centers where jazz flourished in its infancy. My excursion began at the Chicago Public Library’s Blues Archives and continued on to Kansas City. The jazz clubs of 18th and Vine Streets were a hotbed of activity for legendary territory bands like the Bennie Moten Orchestra as they honed their skills for swing dancers in the 1930-40s. A few days later I found my way to the “Cradle of Jazz” – New Orleans. The most informative part of my time in the Crescent City was spent visiting the oral jazz history archive at Tulane University. Cassette tapes from the 1950s reveled musicians like Kid Ory, Nick LaRocca, and Barney Bigard sharing their recollections of the New Orleans jazz scene just after World War I. Such salty language and extra-ordinary stories! Prowling the clubs of Bourbon Street and a visit to the New Orleans Performing Arts High School were also enjoyable.I have long been intrigued with the explosion of African-American poetry during the 1920s that was part of the Harlem Renaissance. Gifted writers such as W.E.B. DuBois, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Thurston, and James Weldon Johnson wrote passionately about racial consciousness. Cultural pride became a focal point of the movement within the context of appreciating one’s African roots. I ultimately chose the poetry of Langston Hughes’ as a connecting element in Axiom Asunder because of his ability to write convincingly about Jazz and the musicians who risked so much to bare their souls.The final part of the puzzle was, of course, dance. At its core, Jazz is all about rhythm. It seemed particularly appropriate that a plethora of choreographed dances -- Bembe, Charleston, Swing, Bebop, Bossa Nova, Gospel – could be aurally enhanced by the breadth of timbres found in the modern jazz orchestra.EPISODE ONE -OCEANS APARTAn African-inspired dance is followed by a hypnotic vamp underscoring the Hughes poem “Negro.” Elegua was a god worshiped by the Yoruban tribe of West Africa. The Afro-Cuban folkloric style of Bembe is in triple meter and emphasizes the clave (or key) rhythm which has permeated Jazz since its beginnings. Bembe is translated as “party with the gods.”I composed Cape Roca in 1996 while visiting Portugal. Cape Roca is the western most point of continental Europe and slave traders passed this way in the 1700s. The Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble with guest soloist Denis DiBlasio first performed this music in 1997 and the Buzz Jones Big Band recorded it on its Millennium Swing compact disc in 2000. I rescored the music for jazz orchestra and added a mambo section to the lilting Bossa Nova and Calypso grooves.EPISODE TWO -NORTHERN TANGENTSA New Orleans brass band offers a solemn chorale as the narrator speaks of “a row of long tall mamas fanning, fainting, and crying” at his funeral. Konkomba (literal translation: poor man’s brass band) is a celebration of life by the musicians using a “second line” percussion beat so common in New Orleans funeral processions. The dancers soon join in on the ever popular Charleston.Jazz musicians migrated north in the early 1920s as the collective improvisation of New Orleans gave way to more stylistically adventurous solos found in Chicago clubs and speakeasies. Chicago is, and remains, a city with a deep Blues tradition. I set the poem “Saturday Night” to music as a gut-bucket blues with the entire band singing a refrain in response to the vocalist’s sordid story. To the southwest lay Kansas City. !8th and Vine is a straight-ahead “riff” tune that is a tribute to Count Basie and his seminal musicians: Lester Young, Jo Jones, Walter Page and Freddie Green to name a few. Swing dancing ruled the day as big bands across the country offered up hot rhythms for folks of all ages.EPISODE THREE –COAST TO COASTEnvision yourself in 1940s Harlem during the early morning hours of a cool spring night. Lenox Ave. at Midnight is an alto saxophone ballad feature with a broad palette of supporting colors and Bossa Nova interlude. The band segues into Dig and be Dug, a Bebop tune for sextet you would have listened to at Minton’s Playhouse after World War II: fiery pyrotechnics and virtuosic solos abound. By the early 1950s Cool and Third Stream Jazz began to surface on both coasts of the U.S. These styles emphasized smoother textures, relaxed tempos, and often incorporated orchestral instruments as well as classical forms. Silver Rain is a waltz composed as a passacaglia and fugue. Jazz aficionados may recognize my nod to the Don Ellis Orchestra’s 1966 recording of Hank Levy’s Passacaglia and Fugue.EPISODE FOUR –GROOVE MACHINEA bass ostinato in 7/8 meter sets up a reprise of the opening Afro-funk motive. LuLu was a madam who owned the most notorious brothel in the Storyville section of turn-of-the-century New Orleans. The Old Tan Path, based on the chord progression from Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom, is the third movement of my cantata Glory Ridge (2001) commissioned for the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra. The “tan path” in question was a 19th century dirt road that led from the Lutheran Theological Seminary down to the borough of Gettysburg. Text for the World Music Ensemble’s vocal parts is based on the Old Testament books of Daniel and Isaiah. The dancers join the orchestra and singers for a joyous gospel “shout” in the finale.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:47 AM
Labels: Composer Interview, Gettysburg, Majestic Theater, MLK Day, mp3
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sebastian Currier
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for a Grawemeyer Award winner!
We caught up with Sebastian Currier at his Manhattan studio one afternoon. The conversation included movies, Anne-Sophie Mutter and how he started in composition.

See the original post here.


Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, mp3, New Music, Sebastian Currier
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Special Feature: Messiaen Celebration
Over the next several months you can hear the entire organ works of Olivier Messiaen free at various churches in Manhattan. The concerts are free and open to the public. (Schedule below)Organist Gail Archer (right) has also recently recorded two of the French master's compositions, L'Ascension and Les Corps Glorieux, on a cd entitled A Mystic in the Making.Archer spoke about Messiaen, her recital project and new recording at her upper West Side apartment recently with host John Clare.InterviewPart 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]Recital ScheduleJanuary 13, 2008, 4:00pm, Centennial Olivier Messiaen Concert 1, Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York, NYFebruary 3, 2008, 4:00pm, Centennial Olivier Messiaen Concert 2, First Presbyterian Church, New York, NYFebruary 24, 2008, 4:00pm , Centennial Olivier Messiaen Concert 3, Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York, NYMarch 8, 2008, 8:00pm, Centenial Olivier Messiaen Concert 4, St. Paul’s Chapel,Columbia University, New York, NYApril 20, 2008, 4:00pm, Centennial Olivier Messiaen Concert 5, St. Vincent Ferrer, New York, NYMay 29, 2008, 8:00pm, Centennial Olivier Messiaen Concert 6, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, NY
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:30 AM
Labels: Gail Archer, interview, mp3, Olivier Messiaen, organ, recitals
Monday, January 07, 2008
Special Feature: Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
This weekend is the world premiere of the Concerto for Blues Harmonica and Orchestra by Corky Siegel (seen left). The composer is joining the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra at the Fulton Opera House this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and will be recorded for MAESTRO Presents.John Clare had a chance to talk to Siegel about this new work.InterviewPart 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]Hear more about Corky Siegel here from NPR Music.

Corky was much easier getting ahold of than another of the composers...read about Dr. Dick's adventures here calling Graeme Koehne (pictured right). Dr. Dick speaks with Graeme Koehne about the new music scene in Australia [mp3 file]

Hear the ArtBeat from Friday, January 4th about the LSO concert here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:45 AM
Labels: Composer Interview, Corky Siegel, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, world premiere
Sunday, January 06, 2008
David Chesky
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for David Chesky!
Don't miss an entertaining and lively conversation with this 2007 Grammy nominee for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for his Bassoon Concerto. We caught up with David at his record company in midtown Manhattan. The conversation went from his Urban Concertos to children's ballets and operas to teaching frisbee at Oxford.
And then tune in for the world premiere performance of Chesky's Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra with Angel Romero and the Lancaster Symphony, conducted by Stephen Gunzenhauser, recorded this past October by MAESTRO-FM - Monday evening between 7 and 9:00 on MAESTRO PRESENTS... on MAESTRO 89.5
See the original post here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, David Chesky, mp3, New Music
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Victoria Bond
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Victoria Bond!Don't miss a wonderful show featuring an interview and music of conductor and composer Victoria Bond.We talked with Victoria in her Greenwich Village apartment in late June 2007. She was excited about writing a new triple concerto for the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra and a patriotic work to be premiered at Mount Vernon.We had met year's earlier at the Conductor's Institute at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. That summer I spent 4 weeks with various conductors and composers - the week Victoria was there she was a specialist in both fields. I even remember some of the repertory we had that week, Mendelssohn's 4th Symphony - the Italian, and seems to me I played a prank on another associate...Ten or more years later we laughed about program, which is still going on, and Victoria still participates! Turns out Victoria was in Harrisburg for many years conducting opera. Her latest cd is Menotti's Old Maid and the Thief.Read our original post here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Labels: Composer Interview, mp3, New Music, Victoria Bond
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Holiday Special!
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for a Holiday Special!
Don't miss music for the season with Roxanna Panufnik (above), John Harbison (right), John Rutter (below left) and more! We'll talk with Roxanna Panufnik about faith and composition, learn about the composition process with John Harbison and hear holiday selections by John Rutter. Also new sounds from King's College Chapel, Cambridge.


Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Penderecki
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts with Krzysztof Penderecki!
Don't miss a conversation in upstate New York with one of the world's leading composers. We caught up with Maestro Penderecki during his residency at Saratoga Springs with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Our discussion included his early avant garde days, Poland and about writing his Eighth Symphony.


Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Husa
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts with Karel Husa!
We caught up with this Czech master at his home in Ithaca, where he taught at Cornell University for 38 years, including students Steven Stucky and Christopher Rouse. Husa discusses his Music for Prague 1968, a work in memory of the 1968 Soviet bloc invasion of Czechoslovakia, and conducting it in Prague! We also find out what Husa is currently writing, what a typical day might be like, and his compositional process.

Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Beaser
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Robert Beaser!Don't miss conductor and composer Robert Beaser as we talk with him in his Manhattan apartment. Beaser teaches at Juilliard and is the Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra. Find out more about balancing creative endeavors and nuturing other composers, how titles come about and what the ink is drying on right now.Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 25, 2007
O'Connor
We'll fiddle around on the next Composing Thoughts!
[picture by Zach Baldwin Way]
Don't miss a great hour of music and conversation with Mark O'Connor. The composer and violinist has a new Americana Symphony, continues to perform around the world, and has started a series of string quartets. We'll also find out how Butterfly's Day Out got its name, how many instruments Mark plays (you can see some of them in the picture above), and the importance of teaching.Mark appears in our area with the Baltimore Symphony, Reading Symphony and at The Wednesday Club in early 2008.
Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 18, 2007
McAllister
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Scott McAllister!

You might have heard Scott's music for the first time with the Harrisburg Symphony (read our special feature on it here, and hear his Trombone Concerto, Tarkus online here) last May (and you might have heard the Presents broadcast Monday, November 19th at 7pm. You can also read a review about the concert here.) We'll talk with Scott about his music including influences from Nirvana, Led Zepplin and Emerson Lake and Palmer.
[pictured right, composer Scott McAllister, trombonist Brent Phillips, and maestro Stuart Malina at the world premiere May 2007 at the Forum, Harrisburg by host John Clare.]

Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Stucky
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Steven Stucky!
We caught up with this Pulitzer Prize winner in his studio in Ithaca, NY for another episode (you can read about our first show here) of Composing Thoughts. The two talked about everything, from the appointment of Gustavo Dudamel in LA (where Steve is Consulting Composer for New Music, formerly Composer in Residence) to teaching and from his teachers to what he is working on right now.
Afterwards, Stucky (pictured right with Elinor) and John caught the world premiere of Dialoghi in upstate New York with cellist Elinor Frey (you can hear it here, and might remember it being broadcast on Composing Thoughts here!)

Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:00 PM
Monday, November 05, 2007
Special Feature: Dubrovnik Symphony
Enjoy new music with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra in Harrisburg this Wednesday!
Host John Clare caught up with composer Pero Šiša,
maestro Zlatan Sržić,and concertmaster Elvira Galioulline during their stay in the US.
Listen to the feature: [mp3 file]

Online only bonus! Hear a message from Pero in Croatian! [mp3 file]Hear the program of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony, Boris Papandopulo's Xylophone Concerto and Pero Šiša's Konavoska Suite Wednesday, November 7th at 7:30pm. Find tickets here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:00 AM
Labels: Dubrovnik Symphony, Harrisburg, New Music, US Tour
Monday, October 29, 2007
Hagen
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for a lively discussion with Daron Hagen!
It was a nice morning in Manhattan complete with Nicaraguan coffee and sublime music when Daron Hagen and host John Clare discussed creativity. Don't miss the latest music including Bandana, a serenade and much more!(And a very Happy Birthday Daron! 11/4)
Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:59 AM
Monday, October 22, 2007
Primosch/Capanna

Join us on the next Composing Thoughts in the city of brotherly love!

We'll catch up with two Philadelphia composers, James Primosch - seen left - professor at the University of Pennsylvania; and with Robert Capanna - seen right with host John Clare- director of the Settlement Music School.

Learn about their latest projects, teaching and of course great new music!

