T HE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER C OMPOSERS ’ A LLIANCE L’AGE MÛR Ashley Bozian-Murtha, flute Jessica Rudman THE ANATOMY OF THE CURIOSITY CABINET Whitney George Movement 1: Tutti Ensemble Movement 3: Piccolo, Tuba, Viola, Auxiliary Percussion Movement 8: Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba Movement 2: Flute, Trombone, Auxiliary Percussion, Vibraphone, Piano Movement 13: Flute Solo Movement 6: Clarinet, Double Bass, Celeste, Vibraphone Movement 14: Tutti Ensemble The Curiosity Cabinet Whitney George, conductor THE PECULIAR PURPLE PIE-MAN OF PORCUPINE PEAK David Friend, piano, with electronics Angélica Negrón THE PHD/DMA PROGRAMS IN MUSIC Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011, 7:30 pm Baisley Powell Elebash Recital Hall Please switch off your cell phones and refrain from taking flash pictures.
Transcript
THE CUNY GRADUATE CENTER
COMPOSERS’ ALLIANCE
L’AGE MÛR
Ashley Bozian-Murtha, flute
Jessica Rudman
THE ANATOMY OF THE CURIOSITY CABINET Whitney George
Ela Polack, violinJules Lai, violaEric Cooper, violoncelloSean Ormiston, double bassMichael Lupo, auxiliary percussionMatt Johnson, vibraphoneAriel Jaccobs, celestaJocelyn Bonadio, piano
PROGRAM NOTES
L’AGE MÛR (or the “Age of Maturity”) is a sculpture by Camille Claudel, depicting a young woman on her knees clasping the arm of a man who is being shepherded away by an old woman. The work is thought to express the grief Claudel experienced after her lover (and teacher)—the sculptor Rodin—ended their affair to remain with his wife. Though a more abstract interpretation of the sculpture’s meaning also exists, it is the work’s connection to that very concrete and personal situation that intrigued me. The depth of emotion found in the young woman’s face and figure inspired this eponymous composition for solo flute.— Jessica Rudman
THE ANATOMY OF THE CURIOSITY CABINET, a 14-movement work, is an exploration of the timbral variety and orchestrational choices available within different subsets of a large ensemble, employing the full 16 piece group only at its end-cap movements. Each movement of THE ANATOMY... represents a gem one would find in a 19th century curiosity cabinet: an item collected in travel, an odd treasure, slightly worn with time but rich with color and history. — Whitney George
THE PECULIAR PURPLE PIE-MAN OF PORCUPINE PEAK When you're three years old, it's almost impossible to fully comprehend the significance and impact of loosing five family members on the same day. I only have fragmented recollections of when this happened in my family, but what stays with me till this day, besides the fun and loving memories shared with them, is an object from one of my little cousins: a small strawberry shortcake music box. THE PECULIAR PURPLE PIE-MAN OF PORCUPINE PEAK is a piece inspired by the physical presence of this object in my room throughout my life. It is dedicated to the memory of Jeannette, Iván, Rafael, Ruth and Eunís. The piece was written in 2011 for pianist David Friend. — Angélica Negrón
COMPOSER BIOS
JESSICA RUDMAN’s music has been presented across the United States and abroad. She has participated in festivals including the Cortona Sessions, EAMA, Music07, NEON, and the Ernest Bloch Festival. Honors include winning the 2008 Omaha Symphony’s New Music Symposium Score Call, the 2009 Con/un/drum Composition Competition, and a WELFund grant from the University of Hartford. Ms. Rudman has taught at Central Connecticut State University and The Hartt School, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the City University of New York. For more information and audio samples, please visit: http://www.jessicarudman.com.
WHITNEY GEORGE began composing after taking music theory at age 16. While pursuing an Undergraduate degree at CalArts, she focused on interdisciplinary collaboration that led to the self-production of a full-length opera titled "Alphabephobia," which includes animation, dance and theater alongside music. Her music, performance art, and installations have had both international and domestic premieres, primarily in England and the East and West coasts of the US.
Starting in 2008, George studied at the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music with Jason Eckardt and Tania Leon, graduating with a Masters in Music Composition in 2010. During her time at Brooklyn College she was in named composer-in-residence with both the Conservatory Orchestra and the conTEMPO new music ensemble. George has received readings from the NY-based MIVOS String Quartet, the Cygnus Ensemble, and TRANSIT Ensemble. Her thesis "The Yellow Wallpaper," an operatic work, was awarded the Lehman Engel Award. George was also named as a John Duffy Composers Institute Fellow for two years running in 2010 and 2011.
