Posts

Showing posts from 2022

Dance Gala 2022

Image
Three years after my last appearance on the Hancher stage, I am thrilled to take part in a new Dance Gala production. Choreographer Armando Duarte invited composer Ramin Roshandel to write a new piece for his dance work. The result combines electronic and acoustic sounds. The musicians are: Nicole Esposito , flute Benjamin Coelho , bassoon Ramin Roshandel , live electronics M Denney , live electronics Jean-François Charles, live electronics Armando Duarte introduces the piece Espaldar : Espaldar translates from Portuguese to English as “the back of a chair.” Inspired by images from late 1940s, and based on personal stories, Espaldar is a self-reflection to where we are at this moment in humanity... a contemplation on the significance of individuals interacting within each other in a secluded environment under strenuous external circumstances. The cast is a wonderful group of eight dancers. I hope you can make it to one of the shows: Friday, Nov 11 and Saturday,

Mer de Glace & Water Music

Image
Flashback on a collaboration between Dan Miller, Dan Moore, Matt Mason, and Jean-Fran̤ois Charles, part of the Sounds of Water project. A concert organized by Jean-Fran̤ois Charles ( School of Music , Center for New Music ) and Marian Muste (IIHR РHydroscience & Engineering), with support from the Office of the Vice-President for Research at the University of Iowa. Part of the Young Professional Workshop Lowering Flood Risk by Increasing Resilience. Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 5:30pm Voxman Music Building Stark Opera Studio Dan Miller : creation of the Malignancy installation Dan Moore : percussion Matt Mason: piano Jean-Fran̤ois Charles: bass clarinet Clouds in Icy Moonlight was composed by Helmut Lachenmann . During the same concert, you could also enjoy Water Music , by Dan Moore, performed with students Gabe Albertus & Wil Voelker:

Jamshid Jam Album Release Party

Image
Save the date! On October 21, Ramin Roshandel and I are giving a mini-concert at Public Space One in Iowa City to celebrate the release of our album Jamshid Jam . 538, South Gilbert St, 7pm, Free admission. See you there!

Petrified in Voxman with Tim Gill

Image
This Wednesday, September 21, cellist Timothy Gill is performing my piece Petrified, for cello & live electronics . I hope you can attend: the free concert is taking place at 7:30pm in the Voxman Music Building, Iowa City. Picture from www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/london-sinfoniettas-tim-gill/ The recital featuring Timothy Gill and David Gompper also includes composer Zoë Martlew 's Ondine . Zoë is visiting the University this week, so, you'll have a chance to talk with her at the concert!

Dedalo Nero Studio Recording

Image
After the live recording of Dedalo Nero for contra-alto clarinet , composer Davide Ianni and I are delighted to share with you the studio recording. We hope you enjoy this beautiful piece! DavideIanni · Dedalo Nero Recording by James Edel on Feb 13, 2022, mastering by Jean-François Charles. Dedalo Nero on soundcloud . Davide Ianni and Jean-François Charles after the premiere on Feb 13, 2022.

Opera for the Museum of Art

Image
This afternoon, we are celebrating the opening of the Stanley Museum of Art ! The Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre is presenting airs from The Grant Wood Operas: Strokes of Genius in the lobby of the Museum at 5 pm. Élise Deschamps is singing Nattie's Air , while Mitchell Widmer is performing the song Flip the Page . Thank you so much!

Dedalo Nero Live

Image
Dedalo Nero is a beautiful composition for contralto clarinet written by composer Davide Ianni . I had the privilege to premiere the piece during the Center for New Music concert on February 13, 2022 . Davide Ianni just published the video, I hope you enjoy: I'm playing a Leblanc contra-alto clarinet .

Iowa Composers Forum Summer Festival 2022

Image
Coming up this week-end: Music Now & In-Person Friday, June 3rd, 7 p.m. – Concert #1: Music for soprano and flute, Noble Recital Hall Saturday, June 4th, 3 p.m. – Concert #2: Electronic Music, Noble Recital Hall Saturday, June 4th, 7 p.m. – Concert #3: Music for Solo Piano and Solo Cello, Noble Recital Hall Sunday, June 5th, 3 p.m. – Concert #4: Oneota Valley Community Orchestra, Center for Faith and Life I'm going to perform two compositions of mine with great performers. First, we will create a new version of Petrified for cello & live electronics with cellist extraordinaire Craig Hultgren . Second, we are going to give a new performance of Legit for trombone & live electronics with composer and trombonist Mark Rheaume . Both of my works are featured on the Electronic Music Concert, on Saturday at 3 p.m. I hope we will meet there!

Marco Fusi plays new music for viola d'amore & live electronics

Image
The Center for New Music at the University of Iowa is honored to present a recital by guest artist Marco Fusi : this Tuesday, April 19, at 7:30pm in the Voxman Concert Hall. The program includes David Gompper 's Nuance for solo violin, and the US premiere of Yu Kuwabara 's Water Voice / Bai and Dharani . Marco Fusi is also going to play two pieces for viola d'amore and live electronics. Tesseræ, for viola d'amore & live electronics Tesseræ was composed by composer Christophe Trapani for Marco Fusi. It draws inspiration from several traditional bowed instruments: the kemençe from Istanbul, the Indian sarangi, and the lyra from Crete . This piece was recorded and just released on Christopher Trapani's album Horizontal Drift . Voltaic, for viola d'amore & live electronics When Marco's recital was confirmed, I decided to write a piece for him and thought it was a superb opportunity to get to know the viola d'amore. Marco shared with me grea

Guest on Art + Music + Technology

Image
Musician and technologist Darwin Grosse invited me for a discussion on his Art+Music+Technology podcast . I was delighted to meet with him again... Last time was at the Expo '74 2011 in Brooklyn, New York. I hope you enjoy the podcast. Check out the different episodes, this is truly an incredible resource: 378 interviews since 2013. And many are transcribed !

Electroclarinet 5 - Clarinet & live electronics

Image
This is a live recording of Electroclarinet 5, for clarinet & live electronics . I performed it on Bb clarinet in November 2021, during jemFest, the Jacksonville Electroacoustic Music Festival at the University of Northern Florida . The score & software used for this recording are available: newfloremusic.gumroad.com .

New Pi Hawkeye

In January, I had the pleasure of recording and producing the vocals for Jhe Russell's New Pi Hawkeye . I have worked with Jhe when he starred in the opera Grant Wood in Paris. Here, you can hear him rap his own lyrics: Rawzen · NEW PI HAWKEYE Learn more in the Daily Iowan's article on Jhe Russell .

Center for New Music plays two pieces by composer Davide Ianni

Image
You are invited: this Sunday, the Center for New Music performs a concert with music by guest composer Davide Ianni . I will be performing Dedalo Nero , a brand new piece that Davide Ianni wrote for solo contralto clarinet. I'm also taking part on bass clarinet in Orme d'Ombre , for two wind quintets, double bass, piano, and percussion. Music director David Gompper paired these two works with Chanted Rituals , for trumpet/flugelhorn and 2 percussions by Vivian Fung and the ensemble piece Pour l'Image by Philippe Hurel . The concert is taking place on Sunday, Feb 13, at 7:30pm CST in the Voxman Concert Hall. Details and streaming link are available here .

Playing with the dawgs

Image
Three Dawgs and a Bone are Steve Grismore (guitar), Rich Medd (trombone), Scotty Barnum (bass), and James Dreier (drums). I was lucky they invited me to play a couple of tunes with them on Friday, at the Trumpet Blossom - including free improvisation, an original, and Albert Ayler's Ghosts.