Posted by MAESTRO at 9:13 AM
Monday, October 15, 2007
Asia
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for a renowned professor of Composition!Join us for a lively discussion of music, creativity and teaching with one of today's leading composers, Daniel Asia!We caught up with Asia during a trip to NYC this last summer."Teaching involves establishing rapport and a level of trust that is complicated. Trying to nurture a personality — trying to find a way into a personality … I want my students to find a voice that is theirs, to find materials and sounds that they like." - Daniel Asia

Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast: [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:09 AM
Monday, October 08, 2007
Liederman
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for the composer of the Morning Edition theme!It's BJ Liederman and his themes for NPR, APM and much, much more! Don't miss BJ's take on music, creativity and what just might get him in hot water.Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast:Part 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:24 AM
Monday, October 01, 2007
Currier
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for the 2007 Grawemeyer Award winner!
[photo by John Clare]
It's Sebastian Currier talking about composition, creativity, writing music for Anne-Sophie Mutter and much more! We caught up with Sebastian on the upper west side at his Columbia University studio - don't miss great music and good conversation.Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast! [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:38 AM
Monday, September 24, 2007
Chesky
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for David Chesky!
[photo by Dave Glackin]
Don't miss an exciting and enthralling episode with pianist, conductor and composer David Chesky. We'll talk about composing, writing works for children and keeping classical music vital. Chesky's Flamenco Guitar Concerto premieres at the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and Angel Romero on October 5, 6 & 7th.Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast! [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:04 AM
Monday, September 17, 2007
Bond
Join us for a whole new season of Composing Thoughts, starting Sunday night with Victoria Bond!
[above picture by Casey Houtz]
Victoria Bond kicks off an exciting third season of Composing Thoughts, with music and discussion - we'll hear her piano concerto, discuss titles and also learn about the insights of conducting, composing and creativity.Online Only!Hear more of our interview:Discussing teaching [mp3 file]Gender struggles? [mp3 file]Insight from performing [mp3 file]Post 9/11 composition [mp3 file]Physically composing [mp3 file]You might have heard Bond's latest work, Seduction and Sanctification premiered by the Aureole Trio and Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra! Read more about that here.(additional photos by John Clare)
Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast! [mp3 file] Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:01 AM
Monday, September 10, 2007
Richard Danielpour
Don't miss the next Composing Thoughts with connections to Opera and Baseball!
Richard Danielpour's music is wide ranging and well crafted. Currently New York City Opera is staging his Margaret Garner - with librettist Toni Morrison, and you might have seen him with legendary Hank Aaron in Sports Illustrated. Danielpour talked with us on the upper west side of Manhattan about all of that and much more, including writing for Yo-Yo Ma, dreaming about music, and about creativity.Read our original post here.
Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast [mp3 file]Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:39 AM
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Special Feature: Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra
The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra celebrates ten years of making music this fall. The group consists of Adams County musicians as well as others from Harrisburg, York, Baltimore and Washington, DC. It was founded by Norman and Carolyn Nunamaker. The GCO is featuring two new works on their September 9th program and guest artists, The Aureole Trio.Talking with director and founder Norman Nunamaker.Interview, Part 1 [mp3 file]Interview, Part 2 [mp3 file]
We also met up with composer Victoria Bond (seen with host John Clare, left), who is writing a celebratory work for the orchestra and trio called Seduction & Sanctification.
Part 1, current projects [mp3 file]Part 2, about titles [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:59 AM
Monday, September 03, 2007
Central PA Composers: Brody, Little, Long
On the next Composing Thoughts, enjoy music and conversation with not one, but three composers, who might be in your neighborhood!
It was great sitting down and talking with three composers right here in the midstate. Each are in a different point in their career, and have unique musical styles. David Little (pictured right at Princeton) attended Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, annd is now at Princeton - and happened to study with a composer there who we talked to as well, Patrick Long (pictured below, center). Long is a composer and percussionist at SU. The final composer is James Brody (seen above left with host John Clare) who taught at York College and specializes in electronic music.
You can read our original post here.
Online Only! Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast [mp3 file]Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:42 AM
Monday, August 27, 2007
Eric Ewazen
Join us on the next episode for a teacher and composer at Juilliard, Eric Ewazen. They talked about mentors, students, creativity and composition in the studio at NYC's Juilliard School. Don't miss the charm and music of Eric Ewazen as he talks with host John Clare.
Read our original post here.
Online only!Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast [mp3 file]Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:46 AM
Monday, August 20, 2007
Derek Bermel
What does a rock musician, clarinet soloist and composer in residence think about? Find out with Derek Bermel on this week's Composing Thoughts!
I met up with Derek in Philadelphia one afternoon before the American Composers Orchestra played. I had enjoyed his music making with Music from Copland House, Jazz from Lincoln Center and other awesome groups...so it was nice to sit down and talk creativity with him.

Read our original post here.
Online only!
Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast [mp3 file]
Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:37 AM
Monday, August 13, 2007
Jennifer Higdon
Join us on Composing Thoughts for the magical music of Jennifer Higdon!
[above photo by Andrew Gena]
I first met Jennifer Higdon in person during the intermission of a chamber music concert in Philadelphia. I was in Verizon Hall and she in the Perelman Hall. We said hello briefly. I had been in contact after interviewing her for 20/20 Hearing over the phone, and we stayed in touch. When I moved to Central PA, it was a no brainer to let her know I was in the area, and ever since, figure out when our schedules are clear, catch up professionally and personally.
Back in November 2006, we had a chance to meet up and discuss her work in person at the Curtis Institute, with the mics on and this show is the result.
Read our original post here.Online only!Enjoy this episode as a downloadable podcast [mp3 file]Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:42 AM
Monday, August 06, 2007
Peter Schickele
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for an indepth look at Peter Schickele's music!
[photo by Andrew Gena]
It was a rainy spring day in Manhattan when we met up with Professor Pete on the upper west side. In the kitchen we set up our mics, sat back and discussed his music, creativity and humor. The following month, Schickele came to Lancaster for an award - I saw a couple of performances and had another chance to rap with him. We had a danish and coffee, where he was stopped for an autograph. He was really sweet, just like his music.Read our original post here.Online only! For the first time ever!!! Hear Composing Thoughts on demand as an mp3 file! Due to copyright, music selections are not complete, but telescoped.Click here to hear Peter Schickele's episode
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:55 AM
Monday, July 30, 2007
Central PA World Premieres
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for World Premieres!Hard to believe that there were so many world premieres in a very short span of time in Central PA! From the group Concertante came a new piece by Tigran Mansurian, Con Anima.
Pictured: John, the translator and Mansurian at the Hilton Downtown Harrisburg
Alarm Will Sound wrapped up their residency at Dickinson College with new works including world premieres by Robert Pound and John Orfe.
Pictured: Dickinson College students and Alarm Will Sound
We also had special guests in the studio like Ralph Lehman, bassoonist and composer with Allegro the chamber orchestra of Lancaster; cellist Elinor Frey who played the broadcast premiere of Dialoghi by Steven Stucky (see below to hear the world premiere!); and the amazing Libby Larsen talked with us about her work celebrating the 175th Anniversary of Gettysburg College!

Learn more and see our original post here, complete with more interview clips and special online only features/videos.

Online only! Hear the World Premiere of Dialoghi by Steven Stucky from Cazenovia Counterpoint with cellist Elinor Frey!
Introduction by composer Steven Stucky [mp3 file]
Live performance [mp3 file]
Special thanks to recording engineer Paul Bertalan and the Society for New Music!
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:47 AM
Monday, July 23, 2007
Lisa Bielawa
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Lisa Bielawa!I first heard of Lisa Bielawa as a soloist - it was a holiday special I was producing at NPR - and then I heard her sing on the American Icons disc by Michael Daugherty. Several years later, I kept seeing her name on the web, this time not as a singer, but as a composer. She still sang, but I noticed more and more that it was as a composer that Lisa was being recognized.One morning at MAESTRO, Ellen Hughes introduced me to her Desert Island Discs guest before they taped (at that time my desk was in the music library - at the old Locust Lane location) and it was none other than Lisa Bielawa!Originally, we were supposed to interview Lisa on March 17th, but a late snow storm bringing 10 inches of snow to Harrisburg, stopped our travel plans to New York City that day. Then Lisa was on tour with Philip Glass Ensemble, besides working with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project - where she is in residence - but luckily we spent one afternoon on the upper east side, talking about her music, creativity and composition.Lisa has a new cd just out on the Albany Troy record label, learn more about it here.You can read the original post for this episode here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:36 AM
Monday, July 16, 2007
Roxanna Panufnik
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Roxanna Panufnik!It was a cool March evening when I drove to Philadelphia to hear the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia (seen below right) rehearse a new work to celebrate their 25th Anniversary season by composer Roxanna Panufnik. Roxanna (pictured left) happens to be the daughter of composer Andrzej Panufnik - and I'm a huge admirer of both of their music! It was a real treat to hear them and meet Roxanna that night. We then met the following night after I was off the air and she could feel a little better from her trip from London. Turned out that we had crossed wires about the hotel she was staying at, and our interview ended up about an hour later than we planned. We did allow time afterwards to get sushi at an especially charming Japanese restaurant, and also met up that Saturday for the premiere of Love Abide. Here we are at that concert below:
You can read the original post for this episode here.
Online Only! Listen to this episode as a downloadable podcast! [mp3 file] Due to copyright issues, the music is telescoped.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:38 AM
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Special Feature - Society for New Music
The Society for New Music is presenting Cazenovia Counterpoint this weekend with several world premieres and new works. Founder Neva Pilgrim talked with host John Clare about the society and their mission:Part 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]
One of the premieres this weekend is Dialoghi by Steven Stucky, broadcast with cellist Elinor Frey previously on Composing Thoughts!
Here are program notes from the composer:DIALOGHI for solo cello (2006)Steven StuckyAmong composers there is an old tradition of honoring patrons or friends by incorporating their names into the fabric of the music. One version is the soggetto cavato (carved subject) of Renaissance music. Later examples include the BACH motif, D.Sch. as the personal symbol of Shostakovich, and the coded names in Schumann’s piano music.Dialoghi (Dialogues) was wriiten as a gift to a friend, the American cellist Elinor Frey. Its theme is the six letters of her first name, translated into notes: E, L (= la, or A), I (= mi, or E), N (= G, according to one often-used system), O (= do, or C), and R (= re, or D) — hence the work’s subtitle, “Studi su un Nome,” studies on a name. The music unfolds in seven short, vividly contrasting variations. Since the name-theme uses only five different notes, namely the pentatonic C, D, E (twice), G, and A, many of the variations juxtapose these five with other, contrasting combinations drawn from the remaining seven notes of the chromatic scale. The last variation leads to a grand restatement of the theme but then subsides into a serene coda.Why “dialogues”? Partly because the theme notes and the non-theme notes so often engage in “conversation” throughout, but more importantly because the friendship being recognized in this piece rests not only on my musical collaborations with Elinor but also on our wonderful conversations about books, music, paintings, films, psychology, religion, food, and all things Italian (hence the Italian title).Dialoghi was composed in October 2006 and was given its first public performance by its dedicatee in Cazenovia, New York, on 14 July 2007.See the broadcast for Composing Thoughts of Dialoghi with Elinor Frey:QuickTime movieWindows Media FileMpeg fileRead the original post from our show on World Premieres here, airing again on August 5th @ 6pm.You can also read articles from New Music Box about Central PA here, and about the Syracuse area here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:21 AM
Monday, July 09, 2007
John Harbison
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for John Harbison!
I first spoke with John Harbison several years ago, before the premiere of his Abraham - commissioned by Pope John Paul II. I had known his music for quite some time, so it was a real pleasure to interview him in person before the east coast premiere of his Concerto for Bass Viol in Philadelphia. (You can learn more and hear an interview with the principal bassist, Harold Robinson here.)
I attended the Friday night concert, that also included the amazing Marin Alsop conducting Wagner and Copland, and afterwards attended a charming gathering of John's friends at a nearby restaurant. It was nice to connect with these new and old friends, including the dapper Murray Horowitz.
You can read the original post for this episode here.

