"When Time is Over" presented by NYCC

I'm a little late in posting a recap, but better late than never! On February 23, 2010, Sofia Dimitrova, accompanied by Tamara Cashour (not pictured) performed "When Time is Over" in a concert presented by the New York Composers Circle. The venue here is Saint Peters Church at the Citigroup Building. I was delighted to see so many old and new friends at the concert.

Addressing the audience

Sofia Dimitrova

After the concert congratulations!

As is the habit of the NYCC, I was asked to say a few words about the piece beforehand. Instead, I couldn't help but remark this is the second time the NYCC has asked me to open a concert with a piece that is rather dark in tone. (The first time was "Three Elegies" at Symphony Space, back in 2007, performed by Tiffany DuMouchelle and percussionist Stephen Solook.) It doesn't seem like the best idea to open a concert with pieces along the lines of "Three Elegies" or "When Time is Over!" So I joked that if you want someone to open your concert with one of those slow, meditative, ruminative pieces about life and death, I'm obviously your go-to guy! Fortunately, the audience got the joke. Here's some pics and, because of the low lighting, apologies for the quality! (Click images for larger size.)

When Time is Over to be performed Feb 23, 2010

Here is the flier advertising the next New York Composers Circle concert, Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010. This concert will feature soprano Sofia Dimitrova with pianist Tamara Cashour performing my four-song cycle of Emily Dickinson texts, "When Time is Over." Many other performers and composers are on the concert, too, including esteemed composer Ezra Laderman. Click on the image for a more complete list. The venue is Saint Peters at the Citigroup Center, Lexington Avenue and 54th Street. The concert starts at 8pm, and there is a suggested donation of $20. A reception will follow; hope to see you there!

"A Poe Fantasia" premieres

I had been battling a cold (or something) all week, but I couldn't miss the premiere of my new composition, "A Poe Fantasia" this past Tuesday, Feb 2, 2010. Soprano Sofia Dimitrova and accompanist Catherine Miller provided a compelling interpretation to my settings of the great poet Edgar Allan Poe: A Dream Within a Dream, To the River, and Alone. Here are some pics from the evening; the venue was Saint Peters Church at the Citigroup Center. (Click on pics for larger size.)

Catherine Miller, piano, and Sofia Dimitrova, soprano

Sofia Dimitrova

Sofia Dimitrova and Richard Russell

Three Elegies selected for NYCC presentation at Bronx Science HS

My piece, Three Elegies, was chose for performance at the Bronx Science High School on January 6, 2010, and I answered a few questions from the students. Here is the blurb as written by the NYCC executive director, John de Clef Piñeiro.

On January 6, 2010, the NYCC gave two back-to-back recitals, each lasting a full school period, to nearly 200 students and their music faculty at the Bronx High School of Science (the NYCC's first Community Encores recital in a school venue to teenagers). In a survey of art songs spanning the last 100 years, soprano Sofia Dimitrova and pianist Catherine Miller, with introductions and commentary by executive director, John de Clef Piñeiro, presented samples of the new music vocal repertoire of Charles Ives, Aaron Copland, Gian Carlo Menotti, as well as music by current and former NYCC member composers. Notably, Composer Member Richard Russell was on hand to introduce and comment on the composition of his Three Elegies, and to answer questions from the audience. Both presentations were very well received and the NYCC was invited back by the faculty to give other future recitals. This first outreach recital of 2010 is part of an expanded series of outreach programs that the NYCC will present during the spring.

Here are some pics; click for larger size.

"A Poe Fantasia" to premiere Feb 2, 2010

In an upcoming recital, Soprano Sofia Dimitrova will premiere a new song cycle of mine, "A Poe Fantasia," based on poems of Edgar Allan Poe. The concert will be Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 8pm and takes place at Saint Peter's Church in the Citigroup Building, Lexington Avenue and 54th Street. Sofia will be joined by accompanist Catherine Miller, and her sister, violinist Stanichka Dimitrova. Pieces on the evening include compositions by 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec, György Kurtág, David Tcimpidis, and Evan Lewis. The suggested donation is $10. (Click the image for a larger view of the flier.)

Marjorie Berg premieres "Tune is in the Tree"

Once again I must count my good fortune at the inspired talents I have come to know. Last Sunday, 8 November, soprano Marjorie Berg and accompanist Raphael Fusco premiered my piece "The Tune is in the Tree: Five Nature Songs of Emily Dickinson." Marjorie shared with me that she doesn't like the kinds of recitals where one piece after another comes and goes with no context. Indeed, she pieced together a recital with a curator's eye. The theme of the afternoon was nature, and Marjorie shared stories of the composers, their interest in nature, and how the pieces came to be composed. The accompanist, Raphael Fusco, happens to be a terrific composer and his piece "Nature's Communion" was premiered as well. Credit and thanks to Marjorie for supporting and presenting new music. Here are two pics from the afternoon.

Marjorie has asked me to arrange my piece for a small ensemble, so look for this in the year 2010.

Two new compositions posted

I've updated the compositions page of my website for two new pieces. One is "Four Shakespeare Songs" which is for two sopranos, unaccompanied. The other is "The Tune is in the Tree" a five-song cycle on nature texts of Emily Dickinson. This latter piece was commissioned by soprano Marjorie Berg, and she will premiere the set on 8 Nov 2009 at Mannes College of Music.

The compositions page of my website can be found here.