TIM REYNISH WEBSITE

HOME PAGE for 25th DECEMBER 2006

** STOP PRESS**- CBDNA National Conference at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, correct dates 28 - 31 March

Once again it is time to wish everyone, albeit for some belatedly, for some rather early, a very happy Diwali, Eid Al-Addha, Hannukah, Yule, Christmas, Parairvana Day and New Year, whether you are on the beach or by the fire.

It is all too easy for us in Northern Europe or North America to forget what is happening musically elsewhere, so spare a thought for our Australian mates celebrating Ashes victories (the equivalent of World Cup in cricket) on Bondi Beach while we in UK try to forget and build climatically changed snowmen. 

Let us all hope that our politicians have the will and integrity to try to sort out the conflicts in Asia, the Middle East and Africa and at the same time address the problems posed by GM crops, by climate change, by poverty and disease, and let us hope that we in the music world can contribute a little to international understanding and accord. 

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THREE COMPETITIONS

Three composition results, winners Andy Scott from UK, Jodie Blackshaw of Australia and Andersen Viana from Brazil

DARK RAIN

BASBWE COMMMISSION WINS BRITISH COMPOSERS AWARD

Andy Scott has won a British Composer Awards 2006 for his Concerto for Two Saxophones and Wind Orchestra, Dark Rain. The award ceremony at the Hayward Gallery and the winning pieces were broadcast on BBC 3 on Monday 27 November 2006 19:30-21:30 (Radio 3) , performed by John Harle & Rob Buckland with the Chethams School of Music Wind Band conducted by James Gourlay. Also nominated was Michael Berkeley’s Slow Dawn, commissioned by Tim Reynish and premiered at BASBWE on 5th November 2005.

Andy Scott says,:

This concerto pays homage to the versatility of the saxophone and the different styles of writing for the instrument. It is in one continuous movement and after a dramatic opening exclamation from the two soloists, journeys through a collision of contemporary classical, bebop, big band and swing before concluding with a release of tension in a final slower section.

The writing of this concerto took up most of the summer of 2005, during which time was the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima’s destruction. In 1985 whilst on tour in Japan with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. My experience on that visit from witnessing the devastation mankind can inflict on itself to the overwhelming quest for peace was profound. What affected me were ordinary peoples stories of that fateful day and the effect of the dark rain. At first thought by the survivors to be a salvation from the heavens after the heat of the inferno had dried up all water, the black raindrops were radioactive and many died later from it’s affects.

Whilst this double saxophone concerto is not meant to be a “war” or “peace” concerto, it does due to the period it was written in naturally convey an overall yearning for peace. This culminates in the final chorale section after the tension created by the two soloists working in tandem and individually journey though the different styles throughout this piece. Dark Rain was especially composed for saxophonists John Harle and Rob Buckland

Dark Rain was commissioned by BASBWE Education Trust-College Commission Consortium; Birmingham Conservatoire, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London College of Music & Media, Royal Northern College of Music, University of Warwick, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

Through his work with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet and other groups, Andy Scott has worked with many amazing musicians and composers throughout his career to date. Despite never having had any formal compositional training he has been at the cutting edge of contemporary classical music, absorbing, studying and playing music by todays leading composers. Therefore it is no surprise that Andy has developed a writing style that is a blend of jazz, funk and contemporary classical with an emphasis on strong lead lines and tunes! His music can be challenging at times, but it is always accessible, whether it is a roaring big band chart, an intimate classical chamber piece, or large scale ensemble work.

As well as being commissioned by leading performers, Andy writes for today's young musicians, and gives composition & improvisation workshops/masterclasses in schools, universities and music conservatories. He is also an extremely versatile saxophonist, performing contemporary music, jazz, funk and salsa, and free improvisations, creates new projects and is respected educator.

In March 2006 Andy performed "Concerto for Stan Getz" by Richard Rodney Bennett with the BBC Concert Orchestra as part of the composers 70th birthday concert at London’s South Bank Centre, broadcast live by BBC Radio 3. As a founder member of the internationally renowned Apollo Saxophone Quartet, Andy has, since 1985, been involved in the commissioning of new music for saxophones, with over one hundred works to date, many of which are now standard saxophone quartet repertoire. 

The ASQ has recorded numerous CDs and regularly tours Europe and Japan. The Dave Hassell-Andy Scott Duo has performed in New York, Mexico and the UK. Their debut CD Sand Dancer is released on the Quartz label. SaxAssault (Andy's large ensemble) recently performed in a televised concert in Slovenia with the Yellowjackets & RTV Slovenia Big Band. SaxAssault’s second CD, Surfacing for Air, with special guest Bob Mintzer is to be released in February 2007. As a soloist, Andy has premiered numerous works for tenor saxophone many written especially for him, and has just released a CD of music for tenor saxophone, My Mountain Top.