Posted by MAESTRO at 9:17 AM
Monday, July 02, 2007
John Rutter
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with John Rutter!
We caught up with composer and conductor John Rutter one afternoon while he was working on a new work for the Queen of England! Rutter also shared his start in composition, how he came around to conducting the Cambridge Singers and having his works performed by musicians around the world!
Read the original post here with online only interview excerpts.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:25 AM
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Composer/Orchestra Awards
Congratulations to these fine groups on these awards!2006-2007 ASCAP AWARDS FOR ADVENTUROUS PROGRAMMINGPresented by ASCAP and the American Symphony Orchestra LeagueJohn S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to New American MusicAtlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano, Music DirectorMorton Gould Award for Innovative ProgrammingChicago Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, Principal Conductor andPierre Boulez, Helen Regenstein Conductor EmeritusAwards for Programming of Contemporary MusicOrchestras with Annual Operating Expenses More Than $14.1 MillionFirst Place: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Music DirectorSecond Place: The Cleveland Orchestra, Franz Welser-Möst, Music DirectorThird Place: San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Music DirectorOrchestras with Annual Operating Expenses $5.7 – $14.1 MillionFirst Place: New World Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Artistic DirectorSecond Place: Nashville Symphony, Leonard Slatkin, Music Advisor and ConductorThird Place: Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Kahane, Music DirectorOrchestras with Annual Operating Expenses $1.8 – $5.7 MillionFirst Place: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Kahane, Music DirectorSecond Place: Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Edward Cumming, Music DirectorThird Place: New Mexico Symphony, Guillermo Figueroa, Music DirectorOrchestras with Annual Operating Expenses $470,000 – $1.8 MillionFirst Place: Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, Artistic DirectorSecond Place: Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Kent Nagano, Music Director and ConductorThird Place: South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Delta David Gier, Music DirectorOrchestras with Annual Operating Expenses $470,000 or LessFirst Place: Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Anthony Spain, Music DirectorSecond Place: Orchestra 2001, James Freeman, Artistic Director and ConductorThird Place: Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Brendan Townsend, Music DirectorCollegiate OrchestrasFirst Place: Portland State University Symphony Orchestra, Ken Selden, Music DirectorSecond Place: Peabody Symphony and Concert Orchestra, Hajime Teri Murai, Director of Orchestral ActivitiesThird Place: Stanford Symphony Orchestra, Jindong Cai, Music Director and ConductorYouth OrchestrasFirst Place; Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Allen Tinkham, Music DirectorSecond Place; Etowah Youth Orchestras, Michael R. Gagliardo, Music Director and ConductorThird Place: Vermont Youth Orchestra, Troy Peters, Music DirectorFestival OrchestrasFirst Place: Cabrillo Music Festival, Marin Alsop, Music Director and ConductorSecond Place: The Aspen Music Festival and School, David Zinman, Music Director
Posted by MAESTRO at 5:36 PM
Monday, June 25, 2007
Karl Jenkins/Danny Elfman
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for two "popular" composers: Karl Jenkins and Danny Elfman!You've probably heard the music of these composers on the big screen, television, ads or on the radio. What goes into their craft?Tune in and hear more about Palladio, The Armed Man, the Simpsons and Serenada Schizophrana!You see our original post here, complete with online extras and a transcript!Posted by MAESTRO at 9:00 AM
Monday, June 18, 2007
Michael Torke
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for composer Michael Torke!
[photo by Andrew Gena]
I remember the first time I heard a Michael Torke work: on the radio in Kansas and it was a "driveway moment" where I couldn't go to my college class until I heard what this piece was...turned out it was Adjustable Wrench.The very first time I met Michael Torke was in Las Vegas when I interviewed him for 20/20 Hearing in October 2003. It was during a vacation for him, and happened to be the first day broadcasting a new 24/7 classical station. So, while it was wonderful to talk "live", it was a very busy day.Zoom a few years ahead, and we met up with Michael at his "corner in Manhattan," in Greenwich Village one December afternoon. The conversation ranged from influences to his latest projects, from opera to rock music, and alot more. Afterwards we grabbed fish n chips at Mr Dennehy's just around the corner.Find out more here, complete with online only interview clips!Posted by MAESTRO at 9:03 AM
Monday, June 11, 2007
Danielpour
Composer Richard Danielpour is up to bat on the next Composing Thoughts!
We caught up with Richard on the upper west side of New York City and talked about composition, creavitity and baseball! You might have seen his opera, Margaret Garner last year in Philadelphia - and coming up June 23rd on NPR's World of Opera- if not, it'll be in New York this fall; or perhaps you've seen him in a recent Sports Illustrated magazine, talking about his new work in tribute to baseball greats...Pastime.

[A young Richard Danielpour and Hank Aaron]
Special Online Only!Hear more of our interview!More than one performance? [mp3 file]Teaching composition [mp3 file]Baseball? [mp3 file]World influences [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 6:42 AM
Monday, June 04, 2007
Central PA Composers 2
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with composers in our area!
[John Clare and James Brody in the MAESTRO Studios]

We'll catch up with three talents from our area: Patrick Long, composer and percussionist at Susquehanna University; Long's former student, David Little - a composer pursuing his PhD at Princeton; and James Brody, an electronic composer in York, PA.
[David Little, on location in Princeton]
[Patrick Long in performance]
Special Online Only!Hear our complete unedited interviews:Patrick Long [mp3 file]part 2 [mp3 file]David Little [mp3 file]part 2 [mp3 file]James Brody [mp3 file]part 2 [mp3 file]Learn more about other composers in our area by clicking here; and learn about another composer from York, PA here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:18 AM
Monday, May 28, 2007
Ewazen
Join us for our next show with Eric Ewazen!
[photo by Andrew Gena]
Last Spring we joined Eric at his NYC studio at the Juilliard School for a conversation ranging from creativity to inspirations. Don't miss hearing his Oboe Concerto, Diamond World and much more!Special Online Only!Hear more of our interview:About playing musical instruments [mp3 file]About the physical process of composition [mp3 file]About naming musical works [mp3 file]About pieces which get overlooked [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:52 AM
Monday, May 21, 2007
Bermel
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with Derek Bermel!
We caught up with Derek while he was on the job: visiting Philadelphia with the American Composers Orchestra. Discussion included creativity, performing, and how he started composing!
Thanks to Matt and the members of eighth blackbird for their live recording of Tied Shifts (see below also!)
Special Online Only!More interview clips with Derek:About teaching [mp3 file]Communicating as a performer [mp3 file]In residence with the ACO [mp3 file]Go backstage and hear the entire unedited interview with Derek and John [part1] [part2]Watch and listen to eighth blackbird play Derek's Tied Shifts!
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:07 AM
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Special Feature - Harrisburg Symphony
The Harrisburg Symphony is performing a new work, commissioned for their Principal Trombonist, Brent Phillips this weekend. Composer Scott McAllister (left) is at the Baylor University School of Music. His new piece is called Tarkus and is a concerto for trombone and orchestra. McAllister spoke with Ellen Hughes recently about the world premiere.Part 1, What is the inspiration of the title, Tarkus? [mp3 file]Part 2, Blending rock and other styles of music in your works, is it well received? [mp3 file]Part 3, Do you think that concert-goers will find this music difficult? [mp3 file]Listen to excerpts of Emerson Lake & Palmer's Tarkus here at Amazon.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:18 AM
Monday, May 14, 2007
Higdon
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with Jennifer Higdon!
Jennifer was the very first composer we talked with on Composing Thoughts, and we caught up with her one morning at the Curtis Institute to find out about new commissions with the Philadelphia Orchestra, how she started composing, and about curiosity.Special Thanks to Louise Beach and the Tokyo String Quartet for their permission to broadcast An Exultation of Larks!Special Online Only!Hear Jennifer discuss her Concerto for Orchestra. [mp3 file]A short segment about the Percussion Concerto [mp3 file]Talking about String Poetic [mp3 file]An interview outtake (listen closely for a soprano rehearsing!) [mp3 file]About writing Dooryard Bloom'd [mp3 file]Hear Dooryard Bloom'd via NPR
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:54 AM
Monday, May 07, 2007
Schickele
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with Peter Schickele!
[photo by Andrew Gena]
Host John Clare interviews Schickele in his Manhattan office...the two talk about driving around while composing (an expensive habit as gas rises to $3.00 a gallon!), writing for friends and growing up in Fargo...and of course, that nom de plume, PDQ Bach! Schickele will be honored with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra Composer's 2007 Award May 18-20th.Special Online Only!Hear John and Peter talk about composition and Johannes Brahms. [mp3 file]NEW! Get a sneak peek at next week's episode! [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:15 AM
Monday, April 30, 2007
World Premieres
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for world premieres in Central PA!
Don't miss the world premiere broadcasts of Libby Larsen's Crowding North, Tigran Mansurian's Con Anima and Steven Stucky's Dialoghi. See our previous world premiere coverage of Concertante, Alarm Will Sound, the York Symphony and Gettysburg College.
Special Online Only!Hear the entire unedited interview with composer Ralph Lehman{pictured left at MAESTRO}, and his upcoming Chamber Symphony for Allegro, the Chamber Orchestra of Lancaster. Part 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]Part 3 [mp3 file]


Learn more about the sounds Cellist Elinor Frey {seen second from top and also right with host John Clare} creates with this video [Windows Media File]See and hear Seven Butterflies by Kaija Saariaho with Elinor Frey in our studios! [Windows Media File]
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:40 AM
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Special Feature - Gettysburg College
This weekend you can hear a world premiere by composer Libby Larsen. Larsen is in residence this semester at Gettysburg College and completing a musical piece to celebrate the college's 175th anniversary. The piece will be performed by the college's musical groups at its world premiere April 28 and 29 at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg.Host John Clare has the latest about the work, still untitled as of 4/24. He spoke with faculty, students and the composer about the new piece.InterviewPart 1, with student Alexander Englert, about having Larsen in residence [mp3 file]Part 2, with conductor Lewes Pedell [mp3 file]Part 3, with composer Libby Larsen [mp3 file]Special Online Only!Hear the unedited interview version with student Alexander Englert, poet Deborah Larsen, conductor Robert Natter, and professor Buzz Jones. [mp3 file] (about 17 minutes)
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:31 AM
Monday, April 23, 2007
Bielawa
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with Lisa Bielawa!
We talked with Lisa in Manhattan one afternoon, and learned more about her work with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, creativity and upcoming pieces.
Lisa Bielawa's compositions include concert works for orchestra, chorus, and solo voices, and music theater pieces and operas. Since 1992, she has recorded and performed internationally as the vocalist in the Philip Glass Ensemble.
Special Online Only!Hear more of our interview with Lisa Bielawa:Physically writing the music [mp3 file]Being a young composer in the 21st century [mp3 file]Describing your style [mp3 file]Lines of styles [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:15 AM
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Special Feature - York Symphony
The York Symphony Orchestra plays a concert"New Land, New Legend" this Saturday, April 21st, 2007 at 8:00 pm in the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center.
On the program is a world premiere by young composer Chris Whittaker. It's a piece that the orchestra commissioned, entitled The End of Winter.
Host John Clare interviewed Chris one day last week:

Part 1 - A new work in Central PA. [mp3 file]
Part 2 - I asked him about the title, The End of Winter. [mp3 file]
{photo of John and Chris by Steve Kennedy}
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:48 AM
Monday, April 16, 2007
Composer News- Pulitzer Prize
Congratulations to Ornette Coleman on the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Music for "Sound Grammar.''John Coltrane received a special citation, "for his masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz."Also nominated as finalists in the music category were: "Grendel" by Elliot Goldenthal, premiered June 8, 2006 by the Los Angeles Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, libretto by Julie Taymor and J.D. McClatchy; and "Astral Canticle" by Augusta Read Thomas, premiered June 1, 2006 by the Chicago Symphony OrchestraHear interviews with previous Pulitzer Prize winners and nominees on Composing Thoughts, Sunday nights at seven on MAESTRO-FM.[photo of Ornette Coleman from the All About Jazz website.]
Posted by MAESTRO at 2:13 PM
Panufnik
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for Roxanna Panufnik.Roxanna Panufnik is known for her engaging melodies and warm harmonies; whether its her violin concerto, Abraham written for Daniel Hope, Beastly Tales with words by Vikram Seth, or the Westminster Mass. We caught up with Roxanna for the world premiere of Love Abides, written for the 25th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Choral Arts Society (seen at a rehearsal below right).Special Online Only! American Idol and Composing Thoughts?! Hear Roxanna answer John about the singing craze currently going on. [mp3 file]John and Roxanna also spoke about The Upside Down Sailor, a wind nonet with narrator. It is a work like Panufnik's string quartet Olivia, that has optional parts for "budding" instrumentalists. [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:49 AM
Monday, April 09, 2007
Harbison
Join us on the next Composing Thoughts for John Harbison!
John Clare and John Harbison backstage at the Kimmel Center.Photo by Andrew Gena.
You might have heard award winning composer John Harbison's music on the radio, on on stages around the world; he's served as composer in residence for the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Tanglewood, Marlboro, and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festivals, and the American Academy in Rome! We caught up with him while he was in Philadelphia for the east coast premiere of his Concerto for Bass Viol.Special Online Only!John Harbison talks about working with Elliott Carter and Milton Babbitt at Tanglewood in a Stravinsky classic, the Soldier's Tale. [mp3 file]
Hear an interview with Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassist Hal Robinson (seen left with host John Clare) before his performance of Harbison's Concerto for Bass Viol.[mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:50 AM
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Composer News
From AP:Pulitzer-winning composer named artist in residence at Institute for Advanced StudyPRINCETON, New Jersey: Paul Moravec, who has composed more than 90 works and won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in music, has been named artist in residence at the think tank where Albert Einstein pondered the universe.Starting in July, Moravec, 49, will introduce new works and lead the Institute for Advanced Study's annual concert series, the institute announced this week.Moravec has written more than 90 compositions, including the Pulitzer-winning "Tempest Fantasy," a 30-minute "musical meditation" on Shakespeare's play scored for clarinet, violin, cello and piano."I am delighted and privileged to participate in the life of this incomparably prestigious institution," Moravec said in a statement. "In addition to directing the IAS concert series, I will be composing my first major opera as well as a new piece for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra."Founded in 1930, the Princeton-based institute is an independent academic institution. Einstein was one of its first faculty members, serving from 1933 until his death in 1955.Pianist Robert Taub was the first artist-in-residence from 1994 to 2001. The term of Taub's successor, Jon Magnussen, ends June 30.___On the Net:Paul Moravec: http://www.paulmoravec.com/Our interview on Composing Thoughts: http://composingthoughts.blogspot.com/2006/02/moravec.html
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:27 AM
Monday, April 02, 2007
Rutter
Enjoy a conversation with composer John Rutter on the next Composing Thoughts!We spoke with Rutter before the holidays in late 2006. He told us about writing a new work for the Queen, recording with the Cambridge Singers, and about inspirations.Special Online Only!Hear more of our interview:About including the Compline Service on his latest release [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:03 AM
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Special Feature - Alarm Will Sound
The new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound wraps up its residency at Dickinson College this spring, and their "farewell" performance is this Saturday, March 31st at 7:00pm in Rubendall Hall on the Carlisle, PA campus.On the program are a couple of world premieres - one by John Orfe, the pianist of Alarm Will Sound and he's been filling in this year for Jennifer Blythe who is on sabbatical. I spoke to John about his new Chamber Symphony.Part 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]Part 3 [mp3 file]Also, composer and conductor Robert Pound has written a new work for the concert as well. He spoke with host John Clare about his new piece, Plays Well With Others, and about Alarm Will Sound's stay at Dickinson.Part 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]Find out more about Central PA concerts and events online at This Week in Central PA.
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:14 AM
Monday, March 26, 2007
Jenkins/Elfman
This week we feature two composers - and chances are you've already heard their music on TV or in the Theater: Karl Jenkins (seen left) and Danny Elfman (below right).Karl Jenkins is a composer who has garnered praise around the world with performers like Kiri TeKanawa (and no lawsuits or briefs scandals I might add!), Bryn Terfel and the London Philharmonic. His music has also been used in commercials, most famously in DeBeer's Diamond commercials! Host John Clare interviewed Jenkins after a performance in NYC's Carnegie Hall on the phone.Danny Elfman's theme to the Simpsons is heard every day somewhere on the television, but he isn't just a movie and television composer - the American Composers Orchestra commissioned him for a concert work, Serenada Schizophrana. John spoke with Danny about the new work and his composition process.Special Online only!Karl Jenkins Special FeatureHear more of the interviewPart 1 Advice to young composers [mp3 file]Part 2 Writing ballet [mp3 file]Part 3 Working on a film score [mp3 file]Part 4 What's left to write? [mp3 file]Part 5 Working with Pamela Thorby [mp3 file]Part 6 Knowing who you're writing for [mp3 file]Special feature for ElfmanThe following transcription is offered for entertainment and information and may not be used or reprinted without express permission:Composing Thoughts: Congratulations on this latest album, it’s just fantastic.Danny Elfman: Well, thank you, I appreciate it.CT: I was very interested in the title and how this came about.DE: I wish I had a really good story. The whole process of making this, putting together, writing this composition was so schizophrenic for me, I didn’t know what to call it. I expected it to be something that had links between – more like trying to do some kind of novel – and it ended up being a collection of short stories that on the surface had nothing to do with each other, but in some weird way, kept playing themselves together and in the same order, so whatever their connection is, they’re subconscious at my level. The whole thing felt like a battle between all the different warring composers that live in my head. I knew that the whole thing was a very schizophrenic thing, and so I just wanted to make a play on words and do something that wasn’t too pretentious. I liked Serenada Schizophrana. By the way, Everything But the Kitchen Sink was the first title I came up with.CT: Maybe a follow-up piece?DE: Yeah, exactlyCT: I was curious how it was working in the pure orchestral world as opposed to the film world, and if it was different. I suppose studio musicians usually have click tracks and the film score in front of them and the film rolling, as opposed to an orchestral rehearsal without click tracks and just the conductor.DE: Well, it was an incredible education for me. First, writing without picture was a great joy, because frequently when I’m on a score, I come across an area where I’m writing a piece of music, and I’m just really enjoying myself, and I wish I could keep going. But, you know, whether it’s 45 seconds or a minute or two minutes, whatever the cut-off is, the movie changes, and so the music has to change too. So, as much as I’d like to keep going, I don’t, and this time, I could. I could just let everything just run amok, and it was really fun. It was really hard to get everything started. It was really hard launching each piece. Getting momentum going was a huge struggle. Then, once each of these pieces started getting inertia, they just started taking over, and then it became fun.CT: I thought it was interesting that it was also used in the Imax film later.DE: Well, that was a piece of luck, you know. They were looking for music, and I was in the middle of another score. They were able to hear a piece of a recording of Serenada, and they said, well this actually sounds pretty good. We were able to work out something that worked for them and for me. I was able to get a recording of Serenada out of it. I did a lot of variations on it, and some original non-Serenada stuff as well for their movie. It kind of was a win-win thing. It was just a lucky break, really.CT: Did the American Composers Orchestra approach you about this originally, or was there someone particular in the process of commissioning this work?DE: Well, all I know is I got a call from my agent saying the American Composer Orchestra had asked if I was interested in doing something this next year, following year, in New York, and I just said, “Eh, OK.” Literally, it was that simple. I asked what the restrictions were, I went out there and met with them, and they just said, “Well, not less than twenty minutes, in which case, we’ll split the second half of the evening with you and somebody else, and not more than forty.” And that was really it. Originally, it was for a small room underneath Carnegie Hall, and it actually got a lot more difficult and intense for me when I got bounced upstairs. When I first took the commission, it was for a 300-400 seat theater with a small orchestra. I wanted to be way off the radar. .I felt a lot more pressure, and the whole thing got a whole lot more ambitious on my end, I think, when I realized I was in the big hall.CT: There’s such a heritage and wonderful history there, that it’s neat to bring it into the twenty-first century. And the link -- all the way back to, what, 1893 or so?DE: I guess so. All I can say is that looking at the music on the sides of the walls, the original manuscript, was so intimidating, it almost completely paralyzed me to the point where I couldn’t start writing.CT: Has that ever happened with film scores – that you see a scene and nothing comes about? And if so, how to you approach that and solve that writer’s block?DE: Well, in film music, we don’t have the luxury of writer’s block. Writer’s block is a luxury for those who have time to be blocked. My whole discipline for twenty-one years now has been to get myself to kick my ass and get myself moving, you know what I mean? So when I see picture, I will hear something. I’ve got to work it really, really hard in the beginning to find the tone, to get themes worked out. Then, at a certain point, once I have done that, the scenes just call for the music; I look at the music and I play the music. This was a lot harder, not having anything to kick-start with. But in the end, I did run out of time, and found myself with eight weeks left and no music to show for it. And so, my film composer beast rose up and kind of put me into that discipline mode, where it’s like, you don’t have time to sit around here wondering what you want to do and feeling intimidated. You gotta get your ass into that chair in front of the piano and start working, and I did. So I have a lot of training of – when the adrenaline goes, I go, and just to move. And so that kind of saved me in the end here.CT: I’m glad it did, it’s a wonderful score.DE: Oh, it was so much fun. Once I finally got going, it was a blast. I think with anything, it’s hard to get those first steps. It’s hard to start that boulder rolling uphill. Sometimes it seems impossible, but, you know, at a certain point, it’s rolling downhill, and then it’s fun.CT: The physical part of composition, the actual writing of the music, do you sit in front of a computer, in front of a keyboard? Do you write with pencil and paper? Tell us about the physical process.DE: I stopped using pencil and paper about eleven years ago. Now I work in front of a computer, and I have a palette of mock orchestra sounds that I work with, and I’m able to conjure up sounds that are a little more dense, things that I’m reaching for, than I could do just straight out of my head on paper. I used to do demos of every piece and then write them all down for my first ten years. In hindsight, I think it was a good thing, even though I don’t think I ever worked less than eighteen hours a day! I think it was a good discipline, even though now, with the computer, I no longer have to do that. I can play music in and then print it out.CT: And actually be able to see it right there, sure. I think it’s very interesting folks like Korngold and Herrmann and some of your heroes that were in the liner notes were in the classical world and then made the jump to the film work, and here you are doing the opposite. You’ve been in a rock band, and in films scores, and now you’re approaching the classical world. How’s that trip?DE: It’s a weird trip, because it’s something that I feel like I have no right to do, and yet, as always, in the end – I try to argue myself why I have no right to be doing something, I shouldn’t be doing something, but there’s a certain point where it just goes, you know, to hell with it, I want to do it, and I’m enjoying it so I’m just going to do it and not worry about it. I can’t compare myself to the great masters that inspired me. If I think about that too much, I’ll never write a note. I’m not the film composer that Korngold or Herrmann was. They were great composers - Alex North Franz Waxman, Tiomkin, those were amazing composers. And they were inspired by an even higher level of more amazing composers, which would be Stravinsky, Mahler, Shostakovich, and Prokofiev. If you start thinking, dwelling too much on being that – I’m inspired by early twentieth century music, but I can’t compare myself to the masters in any way, shape or form, so I find it best just not to. Just to try to enjoy myself. I’ve got – whatever meager talents I have is all I have to work with. And I could either obsess over the fact that I will never in my lifetime or any other lifetime be what Stravinsky was – I can’t let that keep me from doing what I love doing.CT: I know you wrote an overture for John Mauceri and his farewell at the Hollywood Bowl. Did it help knowing him in writing that piece?DE: Well, no I only met him when I did that piece – I’m sorry, when I did Serenada. So I met him last year. It was at the end of him conducting the Serenada that he said, “By the way, later in the year I’ve got this concert coming up. Why don’t you write me an overture?” Once again, I thought for about a second, then I said, “Eh, OK.” No-one’s ever had to twist my arm too hard to get me to write something if it seems like it’s something I haven’t done before or for something that’s interesting. I’m eager to do things that I haven’t done. I’d never done anything like that. It was actually a lot more work than I imagined, but I’m glad I did it.CT: You keep on mentioning how much work this is. I suspect that a classical audience, whether it be at the Hollywood Bowl or in Carnegie Hall, is probably quite a bit – there’s less in the audience than are hearing The Simpsons each week – you know, the millions of folks that hear your music in movies. And yet it’s so much work.DE: Oh yeah, it’s gratifying. If I’m just going to score films, I’m gong to go crazy. For ten years, I balanced myself between being in a rock band and scoring. Then, for ten years, I did just scoring, and I found that I was going kind of postal half the time. Film work is so intense and it’s so difficult and in the end it can be so frustrating, and on occasion, really frustrating and unsatisfying in the end result. It’s kind of maddening. There are those few things every now and then that will be satisfying, and that’ll fuel me on, but I need to do things I haven’t done before, and film doesn’t often offer that opportunity. Occasionally it does, and I’m grateful for it. But I realize that if any opportunity comes along to do something I haven’t done before, like these commissions, I have to, to keep myself sane. I have to jump for them. And now, I’m hoping to work on a ballet next year, so I hope that I can keep this going.CT: Very cool! And yet another medium that you can employ that wonderful creative imagination.DE: Well, ballet – much of the music that I was inspired by as a young man and a teenager were ballets, so I feel probably closer to ballet than to any form of classical music in terms of – so much of the things I love were Prokofiev and Stravinsky ballets. That got me started thinking that kind of music in the first placeCT: There’s such an immediacy to a film score. There’s a deadline, obviously, and it’s recorded because it goes along with the sound track, and yet in the classical world, you knew probably more than a year ahead of this American Composers Orchestra. That immediacy – does that affect the work?DE: Well, no, it was the same because even thought I knew a year in advance, I didn’t think about it until it was right on top of me. So it just became, instead of a film, for this period of time, I’m going to do this. It had the same effect – it was right there, I had a deadline, I had to really get myself moving. But unlike what I was used to, I didn’t have a director showing up. I didn’t have a film in front of me. I had to do more of the whip-cracking myself, because there were no whips cracking at me, that I’m used to. But it was very similar. I still found myself arriving at the moment where I must start writing now, which I’m used to.CT: Do those moments also affect sometimes the score itself where the director says “I’m looking for this particular mood,” whereas those limitations weren’t here for the Serenada?DE: Well, yeah, precisely. It made it harder to start, because if I see picture, I will always hear music in my head. It always gives me something to start with. And there was no picture, so it was much harder to begin everything. But once I got going, it was more fun, because I could let anything run amok. One of the more frustrating sides of films is that when I fall into something that I’m really enjoying, I can’t keep it going. I have to stop, you know. I only have, whatever, a minute-fifteen and that’s it – now the movie has changed. As much as I like it, it’s over. And here, I didn’t have that restriction. I really felt like I was turning a bunch of kids loose in a room and letting them just completely destroy the place.CT: I’m speaking with Danny Elfman. I was curious, what’s coming next? You mentioned a ballet. What’s going on in the film-scoring world?DE: Well, I have – Charlotte’s Web comes out next month. That will be followed – I’m just finishing, about to go to orchestra, with a Disney animation called Meet the Robinsons. I move right into a very intense Middle Eastern thriller called The Kingdom. And then I move right into a Errol Morris documentary on Abu Greb – Graib – Grahb – help me out! Every time I get it wrong. Say it – Abu … Ga-rab? Or Graib? Everyone says it a little bit differently! But yeah, I love it – I’ll have that contrast this year. From Abu Ghraib to Charlotte’s Web is a nice juxtaposition for me.CT: Definitely. Is it hard to balance everything with being a new dad and trying to work in the classical world and the film scores – does it seem like a juggling act sometimes?DE: Well, it’s all a juggling act, but I’m happiest when I’m juggling. Like I said before, if I just do film composition, I’ll go nuts. I’ll flip, I’ll pull out a gun and shoot a director or something will happen and that’ll end it. So I need to do something else, and this is a good venue. In terms of having a new child, a son in the family, well, that’s always a wonderful thing. I can’t say it helps with my work at all! That kind of juggling just makes everything a little more difficult, but it’s worth it, as every parent knows. Since I work at home, it’s rough, because every time I walk through the house, if I get spotted by my son, who’s about to turn twenty-two months, I’m done for; he catches me, and I can’t just walk past him. Even though in my own head, I might just be coming up for a drink of water or a cup of coffee, he nabs me, and that’s it for the next forty-five minutes.CT: I’ll finish, Danny, asking about inspirations and those sorts of things. What sort of sounds and different things inspire you in your music?DE: I don’t know. Again as I said in the liner notes, I think that I consider myself a throwback. I’m a big fan, I was inspired by early twentieth century orchestral music, and then by the Golden Age film composers quite a bit. But even those incredible film composers who were writing in the forties through the sixties, that I think was the greatest age for film composition, they were also – their music was inspired by the music from the early part of the twentieth century, the European composers and American composers. It all comes from that same place, and I think that I weirdly lost the classical music link. Somewhere in the middle of the century on, something lost me, and I find myself still linked to that earlier time with driving rhythms and melodies still present in a certain way. The first time I heard Prokofiev, it was like love at first listen, and the same with Bernard Herrmann, so those things are forever a part of me.CT: And you have a great orchestra out there – LA Phil with Salonen is just a great resource. They’re doing a lot of great music.DE: That’s very true.CT: Well, Danny, I appreciate your time today, and again, congratulations. This is just wonderful stuff.DE: Thank you, my pleasure. I really enjoyed it.(c) 2006 -Thanks to Melissa Dunphy, Mariko Tada and Max Horowitz for their gracious help!
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:44 AM
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Composer News - Stoeger Prize
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s 2006-2007 Elise L. Stoeger Prize has been awarded to composer Pierre Jalbert. The Stoeger Prize is a $25,000 cash award given every two years in recognition of significant contributions to the chamber music repertory. Mr. Jalbert accepted the award from CMS Co-Artistic Director Wu Han, at a ceremony in the Rose Studio this evening. The event included an interview by Bruce Adolfe with Mr. Jalbert and a live performance of Icefield Sonnets by the Escher String Quartet.Host John Clare spoke to Jalbert before the ceremony, and asked him about curiosity - does it help composing and inspiration? [mp3 file]Jalbert served as Composer-in-Residence with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra from 2002-2005 and is currently Associate Professor of Composition and Theory at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in Houston. He has received numerous awards for his compositions, including the Rome Prize, the BBC Masterprize, a Guggenheim fellowship, BMI and ASCAP Awards, a Society of Composer's Award, and the Bearns Prize in Composition.His compositions have been performed throughout the United States and abroad, including four Carnegie Hall performances of his orchestral works, one of the most recent being the Houston Symphony’s premiere of his orchestral work, big sky, in January, 2006.
 The London Symphony Orchestra performed his In Aeternam at the Barbican Centre in London as part of the BBC's Masterprize Competition in 2001, in which he received first prize. He has also been commissioned and performed by violinist Midori, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Ying Quartet, the Seattle Symphony, Albany Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, the Fischer Duo, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Zeitgeist, Network for New Music, and the Maia, Enso, and Chiara String Quartets, among others. From 1999-2002, he served as Composer-in-Residence with the California Symphony. His music is published by Theodore Presser Company and he is a member of Musiqa, a Houston new music group.Current projects include a new work for the Maia String Quartet and an orchestral work commissioned through Meet The Composer’s Magnum Opus Project for three California orchestras who will each perform the work over the next three years (the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Oakland East Bay Symphony, and the Marin Symphony).The Elise L. Stoeger Prize was established in 1987 with a bequest from Milan Stoeger, a long-time subscriber to the Chamber Music Society, in memory of his wife, Elise. The Stoeger Prize is a $25,000 cash award given every two years to one composer in recognition of significant contributions to the chamber music repertory. Winners are chosen from the nominations of leading musicians, composers, educators, managers, and presenters from around the country. Final selection is made by a rotating panel of professionals. The members of the 2006-2007 panel were CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han; composer and CMS Resident Lecturer and Director of Family Programs, Bruce Adolphe; Boston Symphony Artistic Advisor Anthony Fogg; Dean-Designate of The Juilliard School, Ara Guzelimian; Meet The Composer President Heather Hitchens; pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane; and CMS Artistic Advisor Kristin Lancino.STOEGER PRIZE WINNERS1987 Gunther Schuller1990 Oliver Knussen1992 Lee Hyla and Olly Wilson1993 Aaron Jay Kernis and Nicholas Maw1994 Oleg Felzer and Richard Wilson1995 David Liptak and Steven Mackey1996 Martin Bresnick and Osvaldo Golijov1997 Stephen Hartke and Judith Weir1998 Thomas Adès and Yehudi Wyner1999 James Primosch and Scott Wheeler2000 Michael Daugherty and Kaija Saariaho2002 Chen Yi2004 David Rakowski2006 Pierre Jalbert[photos of John Clare and Pierre Jalbert; Jalbert and Bruce Adolfe; and the Escher Quartet courtesy of ClassicallyHip.com]
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:31 PM
Special Feature - Concertante
This Saturday, March 24th is the world premiere of Con Anima by Tigran Mansurian. It's part of the One plus Five commissions by Concertante. Learn more about the performance here and see the invite below for a free performance in Harrisburg Friday evening.Host John Clare recently caught up with the soloist for this project, Violist Ara Gregorian in New York City's Mozart Cafe to talk about the piece. (You'll some crowd noise and dishes - perhaps even John's coffee cup and chocolate cake!)Part 1 Preparing a world premiere [mp3 file]Part 2 About the title, Con Anima [mp3 file]Part 3 The language barrier? [mp3 file]Special Online Only!Hear the first part of the interview unedited! [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:02 AM
Monday, March 19, 2007
Torke
Don't miss the next Composing Thoughts with composer Michael Torke.
[photo by Andrew Gena]
We caught up with Michael in Manhattan at his apartment in the Village. Don't miss our discussion about Synesthesia (seeing colors when hearing music), opera and pop music! We'll hear some of Strawberry Fields as well as Pentecost - the very latest from Ecstatic Records.Special Online Only!I asked Michael, since we were at his apartment in NYC, about "Corner in Manhattan." [mp3 file]Michael also lives part of the year now in Las Vegas, and asked whether or not there would be another geographical reference. [mp3 file]One of his charming works is titled "An American Abroad." [mp3 file]What about taking an older story and writing new music for it? [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:55 AM
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Composer News - Grawemeyer Award
Congratulations to Sebastian Currier on this year's Grawemeyer Award, announced last Thursday night at Carnegie Hall.
Host John Clare spoke to the Huntingdon, PA native on the phone this last weekend.