George is continuing studies at the doctoral level at the CUNY Graduate Center, where she has studied with David Del Tredici, and David Olan, in addition to perusing private studies with Fred Ho. She conducts the Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME) at CUNY Graduate Center as well as Ursula Oppens' conTEMPO ensemble at Brooklyn College Conservatory. In the Fall of 2011 George is set to conduct Fred Ho’s opera The Sweet Science Suite: a Scientific Soul Honoring of Mohammed Ali for a world premiere performance at the Guggenheim Museum.
George also leads and conducts "The Curiosity Cabinet," a chamber orchestra whose members were culled from a network of close collaborators. In addition to her composing and conducting, George teaches introductory music theory and music appreciation at the Brooklyn College Conservatory.
Composer and multi-instrumentalist ANGÉLICA NEGRÓN was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1981 and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Interested in creating intricate yet simple narratives that evoke intangible moments in time, she writes music for accordions, toys and electronics as well as chamber ensembles and orchestras. Angélica received an early education in piano and violin at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico where she later studied composition under the guidance of composer Alfonso Fuentes. Her music has been performed by janus trio, Cadillac Moon Ensemble, Astoria Symphony Orchestra, TRANSIT Ensemble, Iktus Percussion Quartet, NYU Symphony Orchestra and the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, among others. She holds a master’s degree in music composition from New York University where she studied with Pedro da Silva and is currently pursuing a doctorate in music composition at The Graduate Center (CUNY), where she studies with Tania León. Angélica has contributed as a writer to the International Alliance of Women in Music Journal and the British magazine The Wire, and is currently working on a commission from MATA Festival 2011 for a new piece for chorus and live electronics.
PERFORMER BIOS
Flutist and piccoloist ASHLEY BOZIAN-MURTHA graduated from Manhattanville College in 2009 with a double-major in music (flute performance) and history (with a concentration in Middle East studies). She has studied with esteemed flutist Harold Jones since 2004 and is a graduate of both the Hoff-Barthelson Music School and Manhattan School of Music. She has performed as piccoloist with various ensembles including the St. Thomas Orchestra and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, and performs frequently throughout New York City and Westchester County, where she is a regular performer at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Church. In 2010 Ashley was invited to premier music by composer Jennifer Castellano at Lincoln Center in a performance that was met with great acclaim by New York Magazine. Ashley's performances have also been broadcast on the popular radio program Classical Discoveries with Marvin Rosen. This Spring, Ashley will appear in performance at the CUNY New Music Festival. Ashley is currently pursuing a master's degree in music history at Hunter College of the City University of New York, where her master's thesis will focus on music of the Armenian diaspora.
DAVID FRIEND is dedicated to ensuring the continued relevance of the art of the piano in contemporary culture.
As a champion of new and experimental music he has worked with the preeminent composers of our time (Steve Reich, David Lang, Charles Wuorinen), and also collaborates closely with emerging composers from around the world through his work with the TRANSIT collective. He has performed at top venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Royal Festival Hall (London), the Chan Centre (Vancouver), and Reina Sofia Museum (Madrid); and worked with ensembles including the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Signal, Ensemble Pamplemousse, and the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble.
As a soloist, David Friend presents programs that seek to revitalize the experience of a piano recital for the 21st century, and he seeks out composers who are re-imagining the vitality of the piano by experimenting with new concepts in sound, technology, and performance practice.
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Spring 2011 Events February 10 Music in Midtown – Chamber Music on Fifth I [1:00PM] 16 Caroline Chin, violin 22 Chad Cygan, tenor 24 Music in Midtown – Chamber Music on Fifth II [1:00PM] 24 Oliver Markson, piano 28 Ji Hyun Son, viola March 9 Whitney George, composer [12:30PM] 16 Students of the Ph.D. Program in Music Theory 17 Alice Jones, flute 22 Composers’ Alliance 23 Vicky Wang, cello 24 Music in Midtown - Songs of John Musto [1:00PM] 24 Alistair MacRae, cello 28 Mary Hubbell, soprano 30 Aleksandra Sarest, piano April 5 William McNally, piano 7 Music in Midtown - Women in Music Festival: Sylvie Beaudette [1:00PM]
7 Heesun Shin, violin 11 Roberta Michel, flute 13 Kara Eubanks, violin 14 Music in Midtown - Randall Scarlata, baritone, and Thomas Sauer, piano [1:00PM] 27 Ran Dank, piano May 3 Performance Practice of the 20th and 21st Centuries 5 Music in Midtown - Prometheus Chamber Ensemble [1:00PM] 5 Contemporary Music Ensemble 9 Barrett Hipes, percussion 10 Composers’ Alliance – A Special Milton Babbitt Celebration [6:30PM] 10 Composers’ Alliance [8:00PM] 17 Cygnus Ensemble 19 Cygnus Ensemble – Milton Babbitt 95th Birthday Celebration 23 Danya Katok, soprano 24 Chih-tung Cheng, piano 25 Emily Eagen, soprano