He is Tutor of Saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music, Saxophone Consultant at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Artistic Director of the Harrogate Saxophone Summer School and co-Artistic Director of the annual Royal Northern College of Music Saxophone Day. In 2004 he formed the World Tenor Saxophone Consortium. 

Andy Scott is a Selmer Paris Performing Artist. His compositions are published by Astute Music Ltd.

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Andersen Viana

Composer and music professor Andersen Viana has won two prizes at the Concours International de Composition pour Orchestre D'Harmonie at Lambersart, a town 200km from Paris, France. The Brazilian composer was awarded first prize (3500 euros) for Ultimo Movimento, which also received the Public Prize of 500 euros in the final round on 22 October 2006. He was the only composer participant representing the Americas. Second prize was awarded to Jukka Viitaasari from Finland for Strange dreams. About forty composers took part. The jury consisted of prominent musical personalities from France with Désiré Dondeyne as president.

Information: www.ville-lambersart.fr/agemlam

HOME PAGE: 15 NOVEMBER 2006 

NEWS FLASHES INDEX

1. Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra appoints leading wind band composer, Kenneth Hesketh, as Resident Composer, 2007 – 2009.

2. FREDERICK FENNELL PRIZE for Competition for Young Composers of Concert Band Music won by Matthew Tommasini, 28, Wins $5000

3. Deadline for WASBE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH WIND ORCHESTRA DECEMBER 15th

4. CANFORD & INTERLAKEN SUMMER CONDUCTING COURSES

5. 2007 NINTH BIENNIAL NBA/MERRILL JONES COMPOSITION COMPETITION

6. BASBWE launches new website with twenty five years of articles

7. THREE CONFERENCES IN 2007

8. THE SCARECROW by Joseph Turrin.

9. GUBAIDULINA Performance in London 14th January 2007

10. BIRTHDAYS FOR 2007

11. THREE TRUMPET CONCERTI

12. NEW REPERTOIRE CD’S OUT IN DECEMBER

13. KNELLER HALL 150TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

14. SLOW DAWN nominated for British Composers Award

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Many thanks to all of you browsers who have responded with comments and ideas. In the month ending 5th November, we had over 5,000 hits on the site; many thanks also to Mike Grieff, my webmaster and Canford oboist, for keeping the site up-to-date with news and files.

My October Homepage carries information about four of the major wind organisations in the world, BASBWE, CBDNA, NBA and WASBE. Details are available through the links of three Conferences, all of which promise a plethora of new ideas and new repertoire.

A FLAVOUR OF IRELAND

I found two great quotations when browsing in the Irish Contemporary Music Centre site, and they will give you a taste of what to expect at the WASBE Conference, and especially in the opening concert by the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble.

Generally speaking, my style is very bold, but it has not the slightest tendency to subvert any of the constituent elements of art. The prevailing characteristics of my music are passionate expression, intense ardour, rhythmical animation and unexpected turns."

Quotation: Berlioz. Aspiration: mine.

The writer is John Kinsella, who has been commissioned to write a new work, Prelude and Toccata, for the opening concert. A second Irish commission for this concert is from Styephen McNeff; his An Image in Stone is the latest in my series of commissions dedicated to our third son William.

The Conference will start with the witty Finnegan’s Wake by Archie Potter, (1918-1980), and this quotation by him caught my eye: 

I do not believe in ivory towers, and if anything I write does not make itself immediately understood by the audience and go on giving them new pleasures, I have failed.

Have a great November and December.

Tim

timreynish@tiscali.co.uk

WASBE CONFERENCE 2007

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OPENING WASBE CONCERT BY THE IRISH YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE

Conductor: James Cavanagh 

Guest Conductor: Tim Reynish

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1    Press Release

Immediate: Wednesday 18th October 2006

Composer in the House for Liverpool Phil

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has appointed Liverpool composer, Kenneth Hesketh as its Composer in the House, a two-year residency, devised and supported by the Royal Philharmonic Society in partnership with the PRS Foundation. The prestigious scheme offers time and space for composers to create new work by placing them at the heart of orchestral life.

Kenneth will commence his residency in 2007, and will work intensively with the Phil through the 07/08 and 08/09 seasons, during which time Liverpool will be in the international spotlight as European Capital of Culture 2008.

He follows Stephen McNeff, the inaugural RPS/PRSF Composer in the House, who began a two-year residency with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in September 2005. Two more residencies are planned with regional UK orchestras in the future.

Kenneth Hesketh’s latest work for school and community bands, Vranjanka, will be played by the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble in WASBE Ireland Conference.