Interview
Part 1 - Where were you when you heard about the award? [mp3 file]
Part 2 - Receiving the Grawemeyer [mp3 file]
Part 3 - About recording Static [mp3 file]
Part 4 - After the award, effects [mp3 file]
Thanks! [mp3 file]

Currier will discuss creativity and his music more in depth later this year on a complete episode of Composing Thoughts.

You can also read about the award here at NewMusicBox.
[photo of Currier by Mike Minehan from the AAB website.]
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:36 AM
Monday, March 12, 2007
John Corigliano
Composer John Corigliano's music is so encompassing and widely performed that it seems I've always known it. From recitals and concerts to the big screen, John's music is part of our culture. I spoke with him for 20/20 Hearing a few years back over the phone, but this time, we were able to meet face to face in his Manhattan apartment on the upper west side.
It was a warm August day last fall when we caught John and were able to not only talk with him about his music and creativity, but about growing up as the NY Philharmonic Concertmaster's son, working with Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, and about the revival of his Metropolitan Opera commissioned Ghosts of Versailles.

You can see the original posting here.

Posted by MAESTRO at 8:39 AM
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Composer News
Great news about John Cage's music today from Bard College! Read about the announcement here.

And learn more about an artist who worked with Cage on Composing Thoughts here.

[photo of John Cage from the New Albion website]
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:30 AM
Special Feature - Chee Yun
Host John Clare spoke with violinist Chee Yun recently (you can hear more of the interview on the New Releases blog) about recording and working with Penderecki's Violin Concerto #2, "Metamorphosen."Interview Segment [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:46 AM
Monday, March 05, 2007
Milton Babbitt
Don't miss the next Composing Thoughts with composer Milton Babbitt.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
It was a nice August morning when we met Milton Babbitt at a friend's home in Princeton, NJ. He was energetic and spry, both in his stories and manner - you wouldn't have guess he was a nonagenarian! We also happened to be across from the old RCA electronics lab.*online only*Watch a video of Milton pointing out the lab across the street here.Read the original post here.Posted by MAESTRO at 8:50 AM
Monday, February 26, 2007
Composer Awards
Congratulations! This just in:AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERSANNOUNCES 2007 MUSIC AWARD WINNERS FIFTEEN COMPOSERS RECEIVE AWARDS TOTALING $165,000New York, February 26, 2007 -- The American Academy of Arts and Letters announced today the fifteen recipients of this year's awards in music, which total $165,000. The winners were selected by a committee of Academy members: Robert Beaser (chairman), Martin Bresnick, John Corigliano, Shulamit Ran, Steve Reich, Gunther Schuler, and Yehudi Wyner. The awards will be presented at the Academy's annual Ceremonial in May. Candidates for music awards are nominated by the 250 members of the Academy.Academy Awards in Music:Four composers will each receive a $7500 Academy Award in Music, which honors outstanding artistic achievement and acknowledges the composer who has arrived at his or her own voice. Each will receive an additional $7500 toward the recording of one work. The winners are Leonardo Balada, Mason Bates, Chester Biscardi, and Ben Johnston.Goddard Lieberson Fellowships:Two Goddard Lieberson fellowships of $15,000, endowed in 1978 by the CBS Foundation, are given to mid-career composers of exceptional gifts. This year they will go to Shih-Hui Chen and Seung-Ah Oh.Walter Hinrichsen Award:Jeffery Cotton will receive the Walter Hinrichsen Award for the publication of a work by a gifted composer. This award was established by the C.F. Peters Corporation, music publishers, in 1984. Charles Ives Fellowships:Harmony Ives, the widow of Charles Ives, bequeathed to the Academy the royalties of Charles Ives' music, which has enabled the Academy to give the Ives awards in music since 1970. Two Charles Ives Fellowships, of $15,000 each, will be awarded to Arlene Sierra and Aleksandra Vrebalov.Charles Ives Scholarships:David Fulmer, Trevor Gureckis, Dan Visconti, Jay Wadley, Zachary Wadsworth, and Orianna Webb will receive Charles Ives Scholarships of $7500, given to composition students of great promise.***American Academy of Arts and Letters:The American Academy of Arts and Letters was founded in 1898 to "foster, assist, and sustain an interest in literature, music, and the fine arts." Each year, the Academy honors over 50 composers, artists, architects, and writers with cash awards ranging from $2,500 to $75,000. Other activities of the Academy are exhibitions of art, architecture, and manuscripts; publications on the Academy's history and events; publications on the Academy's history and readings and performances of new musicals. The Academy is located in two landmark buildings, designed by McKim, Mead & White and by Cass Gilbert, on Audubon Terrace at 155th Street and Broadway.[from a press release from the Academy's publicist: Ardith Holmgrain]
Posted by MAESTRO at 3:20 PM
Christopher Rouse
I first talked with Chris Rouse over the phone for 20/20 Hearing, but remember hearing his music in college back in Kansas many years ago. It was a delight to actually meet him and catch him at his home in Baltimore where he composes.We chatted about the Orioles, our mutual appreciation for music by Panufnik and we should have talked about cigars - I didn't realize Chris enjoyed a stoagie too! But we ended up having a great discussion about creativity and music, and he was gracious to share his collection of composer autographs with me (including Panufnik, Shostakovich, and many more - you can see some of them in the frames behind us in the picture below.)
[photo by Casey Houtz]
Read our original posting here.Posted by MAESTRO at 9:21 AM
Monday, February 19, 2007
Robert Moran
It was a sunny Saturday morning in August 2006 when we went to Robert Moran's house in Philadelphia. Turns out he lives not very far from the Kimmel Center, where I catch lots of concerts, so I know the neighborhood fairly well.
[photo by Andrew Gena]
We had alot of fun discussing music, opera (he has a collection of posters/play bills from European opera houses framed along his staircase), and creativity. Afterwards we went to Monk's Cafe for a bite of lunch.
You can read the original posting here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:49 AM
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Special Feature - Market Square Concerts
Saturday, February 24th, 2007 marks the 25th Anniversary of Market Square Concerts - with a concert by the Parker String Quartet and special guest Bill McLaughlin.
On the program is a work by Harrisburg native Jeremy Gill, written for the ocassion.

