During this summer of 2009, I am a Teaching Assistant for the course Great Ideas in Computer Science with Java at Harvard Summer School.
Java may be the most musical of all computer languages... Don't forget it's also the name of a French dance:
La Java Bleue (1938):
L'accordéoniste (1942):
I want to congratulate and thank the excellent bassist Alex Tarbert, who performed the premiere of my composition for double bass solo Aqua Solo.
Here is the link to listen to and download the track on last.fm:
Aqua Solo - composition for double bass solo
First part: arco
Second part: pizzicato (starts after about 3 minutes)
Have a look at the program notes, and a glimpse of the manuscript, on the concert announcement post.
In case you are a bass player, and want to include a piece in a double bass competition or a double bass recital, don't hesitate to contact me!
Want to hear my French accent in San Francisco? Check out this short video!
If you feel like patching, I suggest:
The electric guitar solo Eruption, by Van Halen, is "considered one of the most influential rock instrumentals of all time" (see linked wikipedia article). This Spring, I had a lot of fun transcribing it into a 2-minute orchestral piece. I bought the CD Van Halen
This was my final project for a great orchestration class that I took this spring in the Music Department. Michael Gandolfi, Chair of the composition department at New England Conservatory, was teaching it as a special guest. With five other composers, we were lucky to study with this artist, very experienced and so enthusiastic with the orchestra as an instrument.
Michael Gandolfi and the Harvard Music Department invited BMOP, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, to read our final projects. Conductor Gil Rose and all the musicians did an awesome job.
I signed an agreement to not publish the recording, but I hope I will have the opportunity to share this music in the future. Indeed, this orchestral miniature may become an interlude of a larger piece mixing electric guitar and orchestra. I will have to get Eddie Van Halen's authorization in the first place, of course.
One year after the premiere concert, here is the video of Live Saturation:
This is the live recording of Mario Caroli's Harvard recital, that took place on May 24th, 2008, to the invitation of the Harvard Group for New Music.
I studied under Maestro Ivan Fedele during several years at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg. Mario Caroli is one of the best interprets of his music. That's why I'm happy to link to two video recordings with ensemble Algoritmo:
1. Notturno, for flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, piano, percussion, harp, 2 violins, viola, violoncello, and double bass.
2. Profilo in eco (first part), for solo flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, piano, percussion, violin, viola, violoncello, and double bass.
One more thing that I like in these recordings: the excellent clarinetist Roberta Gottardi is a friend since we played together the premiere and recording of Stockhausen's Rechter Augenbrauentanz.
Here is the live recording of this Alea III concert, when they premiered my composition Viola palustris.
Listen while watching this slide show with pictures by composer Phivos-Angelos Kollias.
You may also listen to the music and download the file:
Or if you prefer, Viola palustris on last.fm.
The amazing soloist Alan Lenarcic was accompanied by Alea III, conducted by Theodore Antoniou:
Thanks to all of the artists for your awesome commitment, and congratulations for getting this great result in just 1h30 of rehearsal time!
Dudley House is Harvard's house for graduate students and non-resident undergraduate students. It is a great place to make friends, grow interdisciplinary ideas, and have a coffee at Café Gato Rojo.
As one of the house music fellows, I am proud to announce the first Dudley House Music Festival. It is taking place this Sunday, May 10th, 2009 in Dudley House Main Dining Hall.
The Chorus will kick off the event with Haydn's Theresa Mass conducted by Michael Barrett.
Then, the World Music Ensemble will perform music from around the world, including original arrangements and new compositions. Multi-instrumentalist Behtash Babadi is the musical director.
The jazz combo's philosophy is to play creative jazz and have fun. By bringing in new arrangements of old music, or brand new compositions, we try and keep the spark of jazz well alive.
I am very happy to feature in the Big Band program the music of great composers. Duke Ellington, "of course", will be represented with two works. But we will perform as well unpublished works by Bob Mintzer and Mathias Rüegg, two majors big band leaders in the United States and in Europe.
See you on Sunday! You will never regret.
