Since 1923, Gramophone Magazine continues to devote itself to reviewing classical music, particularly recordings. The August 2017 issue featured two albums in the ECS Publishing Group catalog: Seven Last Words by Michael John Trotta and Revelations by Su Lian Tan.
By Guy Rickards
"Trotta’s musical style is fairly straightforward....not unlike that of Eric Whitacre or Ēriks Ešenvalds. The performance is more than
Each year the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters honors creative individuals with an award in their specific field.
First bestowed in 1980, these prestigious awards are presented in seven categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, Visual Art, Musical Composition (Concert), Musical Composition (Popular), Photography, and Poetry. The Institute's juried competition is one-of-a-kind in the state. Our carefully selected judges, chosen from out of state, are prominent in their field. Supported by Mississippi Institutes of Higher Learning, MIAL is privately funded, self-perpetuating, and non-profit.
James Sclater won the award for Classical Music Composition for his six-movement work for voice and piano, Carmine Natura Creaturae, based on poems by Viola Dacus. This is
As a prolific art song composer, Juliana Hall is no stranger to the idea of elevating and amplifying the voices of writers through music. But as one of five composers selected by art song group Lynx Project, Hall is exploring a new challenge: setting to music the often unheard voices of individuals with autism. This endeavor is part of Lynx Project’s "Autism Advocacy Project." The four exceptional youth, aged 12-17 are primarily non-verbal, and they communicate by pointing to letters on a board in a process called the Rapid Prompting Method.
Lynx Project co-director Caitleen Kahn says, "Art alone cannot change the world, but art can create conversations — and conversations can change the world." It is Lynx Project's hope that this project will start a conversation about autism, about acceptance and
The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (Norfolk, CT) is one of North America's oldest active summer music festivals. On August 19, the Norfolk festival featured a Choral Festival, directed by Simon Carrington. This remarkable program complete with a first-rate choir and chamber orchestra has always been a highlight of the Norfolk summer. The concert featured three E. C. Schirmer composers: Frank Ferko, Joseph Gregorio, and Libby Larsen.
Frank Ferko
The fullness of a life lived allegro.
Denise Von Glahn, Curtis Mayes Orpheus Professor of Musicology at Florida State University, is the author of Libby Larsen's biography, Libby Larsen: Composing an American Life. Von Glahn is also the director for the Center for Music of the Americas and wrote three award-winning books prior to this publication. The book is available from University of Illinois Press.
Libby Larsen has composed award-winning music performed around the world. Her works range from chamber pieces and song cycles to operas to large-scale works for orchestra and chorus. At the same
Anne Midgette is Chief Classical Music Critic for The Washington Post. Her article, "The top 35 female composers in classical music," was written in response to National Public Radio's July 2017 article "The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women." The NPR article "was inspiring," Midgette writes,"but where were the composers? In the wake of much discussion about the chronic underrepresentation of female composers on American concert programs, I came up with my own best-of list."
Midgette narrowed her focus to artists in the recorded music era, naming historic greats like Hildegard von Bingen, Fanny Mendelssohn,
"Fired by local pride, some of Western music’s most passionate works are closely identified with their cultures of origin."
The Boston Landmarks Orchestra is a summertime tradition for Boston residents. Founded in 2001, the orchestra is comprised of local professional musicians. On August 9, the ensemble shared a concert of music from across the globe. From Sibelius' Finlandia to Marquez's Danzon No. 2, the concert featured a wide variety of works for audiences.
Kareem Roustom
The world premiere of Kareem Roustom's Aleppo
"Headwaters are where things begin."
David Evan Thomas
Libby Larsen
Song Source Festival is launching its fourth season by giving life to new works from Minnesota composers, including world premieres of music by Libby Larsen and David Evan Thomas. The concert takes place August 7, 2017.
38 Chorals by Lionel Rogg, ECS #6210
Swiss composer Lionel Rogg's 38 Chorals is an organ collection distinguished by a great variety of styles, but the natural harmonization of each melody has been maintained in most cases. Some of them are treated in a Romantic manner, perhaps evoking the sound of Brahms or Reger. In general, the pieces are of medium difficulty, with a few being easier and a few more demanding. The chorals may be grouped for the purpose of playing them in a recital since most are two or three pages in length.
Tom Leeseburg-Lange (St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Fulton, MD) recently reviewed Rogg's collection in In Tempo
Su Lian Tan is a much-sought after flutist and composer whose music has been described as “the stunner of the evening,” (Washington Post) and “…refined, cultured compositions… Rewarding for everyone...A must-own for flutists and flute enthusiasts” (Fanfare Magazine). Tan is also a Professor of Music at Middlebury College in Vermont. Arsis recently featured three of her chamber and piano works, performed by The Jupiter String Quartet and pianist Bruce Brubaker, on a new album, Revelations (CD 181), which already received praise from both Gramophone and Fanfare