Host John Clare recently spoke with Jeremy about composition and growing up in Harrisburg.

Part 1 - about his early musical memories [mp3 file]
Part 2 - about returning to Harrisburg [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:30 PM
Monday, February 12, 2007
Fred Lerdahl
I first knew of Fred Lerdahl's music from my violin teacher who played a work of his that the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra commissioned and later recorded. I also ran into Fred at an eighth blackbird concert in NYC for their tenth anniversary. So it was a natural for us to sit down and talk music and creativity in June of 2006. We met up in his Columbia University office and immediately found common ground and connections from Wisconsin.
[photo by Casey Houtz]
You can read the original posting here.Online Only! Hear more music by Fred Lerdahl at Art of the States, his Fantasy Etudes played by eighth blackbird.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:28 AM
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Special Feature - Kathan Brown
Often our discussions with composers on Composing Thoughts focus on different aspects of the same topic, creativity. How composers approach music and creating sounds is a fascinating topic. We thought talking with another artist, who has worked with composers, also would be of interest.

Kathan Brown is an artist, writer, and printer who founded Crown Point Press, in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1962. We spoke with her about her book, Magical Secrets about Thinking Creatively, and working with composers John Cage and Steve Reich.

Interview, part 1: on creativity [mp3 file]

Interview, part 2: working with John Cage [mp3 file]

Interview, part 3 Reich and Cage [mp3 file]

Interview, part 4: making art and music [mp3 file]


Kathan also has written John Cage Visual Art: To Sober and Quiet the Mind.
This presentation is an online only special for Composing Thoughts.Images are from Crown Point Press.
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:19 AM
Monday, February 05, 2007
Libby Larsen
Composing Thoughts features the co-founder of the American Composers Forum, Libby Larsen!
[photo by Casey Houtz]
I've known the music of Libby Larsen for quite a while, playing her Parachute Dances at Wichita State in the University Orchestra. So it was a real pleasure to interview her a few years ago for 20/20 Hearing, and then to meet her in Las Vegas, first at a Nextet concert and at an AMPPR conference.So it was a natural to catch up with Libby while she was in New York City recording some of her works with the Cassatt Quartet. We met at her publisher's office and had a nice chat, and went for some yummy Thai food afterwards, where she admitted to watching reality tv!You can read my original posting here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:12 AM
Monday, January 29, 2007
Jose Serebrier
Composing Thoughts features composer and conductor Jose Serebrier.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
It was a warm August day when we met up with Jose Serebrier at his upper west side apartment in Manhattan. It was just after we had spent the morning with legendary composer Milton Babbitt in Princeton! Needless to say the day was filled with lots of good stories and great music.
Host John Clare talked with Maestro Serebrier about creativity, composition and balancing it all. Jose discussed Leopold Stokowski, George Szell, Leonard Bernstein and his own adventures on and off the podium!See our original posting here.
Special Online Only!
Hear the Maestro talk about an up-and-coming composer, Jay Greenberg, and how to pronounce Serebrier! Link to special interview segments.
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:13 AM
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
New CD - Karl Jenkins
There's a new cd with composer Karl Jenkins, Kiri Sings Karl, that has new original works and arrangements by Jenkins, who also conducts the London Symphony Orchestra.Host John Clare recently had a chance to speak with Karl about his music and this project.Interview segment - Advice to young composers -[mp3 file]Hear part of the new cd, Kiri sings Karl - The Mystics - [wma file] Not familiar with Karl's music? You might recognize this music used in a popular diamond commercial: Palladio - [wma file]Jenkin's music is also quite popular around the world, especially his Mass for Peace, The Armed Man; hear some of it - Benedictus -[wma file]You can hear more of this interview on the New Releases Blog.Windows Media Audio files are from Amazon dot com.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:42 AM
Monday, January 22, 2007
John Eaton
Join us for the next Composing Thoughts with MacArthur Genius John Eaton.I met John at his hotel in York while he was visiting Central PA. He was giving a talk at Penn State York and took part of a morning to talk about his operas, electronic music and creativity. I had heard of John Eatan before, but hadn't been familiar with his music, so I was anxious to hear some - John sent some cds before our meeting.
I was treated to original sounds and especially taken with his Mass. It was also interesting to hear about some of the stories not only behind the works (the inspiration of The Cave Of The Sybil) and his history with electronic instruments and inventions. You can hear more about all of this in his episode.
See the original post here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:27 AM
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
New CD - Augusta Read Thomas
There's a new disc of Augusta Read Thomas' music, Prairie Sketches just released with the Callisto Ensemble. Host John Clare recently spoke to the composer about the recording.

Part 1 about writing for different combinations [mp3 file]

Part 2 about the Rumi settings [mp3 file]

Part 3 about producing a new cd [mp3 file]


You can also hear interviews with members of the Callisto Ensemble on the New Releases blog here about the new disc.
You can also read the NY Times review of the disc and hear a selection here on the composer's website.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:20 AM
Monday, January 15, 2007
Tina Davidson
Join us for Composing Thoughts with composer Tina Davidson in her studio!
{photo by Casey Houtz}
I've known Tina Davidson's music for quite a few years, and had been planning on interviewing her for 20/20 Hearing for the third season when I left Las Vegas and the show ended. So I was pleased to learn that Tina was available to be interviewed for Composing Thoughts and then surprised that she actually lived in the MAESTRO listening area when we talked! (She lives a few doors down from a MAESTRO-TV employee even.)
So one fine June 2006 morning, audio manager Casey Houtz and I went to Marietta, PA to her studio to talk. She was out front working with flowers that day, and gave us a charming tour of her home, it's a renovated church that she and her husband converted - eventually there will be a performance space there too, along with her studio. She also played some of the pieces she was composing at the time, which you can hear in the episode Sunday.
You can see our original posting here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:49 AM
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Special Feature - Harold Robinson
Host John Clare was recently in Philadelphia to speak with composer John Harbison before the east coast premiere of his Concerto for Bass Viol with the Philadelphia Orchestra - stay tuned for that episode this spring.{backstage photo by Andrew Gena}Clare also spoke with the Principal Bassist Harold Robinson who was the soloist. Hear them talking in a dressing room backstage at the Kimmel Center.Interview segment [mp3 file]You can hear the program of Wagner, Harbison and Copland with Marin Alsop and the Philadelphia Orchestra this evening (Tuesday, January 9th.)Our very special thanks to Katherine Blodgett and Lauren Saul at the Philadelphia Orchestra for their help.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:00 AM
Monday, January 08, 2007
Kevin Puts
Listen to Composing Thoughts as we feature composer and pianist Kevin Puts.
[photo of Kevin and John by Andrew Gena]
It was mid May 2006 when we caught Kevin Puts in Manhattan, and it was the first trip that the audio engineer Andrew and I made together (Andrew had just started in April.) It was a quick trip there and we even parked on the block that we needed to be on for the interview (which rarely happens!)Kevin had just made the move to NYC from Austin - we'll have to check in how things are going for him now that he's been in the Big Apple. He was also suffering from allergies at the time, which you might hear ocassionally in the interview. Kevin had many projects in the works, you can read about many of them here on his website.
Read our first posting about this episode here.
Special Online Only!Hear Kevin speak about listening to music. [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:56 AM
Monday, January 01, 2007
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Composing Thoughts featured Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
It was a warm June day when we visited with Ellen Zwilich in her New York apartment. Up several floors, the view was gorgeous looking out to the Hudson River. Besides a sailboat going by, you could hear the leaf blowers and lawn mowers with the windows open! I mention that because you may hear them now and then in the interview itself.
There was a baby grand piano inside, and modern paintings decorated the place, along with music and cds here and there. Oh, a Pulitzer Prize was on top of a bookshelf, not far from where our audio engineer sat. Ellen was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in Music.
It was great to sit face to face with Ellen and talk with her about her music. I had interviewed her for 20/20 Hearing a few years previously over the phone, but I truly believe it makes a difference seeing where a composer works - also getting a chance to talk with them in their own surroundings, you learn more about them and it definitely sounds more conversational. Tune in this week and hear for yourself!
Read and see more from our original post this last fall.Special online only!Hear Ellen discuss the brilliance of Mozart [mp3 file]Ellen also speaks about her Cello Symphony [mp3 file]Ellen talks about her Bassoon Concerto [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:39 AM
Monday, December 25, 2006
Dominick Argento
Celebrate New Year's Eve and new music on Composing Thoughts with York native Dominick Argento!
Host John Clare discussed opera, living in the Midwest and writing for legendary voices with the Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award winner.You heard In Praise of Music: For the Healer, David; Valse Trise; Three Songs from Casa Guidi; selections from the Andree Expedition; the opening of Te Deum; and part of "Souvenirs de Bayreuth" from Postcard from Morocco; as well as excerpts of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Glass' Koyaanisqatsi.Special Online Only!Hear Dominick discuss his Four Seascapes [mp3 file]
Dominick talks about copying music by hand [mp3 file]
Dominick teases host John Clare about poet John Clare [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:56 AM
Monday, December 11, 2006
Corigliano
Composing Thoughts featured award winning composer John Corigliano.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
Host John Clare spoke with John about his music in movies, opera and his relationship with his musical father.Posted by MAESTRO at 9:45 AM
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Composer News
COMPOSER GEORGE TSONTAKIS WINS PRESTIGIOUS CHARLES IVES AWARDNew York – George Tsontakis has been chosen to receive the Charles Ives Living, which gives a talented composer an income of $75,000 a year for a period of three years, for a total of $225,000. The announcement was made by Ezra Laderman, president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.George Tsontakis, Distinguished Faculty Composer-in-Residence at Bard College, will begin the three-year term in July 2007. Although the Charles Ives Living winner agrees to forgo all salaried employment during the award period, there is no restriction on accepting composing commissions. In accepting the award, George Tsontakis said, “I felt a complex mixture of emotions, a bit giddy with exhilaration, yet at almost the same moment a realization that there was a message attached to the gesture, in that a serious rededication to my work was beckoning. I am excited and very grateful to the Academy for this wonderful gift to my music, as well as moved by my colleagues for their vote of confidence in my work. The Ives Living will impact not only the next three years but the rest of my life; I only hope that I might be able to live up to its message.”Mr. Laderman, also a composer, said, “The selection of George Tsontakis follows in the Ives Living tradition which identifies a composer of enormous talent who is on the threshold of becoming a household name. What I’ve always admired about him is that he idealizes Beethoven in his music; in every work he includes a quote from a Beethoven work, such as the Egmont Overture or the Fifth Symphony. His music is both intellectually demanding and highly accessible, a rare and wonderful combination if you can pull it off. George does.”David Del Tredici, a member of the selection committee, said, “George Tsontakis’s music is full of heart, a quality that erases boundaries as it satisfies and enriches the soul.”The purpose of the Ives Living is to free a promising American composer from the need to devote his or her time to any employment other than music composition. It is the Academy’s intent to provide through this award an income sufficient to ensure that freedom for a period of three years.The Charles Ives Living was inaugurated in 1998 with the selection of Martin Bresnick. Chen Yi became the second winner, in 2001, and Stephen Hartke was chosen in 2004; his three-year term ends in June 2007. George Tsontakis becomes the fourth winner of the Charles Ives Living. He was born in 1951 in Astoria, New York City, and now lives in Shokan, NY.Selection ProcessWilliam Bolcom, chairman of the selection committee, and the other committee members – T. J. Anderson, Robert Beaser, David Del Tredici, and Joseph Schwantner, studied scores and recordings over a six-month period to arrive at their choice of George Tsontakis. William Bolcom said, “There are a slew of awards for young composers. There aren’t nearly enough for composers who have gained a solid reputation, who are in mid-career and sorely in need of more time to compose. For the last thousand years, only a handful of composers have actually made a living from their craft. For someone like George Tsontakis, the Charles Ives Living affords precious and well-deserved time to create. It is a great boon to him and potentially to American music.”Nominations for the Academy’s awards come from the 250 members of the Academy – painters, sculptors, architects, writers, and composers; no other nominations or applications are accepted, with the exception of the Richard Rodgers Awards for Musical Theater. Academy members are not eligible to receive monetary awards.Other Charles Ives AwardsHarmony Ives, the widow of Charles Ives, left to the Academy the royalties from her husband’s music to establish a fund for prizes in music composition. Since 1970 the Academy has given 200 Ives scholarships, and since 1983, 32 Ives fellowships. These awards continue to be given annually.The American Academy of Arts and LettersThe American Academy of Arts and Letters, chartered by Congress, was established in 1898 to “foster, assist, and sustain an interest in literature, music, and the fine arts.” Founding members included William Merritt Chase, Kenyon Cox, Daniel Chester French, Childe Hassam, Henry James, Edward MacDowell, Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Vedder, and Woodrow Wilson. Each year the Academy gives away just under $1 million in awards to artists, architects, writers, and composers. It presents exhibitions of art, architecture, and manuscripts, and subsidizes readings and performances of new musicals. The 108-year-old organization is located in landmark buildings designed by McKim, Mead & White, and by Cass Gilbert, on Audubon Terrace at 155th Street and Broadway, New York City.From a press release from the AAAL's Virginia Dajani.
Posted by MAESTRO at 4:50 PM
Monday, December 04, 2006
Babbitt
Composing Thoughts featured composer Milton Babbitt.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
Host John Clare spoke with Milton about his music, electronics and his secret life during World War II.
{Photo by John Clare}
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:41 AM
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Gift Suggestions
Ten Holiday Ideas for the Composing Thoughts Fan who's looking for ideas for some NEW music. Here are twelve composers we've featured on Composing Thoughts on ten different cds. You can click on the composer's name to learn about their episode and also click on the title of the cd (next to the composer's name) to learn more about the album and purchase it.1. Fred Lerdahl: Time after Time [Bridge Records]
As we learned from the composer, this has nothing to do with Cyndi Lauper or her music, but rather with a style of variations the composer created for the piece and the 1940s jazz standard, Time After Time. Also this recent recording has the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in Lerdahl's fantastic Waves.2. Libby Larsen: Water Music [Koch International Classics]
If you're a fan of interesting and lush orchestra music, look no further than Libby Larsen's disc with Joel Revzen and the LSO. In her episode, Libby commented that one of her favorite compositions is the Lyric Symphony, which is featured on this disc. We love it too!3. Jose Serebrier: Symphony No. 3 [Naxos]Maestro Serebrier is as skillful writing music as he is conducting it! His latest disc includes the Third Symphony, a work he wrote specifically for this cd. Maestro Serebrier (hear how he says his name here) told us great stories about music and composition - his charm shows as well on this recording. This cd is also a real bargain - you might be tempted to pick one up for yourself besides someone on your holiday list.4. John Eaton: The Music of John Eaton [Indiana University]John Eaton is a genius - he won a MacArthur Grant that proves it - and so does this disc! Hear a wide range of music on this cd from Indiana University where Eaton taught for many years. Especially haunting is a selection for harp choir and flute, Cave of the Sybil that John discussed on Composing Thoughts.5. Tina Davidson: It is my heart singing [Albany]Tina Davidson spoke to us from her studio in Marietta, PA and showed us the original artwork that this cd uses for it's cover. She also discussed writing "telescope" pieces - works written for professional musicians and students like Paper, Glass, String and Wood that is recorded for the first time on this cd.6. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Symphony No. 2 [First Edition Recordings] Zwilich's Cello Symphony (Symphony No. 2) is a sumptuous work, and this disc also includes her Double Concerto and Chamber Symphony. First Edition captures the excitement and passion of these works with the Louisville Orchestra. Ellen spoke to us about the Cello Symphony, you can hear the interview segment here: mp3 file7. Kevin Puts: Inspiring Beethoven [Albany Records] This cd is a sampler from Bowling Green University and their wonderful new music festival. Fans of Beethoven and also of new music will adore Kevin's orchestral tour de force, Inspiring Beethoven. This cd includes comments from the composer before each piece is played.8. Dominick Argento: Casa Guidi [Reference Recordings]Not only did this recording win a Grammy, it really shows the depth of Argento's orchestral writing. Frederica von Stade is glorious in the title cut; and the beauty of Argento's skill is demonstrated by the Minnesota Orchestra.9. George Crumb: Ancient Voices of Children (Complete Edition Volume 9) [Bridge Records]This recent edition from Bridge is an excellent example of George's genius. You'll hear Ancient Voices of Children, Madrigals Books I-IV, and Eine Kleine Mitternachtmusik as the composer intended - Crumb attended and supervised the recording sessions. He spoke to us at his studio in Media, PA about the importance of inspiring the performer with the score. See some his scores here.10. Jennifer Higdon/Augusta Read Thomas/Bernard Rands: Dream Journal [Albany Records]Here is a disc with several of the composers we've interviewed on Composing Thoughts played by the Network for New Music. It's a charming disc of chamber music for the novice or experienced new music listener. Jennifer Higdon was the first composer we interviewed, and we'll be checking on her with an update this spring, including her upcoming Piano Concerto for Lang Lang. Husband and wife composers Bernard Rands and Augusta Read Thomas spoke to us for Valentine's Day 2006.Enjoy these selections that we highly recommend, and see some more Classical gift suggestions from Dr. Dick here. Happy Holidays!
Posted by MAESTRO at 11:42 AM
Monday, November 27, 2006
Rouse
Composing Thoughts featured composer Christopher Rouse.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
Host John Clare spoke with Chris about his music, recordings and creativity in his studio in Baltimore, MD.
{Photo by John Clare}
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:59 AM
Monday, November 20, 2006
Moran
Composing Thoughts featured Robert Moran.
{photo by Andrew Gena}
Host John Clare spoke with Robert about his music, teaching and opera in his studio in Philadelphia, PA.
{Photo by John Clare}

