Friends of Today’s Music
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David Amram
Friends of Today’s Music commissions new works specifically for young musicians. Established in 1986 by Dr. Bob Bennett, the project has supported the creation and publication of new works by leading composers of our time. Each commissioned work is premiered by young musicians during the MTAC convention while the audience follows along with the published score. This program provides students the unique opportunity to collaborate with the composer of the piece, and demonstrates the importance of playing music not only from the past but also music being created by today’s composers.[/box]
Friends of Today’s Music Commissioned Composer
Michael Daugherty
Join us at the MTAC Convention July 3, 2016 at 1p.m.
Hilton Los Angeles Airport
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information contact FTM chair: Dr. Minji Noh
Grammy Award Winning composer Michael Daugherty’s music has entered the orchestral, band and chamber music repertoire and, according to the League of American Orchestras, made him one of the ten most performed American concert music composers today. He has been hailed by The Times (London) as “a master icon maker” with a “maverick imagination, fearless structural sense and meticulous ear.” Daugherty first came to international attention when the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Zinman, performed his Metropolis Symphony at Carnegie Hall in 1994.
Born 1954 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Daugherty is the son of a dance-band drummer and the oldest of five brothers, all professional musicians. Daugherty joined the Composition Department at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance in Ann Arbor, Michigan where, since 1991, he has been a mentor to many of today’s most talented young composers.
Recent performances of Daugherty’s orchestra music include, among others, the Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Orchestra, Cologne Radio Orchestra and Orchestra Nationale de France.
In 2011, the Nashville Symphony’s Naxos recording of Daugherty’s Metropolis Symphony and Deus ex Machina was honored with three GRAMMY® Awards, including Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Michael Daugherty’s music is published by Peermusic Classical, Boosey and Hawkes and Michael Daugherty Music. For more information on Michael Daugherty see his publishers websites and www.michaeldaugherty.net
PROGRAM NOTE
The Old Man and the Sea for violin, cello and piano Michael Daugherty (b.1954)
In Hemingway’s Nobel Prize-winning novella, The Old Man and the Sea (1952), Santiago is a poor, old fisherman considered whose luck changes when he takes his small boat deep into the Gulf Stream. After an epic struggle, he catches a gigantic marlin, the largest fish of his career. As he makes the long journey home, sharks relentlessly attack his boat and devour the marlin. As a musical response, I have composed an elegy to the struggle of life and death between man and nature. The cello represents the old fisherman’s journey as he searches for the truths of man’s existence with dignity and grace.
Friends of Today’s Music Commissioned Works are made possible through the generous support of the Aaron Copland Fund, the Beyster Family Fund at the San Diego Foundation, and individual donations. Anonymous, individual, and MTAC member contributions are accepted throughout the year. To donate, please contact the Amie Vang, Finance Administrator, (415) 978-9668, toll free (800) 834-3340 ext. 109
Year |
Composer |
Title |
Publisher
|
---|---|---|---|
2015 |
Joan Tower |
Sixth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman For Solo Piano |
AMP/G. Schirmer Rental Library |
2014 |
Derek Bermel |
Four Homages for Piano For Piano |
Peermusic Classical |
2013 |
Katrina Wreede |
I-5 For Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano |
Vlazville Publishing |
2012 |
David Amram |
Cancion de Verano |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
2011 |
Robert Aldridge |
Three Waltzes |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
2010 |
David Rakowski |
Étude-Fantasies |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
2009 |
Chen Yi |
From Old Peking Folklore |
Theodore Presser |
2008 |
Paul Chihara |
Fantasy |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
2007 |
Gabriela Lena Frank |
Danza de los Saqsampillos |
G. Schirmer |
2006 |
William Bolcom |
*Nine New Bagatelles |
E. B. Marks Music, Hal Leonard |
2005 |
Libby Larsen |
PentaMetrics |
Oxford University Press |
2004 |
Steven Stucky |
*Meditation and Dance |
Theodore Presser |
2003 |
Judith Lang Zaimont |
In My Lunchbox |
Vivace Press |
2002 |
Melissa Hui |
*and blue sparks burn |
Available through MTAC |
2001 |
Robert Maggio |
Dreams from Childhood |
Theodore Presser |
2000 |
Bruce Adolphe |
Well, It’s Not exactly Beethoven |
PollyRhythm Productions |
1999 |
Martin Rokeach |
*can’t wait |
Roncorp Publications |
1998 |
Vivian Fung |
Scherzo |
Available through MTAC |
1997 |
Samuel Adler |
*Concerto No. 2 |
Theodore Presser |
1996 |
Samuel Zyman |
Two Motions in One Movement |
Theodore Presser |
1995 |
Seymour Bernstein |
Fantasy on a Theme by Francisco |
G. Schirmer |
1994 |
Stephen Hartke |
The Piano Dreams of Empire |
MMB Music, Inc. |
1993 |
Donald Waxman |
Arabesques and Ostinato |
Galaxy Music Corp. (ECS) |
1992 |
Emma Lou Diemer |
Three Piano Pieces |
Plymouth Music/Elkin Music |
1991 |
Gunther Schuller |
Music For Young People |
AMP/Schirmer |
1990 |
David Ott |
*Sinfonia for Cello and Piano |
Park Music Press |
1989 |
Samuel Adler |
*The Road to Terpsichore |
G. Schirmer |
1988 |
William Albright |
*The Machine Age |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
1987 |
Leslie Bassett |
*Configurations |
C.F. Peters Corporation |
1986 |
Richard Felciano |
Five Short Piano Pieces |
Available through MTAC |
For more information, contact:
Friends of Today’s Music and Contemporary Music Seminar State Chair, Dr. Minji Noh