MUSIC AVAILABLE FROM innova© recordings

THE CD LABEL OF THE

AMERICAN COMPOSERS FORUM

innova recordings, the CD label of the American Composers Forum, offers two recordings of band music by legendary and innovative composers, performers, and conductors. 

The first, "Blue Dawn into White Heat: the University of Minnesota Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Friends," features works by Gunther Schuller, Elliott Schwartz, Michael Colgrass, Steven Stucky, Jeffrey Brooks, and David Maslanka, including six works never recorded previously. Featured artists are members of the University of Minnesota Symphonic Wind Ensemble, a select ensemble of the

School of Music's finest wind and percussion performers conducted by Craig Kirchhoff. Guest artists include the world-renowned Bergen Woodwind Quintet, permanent visiting artists-in-residence at the University of Minnesota; the University of Minnesota Faculty Brass Quintet; and several members of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra who serve on the School of Music wind faculty. Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Andrew Druckenbrod called it "...an excellent introduction...a varied and interesting program...performed with style and fearlessness." (innova 517)

The "Waking Winds" is the first professional recording by the MIT Wind Ensemble (Frederick Harris, Jr., conductor).  The music ranges from jazz, minimalism, romanticism, serialsim, and fiddle music.  These are premiere recordings of four concerti: Pulitzer Prize winner Gunther Schuller's Song and Dance, and three works composed by MIT composers for the MIT Wind Ensemble: Peter Child, Brian Robison, and Evan Ziporyn.

"Waking Winds" is dedicated to the memory of John D. Corley Jr., who served MIT for 51 years as conductor of the MIT Concert Band.

"Waking Winds" is more then just another wind ensemble record: it's a snapshot of contemporary classical music in the US today. Jazz, minimalism and concerto works live together in strange and distinct harmony. Add to that the fact that it is a record of premieres: this is the acclaimed MIT Wind Ensemble's first recording and it's the first recording for all the works on this album. Frederick Harris Jr. moreover drives a tight ensemble.

The composers range from stalwarts like Gunther Schuller and Peter Child to Bang on a Can'er Evan Ziporyn. Of special note is Brian Robison's “The Congress of the Insomniacs” which could be described as Steve Reich meets Gil Evans with dashes of Ligeti, Messiaen, and Tower Of the Power thrown in for good measure. (innova 621)

To order these and other titles available from innova recordings, visit www.innova.mu or your local record store. 

Read more...

ALLIGATORS INVADE CHICAGO!

BandQuest at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic

Reprinted with permission from the Sounding Board, March/April 2004, Vol. 31 #4

OLD CHURCHES, NEW AUDIENCES

BANDQUEST PIECE BY COLGRASS RECOMMENDED BY PEPPER Reprinted with permission from the September/October 2003 issue of Sounding Board.

Longmeadow Commissioning Project

After Michael Colgrass composed Old Churches, he was invited to participate in a residency and composition workshop with the students in Longmeadow, Mass. 

Recent Developments in Band Repertoire

With Recommended Literature for All Grade Levels
by Robert J. Ambrose

Reprinted with permission, Georgia Music News , Vol. 63, Number 3, Spring, 2003, pp.49-52

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