Posted by MAESTRO at 9:53 AM
Friday, November 17, 2006
Elfman on Elfman
Host John Clare had a chance to speak with the legendary film composer and musician Danny Elfman about his latest recording, Serenada Schizophrana.The work was commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra and premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2005.Interview selectionsJohn asked Danny about the title of the work. [mp3 file]Elfman also discussed the difference of concert works and film scoring. [mp3 file]The two also talked about writer's block. [mp3 file] You can hear some of Danny Elman's new work, Serenada Schizoprhana here at the Sony site.
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:13 AM
Monday, November 13, 2006
Lerdahl
Composing Thoughts featured Columbia University professor Fred Lerdahl.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
Host John Clare spoke with Fred about his music, titles and Cyndi Lauper in his studio in NYC, NY.
{Photo by John Clare}
BONUS: Hear more music by Fred Lerdahl at Art of the States, his Fantasy Etudes played by eighth blackbird.
Also, read about his theoretical writings here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:43 AM
Monday, November 06, 2006
Larsen
Composing Thoughts featured the co-founder of the American Composers Forum, Libby Larsen!
{photo by Casey Houtz}
Host John Clare spoke to this energetic and creative composer about her 19 operas, language and creavitity on location in New York City.
{photo by John Clare}
Special thanks to Suzanne Ford at Oxford University Press for her help!
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:32 AM
Monday, October 30, 2006
Serebrier
Composing Thoughts featured composer and conductor Jose Serebrier.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
Host John Clare talked with Maestro Serebrier about creativity, composition and balancing it all. Jose discussed Leopold Stokowski, George Szell, Leonard Bernstein and his own adventures on and off the podium!Special Online Only!
Hear the Maestro talk about an up-and-coming composer, Jay Greenberg, and how to pronounce Serebrier! Link to special interview segments.
Posted by MAESTRO at 10:46 AM
Monday, October 23, 2006
Eaton
Composing Thoughts featured John Eaton!
(photo from G. Shrimer)
Host John Clare spoke with this MacArthur "genius" grant winner about his music, operas and electronic inventions on location in York, PA.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:45 AM
Monday, October 16, 2006
Davidson
Composing Thoughts with host John Clare featured composer Tina Davidson in her studio!
{photo by Casey Houtz}
We heard this Marietta, PA resident as she discussed living in Pennsylvania, writing for young people, and played some of her new opera! We'll also heard the most recent cd of Davidson's music with the Cassatt String Quartet, It is my heart Singing.


Here's Tina Davidson in her home with the original sketch by her husband that is used for the cover of It is my heart Singing.














Posted by MAESTRO at 9:15 AM
Monday, October 09, 2006
Central PA Composers
Composing Thoughts featured with three composers from our area! Host John Clare learned more about these composers at different stages of their careers.First, John spoke with retired Millersville University professor and Wrightsville resident Sy Brandon. Featured is his Conversations for Saxophone and piano; and the Celebration Overture (written for MAESTRO-FM's 25th Anniversary.)Robert Pound was our next composer, from Dickinson College in Carlisle. He discussed balancing the duties of creating music and teaching...heard were Irrational Exhuberance and his String Quartet in Five Movements.Finally, Peabody Conservatory composition student and York native Chris Whittaker is preparing a new work for the York Symphony Orchestra. The budding composer talked about this event and his future plans. Don't miss his Journey for Orchestra and the finale to his latest work, The Fisherman from his Sonata for Violin and Piano.Posted by MAESTRO at 9:02 AM
Friday, October 06, 2006
Juilliard 4tet on Greenberg
Recently a cd of music by Jay Greenberg was released on Sony Music. Host John Clare spoke previously with the conductor Jose Serebrier about the disc. Today, John had a chance to speak with some of the performers on the disc, the Juilliard String Quartet about the project as well!Interview segment [mp3 file](You can read about the Quartet's 60th anniversary and interview clips on the New Releases blog)
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:22 AM
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Zwilich
Composing Thoughts featured Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.
{photo by Casey Houtz}
Host John Clare discussed winning the Pulitzer Prize in Music (the first awarded to a woman), writing for the New York Philharmonic on tour in "cold war" Russia, and her latest works.We heard Ellen's Double Concerto for Violin & Cello (ii); Symphony #1 (iii); Violin Concerto (ii); Symbolon; excerpts of Rituals; and the Symphony #3 (iii).Ellen also talked about being penned in Peanuts!
{cartoon image from Beverly's website }
Special online only!Hear Ellen discuss the brilliance of Mozart [mp3 file]Ellen also speaks about her Cello Symphony [mp3 file]Ellen talks about her Bassoon Concerto [mp3 file]
Any copyrighted material on these pages is included for "fair use", for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s).
Posted by MAESTRO at 8:29 AM
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Reich on Reich
Today marks the 70th birthday of American composer Steve Reich. Music Director Dick Strawser will honor the composer by playing the You Are Variations this evening on Classical Air. He'll also have some interview segments with Reich and John Clare from December 2004 with Steve Reich discussing his You Are Variations and his 70th Birthday!Special Online Only!The complete interview unedited with Steve Reich.Part 1 (about 26 minutes) [mp3 file]Part 2 (about 23 minutes) [mp3 file]Interviewer is John Clare from a phone interview in December 2004.Links about Steve ReichComposer's own websiteOfficial 70th Birthday siteNPR Story on Steve ReichRichard Kessler’s interview from the American Music Center from July 1998Sound - Drumming, from Art of the StatesInterview- Echoes' John Diliberto's blog entry and links- John Clare's original post/interview for Reich's 70th Birthday.Reich's Biography (3/2005)Steve Reich was recently called "…America’s greatest living composer." (The Village VOICE), “...the most original musical thinker of our time” (The New Yorker) and “...among the great composers of the century” (The New York Times).. From his early taped speech pieces It's Gonna Rain (1965) and Come Out (1966) to his and video artist Beryl Korot’s digital video opera Three Tales (2002), Mr. Reich's path has embraced not only aspects of Western Classical music, but the structures, harmonies, and rhythms of non-Western and American vernacular music, particularly jazz. "There's just a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history and Steve Reich is one of them," states The Guardian (London).Born in New York and raised there and in California, Mr. Reich graduated with honors in philosophy from Cornell University in 1957. For the next two years, he studied composition with Hall Overton, and from 1958 to 1961 he studied at the Juilliard School of Music with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti. Mr. Reich received his M.A. in Music from Mills College in 1963, where he worked with Luciano Berio and Darius Milhaud.During the summer of 1970, with the help of a grant from the Institute for International Education, Mr. Reich studied drumming at the Institute for African Studies at the University of Ghana in Accra. In 1973 and 1974 he studied Balinese Gamelan Semar Pegulingan and Gamelan Gambang at the American Society for Eastern Arts in Seattle and Berkeley, California. From 1976 to 1977 he studied the traditional forms of cantillation (chanting) of the Hebrew scriptures in New York and Jerusalem.In 1966 Steve Reich founded his own ensemble of three musicians, which rapidly grew to 18 members or more. Since 1971, Steve Reich and Musicians have frequently toured the world, and have the distinction of performing to sold-out houses at venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall and the Bottom Line Cabaret.Mr. Reich's 1988 piece, Different Trains, marked a new compositional method, rooted in It's Gonna Rain and Come Out, in which speech recordings generate the musical material for musical instruments. The New York Times hailed Different Trains as "a work of such astonishing originality that breakthrough seems the only possible description....possesses an absolutely harrowing emotional impact." In 1990, Mr. Reich received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Composition for Different Trains as recorded by the Kronos Quartet on the Nonesuch label.In June 1997, in celebration of Mr. Reich's 60th birthday, Nonesuch released a 10-CD retrospective box set of Mr. Reich's compositions, featuring several newly-recorded and re-mastered works. He won a second Grammy award in 1999 for his piece Music for 18 Musicians, also on the Nonesuch label. In July 1999 a major retrospective of Mr. Reich’s work was presented by the Lincoln Center Festival. Earlier, in 1988, the South Bank Centre in London, mounted a similar series of retrospective concerts.In 2000 he was awarded the Schuman Prize from Columbia University, the Montgomery Fellowship from Dartmouth College, the Regent’s Lectureship at the University of California at Berkeley, an honorary doctorate from the California Institute of the Arts and was named Composer of the Year by Musical America magazine.The Cave, Steve Reich and Beryl Korot's music theater video piece exploring the Biblical story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac, was hailed by Time Magazine as "a fascinating glimpse of what opera might be like in the 21st century." Of the Chicago premiere, John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "The techniques embraced by this work have the potential to enrich opera as living art a thousandfold....The Cave impresses, ultimately, as a powerful and imaginative work of high-tech music theater that brings the troubled present into resonant dialogue with the ancient past, and invites all of us to consider anew our shared cultural heritage."Three Tales, a three-part digital documentary video opera, is a second collaborative work by Steve Reich and Beryl Korot about three well known events from the twentieth century, reflecting on the growth and implications of technology in the 20th century: Hindenburg, on the crash of the German zeppelin in New Jersey in 1937; Bikini, on the Atom bomb tests at Bikini atoll in 1946-1954; and Dolly, the sheep cloned in 1997, on the issues of genetic engineering and robotics. Three Tales is a three act music theater work in which historical film and video footage, video taped interviews, photographs, text, and specially constructed stills are recreated on computer, transferred to video tape and projected on one large screen. Musicians and singers take their places on stage along with the screen, presenting the debate about the physical, ethical and religious nature of technological development. Three Tales was premiered at the Vienna Festival in 2002 and subsequently toured all over Europe, America, Australia and Hong Kong. Nonesuch is releasing a DVD/CD of the piece in fall 2003.Over the years, Steve Reich has received commissions from the Barbican Centre London, the Holland Festival; San Francisco Symphony; the Rothko Chapel; Vienna Festival, Hebbel Theater, Berlin, the Brooklyn Academy of Music for guitarist Pat Metheny; Spoleto Festival USA, West German Radio, Cologne; Settembre Musica, Torino, the Fromm Music Foundation for clarinetist Richard Stoltzman; the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra; Betty Freeman for the Kronos Quartet; and the Festival d'Automne, Paris, for the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.Steve Reich's music has been performed by major orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, New York Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta; the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas; The Ensemble Modern conducted by Bradley Lubman, The Ensemble Intercontemporain conducted by David Robertson, the London Sinfonietta conducted by Markus Stenz and Martyn Brabbins, the Theater of Voices conducted by Paul Hillier, the Schoenberg Ensemble conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw, the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Robert Spano; the Saint Louis Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin; the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Neal Stulberg; the BBC Symphony conducted by Peter Eötvös; and the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.Several noted choreographers have created dances to Steve Reich's music, including Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker ("Fase," 1983, set to four early works as well as"Drumming,"1998 and “Rain” set to “Music for 18 Musicians”), Jirí Kylían ("Falling Angels," set to “Drumming Part I”), Jerome Robbins for the New York City Ballet ("Eight Lines") and Laura Dean, who commissioned "Sextet". That ballet, entitled "Impact," was premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival, and earned Steve Reich and Laura Dean a Bessie Award in 1986. Other major choreographers using Mr. Reich's music include Eliot Feld, Alvin Ailey, Lar Lubovitch, Maurice Bejart, Lucinda Childs, Siobhan Davies and Richard Alston.In 1994 Steve Reich was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, to the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts in 1995, and, in 1999, awarded Commandeur de l’ordre des Arts et Lettres.
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:56 AM
Monday, September 25, 2006
Puts
Composing Thoughts featured composer and pianist Kevin Puts.Host John Clare discussed creativity, teaching and finding your own voice as a composer with Kevin. You heard Puts' Dark Vigil for string quartet; And Legions Will Rise for marimba, violin and clarinet; Inspiring Beethoven for orchestra; an excerpt of his Symphony #3, Vespertine; and parts of Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, Steve Reich's Music for 18, Joseph Schwantner's Mountains Rising Nowhere, and Mozart's Piano Concerto #23..Special Online Only!Hear Kevin speak about listening to music. [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:04 AM
Monday, September 18, 2006
Argento
Our first weekly season episode opened on Composing Thoughts with York native Dominick Argento!
Host John Clare discussed opera, living in the Midwest and writing for legendary voices with the Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award winner.You heard In Praise of Music: For the Healer, David; Valse Trise; Three Songs from Casa Guidi; selections from the Andree Expedition; the opening of Te Deum; and part of "Souvenirs de Bayreuth" from Postcard from Morocco; as well as excerpts of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Glass' Koyaanisqatsi.Special Online Only!Hear Dominick discuss his Four Seascapes [mp3 file]
Dominick talks about copying music by hand [mp3 file]
Dominick teases host John Clare about poet John Clare [mp3 file]
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:34 AM
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Student Composers
On Friday, August 18th, the Pennsylvania Academy of Music will present four student composers with six new compositions. They've studied with Dr. Simon Andrews over the last six weeks in a summer workshop. John Clare spoke with the group on Monday afternoon about music and composition.First, we'll hear part of a lesson with Dr. Andrews and Ken, working on a trio. [mp3 file]Next we talk with the students about future plans. [mp3 file]We also talk with Dr. Andrews about teaching young composers. [mp3 file]You can hear the six world premieres by the student composers Friday, August 18th at 12 p.m. noon at the PA Academy of Music (2nd floor of Liberty Place, 313 W. Liberty St., Lancaster){photo from Lancaster New Era}
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:00 AM
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Serebrier on Bluejay
Sony Classical has just released a disc of young composer Jay "Bluejay" Greenberg including his Fifth Symphony with London Symphony Orchestra and Jose Serebrier. John Clare had a chance to speak to Serebrier about this new release.Part 1 [mp3 file]Part 2 [mp3 file]Bonus online only! How Maestro Serebrier says his name, and what it means! [mp3 file]{photo by John Clare}- - - - - - - - - - - - -You can also read about Jay Greenberg in the NY Times and in Dr. Dick's blog Part 1, part 2.
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:20 AM
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
New Night, New Time
Composing Thoughts starts broadcasting on Sunday nights each week at 7 p.m. beginning on July 2. The premise for the show is to present informal conversations with guest composers, friends and colleagues. Hosted by John Clare, a new composer will be highlighted each week.Through the programs, listeners will be introduced to renowned composers like 2005 Pulitzer Prize in Music winner, Steven Stucky and the highly personable Jennifer Higdon. Clare had this to say about the newly added weekly series, “Composing Thoughts is a great chance for those who like classical music to learn a little more; it’s a chance for musicians to learn more about a living composer; and it’s a great way to explore something in depth, a path that might lead to not only new sounds but new ideas - we find the layers get peeled back to find out more and more in each episode.” Episodes of Composing Thoughts that have aired previously will be rebroadcast over the summer months. New episodes will begin on September 24.COMPOSING THOUGHTS SCHEDULE – JULY through SEPTEMBER7/2 Jennifer Higdon7/9 Aaron Jay Kernis7/16 Michael Daugherty7/23 Lowell Liebermann7/30 Joan La Barbara8/6 Christopher Theofanidis8/13 Paul Moravec8/20 Bernard Rands/Augusta Read Thomas8/27 Joan Tower9/3 George Crumb9/10 Chris Brubeck9/17 Steven Stucky9/24 New Episode, Dominick Argento
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:44 AM
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Stucky
June featured the music and mind of Steven Stucky on the next Composing Thoughts.John Clare caught up with the busy composer, who is widely recognized as one of the leading composers today.Stucky was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in Music for his Second Concerto for Orchestra and has written commissioned works for many of the major American orchestras and ensembles. Steven has taught at Cornell University since 1980, where he serves as Given Foundation Professor of Composition. He has also been associated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for more than 15 years, and is currently Consulting Composer for New Music.We heard Son et Lumiere with the Albany Symphony Orchestra and David Alan Miller; Funeral Music for Queen Mary for Orchestra (after Purcell) with the Baylor University Wind Ensemble and Michael Haithcock; and Boston Fancies with Ensemble X and the composer conducting. Excerpts of Stucky's Nell'ombra, Nella Luce and his Fanfares and Arias were played as well as part of Sibelius' Symphony No. 7 and Lutoslawski's Trois poèmes d'Henri Michaux.Special online only! Hear an excerpt of Steven Stucky's Second Concerto for Orchestra here.
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:46 AM
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Brubeck
Join us in May for a talk and insights with composer/performer Chris Brubeck.
MAESTRO’s John Clare talks with Chris, the son of legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, who is an accomplished composer in his own right. They’ll discuss the pros and cons of following in a famous father’s footsteps, and the experience of performing on stage with said dad.
We'll hear some of Chris' Prague Concerto for Bass Trombone, River of Song, and Convergence from his latest cd on Koch International Classics. There's also a movement of his first Bass Trombone Concerto, and Variations on Themes by Bach from the Crofoot Productions cd, Bach to Brubeck. And of course, some of Chris' dad's music, Dave Brubeck's Take Five, Blue Rondo ala Turk and his Pange Lingua Variations.
(The Brubeck Trio performed at the Apple Blossom Festival in Gettysburg at the Majestic Theater on May 6th.)
Thanks to James at Koch International and to Julie at WSHU for their help!
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:53 AM
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Crumb
April not only brings showers, but the music of George Crumb on the next Composing Thoughts.
George Crumb at his desk (photo by John Clare)
John Clare went to the home and studio of George Crumb to interview the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winning composer in Media, PA.
John and George in the Studio (photo by Mrs. Crumb)
Here are some score samples of George's music (used here with permission from CF Peters, protected by copyright law, these images may not be reproduced by any method.) - we discuss score notation, a circular piece, a spiral and reversed ink (the notes are white and the paper is black.)
George has also written a work, A Dog's World (Mundus Canis), in 1998 - for his pets; one of them, Yoda was patient during our interview, and played ball afterwards.
Yoda, good boy! (photo by John Clare)
We'll hear excerpts of George's Voice of the Whale, Ancient Voices of Children, Star-Child, Unto the Hills, Black Angels, Echoes of Time and the River; and part of Harmonia Mundi by David Crumb. [There's also demonstrative audio examples with Beethoven (Opus 111), Ives (They are there!) and Mahler (Symphony #1).]
Our Thanks to Becky at Bridge Records for her help!
Posted by MAESTRO at 7:31 AM
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Tower
Joan Tower was the guest on Composing Thoughts in March with host John Clare.
We spoke to her about chamber music, feminism and her Made in America - a work being played in all 50 states (and here in Central PA on March 18th with the York Symphony!) We heard selections from her latest cd of chamber music, including Big Sky and Wild Purple; her Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman and a portion of the Concerto for Orchestra with the Colorado Symphony and Marin Alsop; Island Rhythms with the Louisville Orchestra and Lawrence Leighton Smith; and part of the video/interview of Made in America with Joan herself playing piano. There was also a brief selection of her Snow Dreams from the album, Black Topaz with guitarist Sharon Isbin and flutist Carol Wincenc.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:46 AM
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Rands/Thomas
A discussion on Valentine's Day was featured on Composing Thoughts with two composers who are married, Bernard Rands and Augusta Read Thomas with host John Clare.On this episode we featured parts of Augusta Read Thomas’ Words of the Sea with Conductor Pierre Boulez and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on ARTCD 19952002.Also love songs by Bernard Rands, his Canti D’amor and Augusta Read Thomas' The Rub of Love and Love Songs, on the Chanticleer disc, Teldec #24570 called Colors of Love.We also heard a part of Bernard Rands’ Le Tambourin Suite, a New World Records CD #80392 with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ricardo Muti.The show began with Chet Baker’s My Funny Valentine, from “The Very Best…” on Blue Note Records, and towards the end, we heard part a Schubert song, Standchen sung by Bryn Terfel on a DG album, “An die Musik” and an excerpt of Erkki-Sven Tuur’s Illusion on an ECM cd.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:16 AM
Monday, February 13, 2006
Moravec
Paul Moravec was our featured composer in January 2006 on Composing Thoughts. He spoke with host John Clare about creativity, taking naps, and his Pulitzer Prize winning Tempest Fantasy.
We heard his Monserrat: Cello Concerto, Tempest Fantasy, Mood Swings, Songs of Love and War, and Cool Fire. Also early on, we heard examples of influences: The Beatles' And I love her, and Chopin's Waltz Op 64 #2.
Trio Solisti who premiered the work, recently played in Central PA on Market Square Concerts. In March 2006, Moravec's Oboe Concerto had its world premiere with Bert Lucarelli and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra; and on April 27, 2006 Philadelphia heard a new chamber work, Youthful Knowledge by Paul based on writings by Benjamin Franklin.
* * * *WEB ONLY* * * *Hear violinist Maria Bachmann talk about the Tempest Fantasy. MP3 filePart 2, Bachmann talks about other works and upcoming premieres. MP3 file
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:16 AM
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Theofanidis
Host John Clare spoke with Christopher Theofanidis for the December 2005 episode of Composing Thoughts. They talked about his works Rainbow Body and The Here and Now, besides creativity and naming pieces.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:10 AM
Saturday, February 11, 2006
La Barbara
Ellen Hughes spoke to Joan La Barbara and featured her music in an episode of Composing Thoughts.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:47 AM
Friday, February 10, 2006
Liebermann
Another episode featured composer Lowell Liebermann with host Ellen Hughes.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:28 AM
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Daugherty
We also featured composer Michael Daugherty with host Ellen Hughes.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:10 AM
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Kernis
We featured in another episode, Aaron Jay Kernis, hosted by Ellen Hughes.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:21 AM
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Higdon
We began Composing Thoughts with composer Jennifer Higdon. The show featured her "blue cathedral" and "Concerto for Orchestra" with host Ellen Hughes.
Posted by MAESTRO at 9:17 AM