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2     FREDERICK FENNELL PRIZEWINNER

Matthew Tommasini, 28, Wins $5000 Frederick Fennell Prize in Competition for Young Composers of Concert Band Music

New York, NY, October 30, 2006: Frances Richard, Vice-President andDirector of Concert Music of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and Jerry Junkin, President of CBDNA (College Band Directors National Association), today jointly announced the third bi-annual ASCAP/CBDNA Frederick Fennell Prize winner. The competition, named for Frederick Fennell, ASCAP member and founder of the CBDNA, was established to encourage gifted American composers to create new works for Concert Band. The winning work was selected via a juried national competition, which attracted submissions from eligible composers (between the ages of 18 and 30) from across the United States.

The $5000 Prize for a wind ensemble work has been awarded to Matthew Tommasini, age 28, for "Three Spanish Songs" for chamber wind ensemble and soprano. The award winning work will be performed during the National CBDNA Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, March 28 - March 31, 2007.

Additional works selected for Honorable Mention by the Jury will be circulated to ensembles performing at regional CBDNA conferences. Honorable Mention:

Elizabeth Kelly, age 24, Rochester, New York - "Jolt!" for concert band.

Eric Nathan, age 22, Larchmont, New York - "Nightscape/Daybreak" for solo trumpet and concert band.

Baljinder Sekhon II, age 26, Rochester, New York - "Scope" for wind ensemble.

Ben Stonaker, age 25, Kansas City, Missouri - "Pooka" an overture for wind ensemble

The ASCAP composer/judges for the 2006 competition were: David Del Tredici, Bright Sheng and Roberto Sierra. 

"Three Spanish Songs" (2005) by Matthew Tommasini

1. Olas grises

2. Nocturno

3. Sueo despierto

1/1/1/1, 1/1/1, 2 Perc., Sop., Pno;

texts: Leopoldo Lugones, Rubn Daro, and Jos Mart

Duration: 15

Commissioned by the Michael Haithcock and the University of Michigan Symphony Band

Premiere

December 12, 2005

Caroline Helton, soprano

University of Michigan Symphony Band, Michael Haithcock conductor

Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, MI

This cycle is a setting of three contrasting poems by Latin-American poets Leopoldo Lugones, Rubn Daro, and Jos Mart. Olas grises uses evocative rain and sea imagery to meditate on the nature of life and death. Set as a lyrical, quasi-strophic song, these images are portrayed through the opening percussion rain drop motive and the moaning vocal line used throughout the movement. Nocturno is a frantic soliloquy set as an extendedopera scene. 

The piano and percussion accompany the soprano in the opening recitative which is followed by a surreal aria accompanied by the rest of the ensemble. This is followed by a re-statement of both sections. Sueo despierto is a short poem about the contrasting images of a waking dream. Based on a fragment of the lullaby Nanita nana, heard in its entirety at the opening, the song is a set of three variations, followed by a coda, which portray these various images. 

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4. TWO CONDUCTING CLASSES IN 2007

CANFORD SUMMER SCHOOL WIND BAND CONDUCTING COURSE

16th Year of the BASBWE/Canford Conducting Class

England, 5 – 12 August 2007 Repertoire: 

LIST A

LIST B

All of this material will be available from Nigel Durno at Just Music

246 Auldhouse Road, East Kilbride, G75 9DX 

Tel: 44 (0)1355 245674

JUNGFRAU MUSIC FESTIVAL

Switzerland, Masterclass for Conductors Interlaken July 9 - 14 2007 with Baldur Brönnimann (Switzerland)

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7. NBA COMPOSERS COMPETITION

2007 NINTH BIENNIAL NBA/MERRILL JONES MEMORIAL

YOUNG COMPOSERS BAND COMPOSITION CONTEST 

FOR GRADE III/IV CONCERT BAND

Who May Enter: Anyone 40 years of age or younger (birthdate on or after November 1, 1967)

Requirements: A work for concert band with no restrictions as to style or form.

Compositions must be for GRADE III/IV CONCERT BAND and must not exceed 8 minutes in length.

Entries must be the original and unpublished concert band work of the composer. Compositions under rental contract from a music publisher CANNOT be submitted

Entry Materials: Full score and compact disc recording of specified instrumentation.

Award: $2,000

Entry Deadline: November 1, 2007

Entry Forms and Information: E-mail: wickes@lsu.edu or write to

Frank B. Wickes

Director of Bands

292 Band Hall

Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Attn: NBA/Merrill Jones Composition Contest

More information on NBA Website

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8. THE SCARECROW

Joseph Turrin’s opera was premiered earlier this year at the University of Austin. The orchestration is for small wind ensemble (2 flute, oboe, 2 clarinet, 2 bassoon, 2 horn, 2 trumpet, 2 trombone, 2 cello, piano, harp and 2 percussion). The opera is based on a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne with a libretto by one of the best American libretto writers: Bernard Stambler (he did the libretto for the opera The Crucible). 

The Scarecrow was selected as one of three outstanding works by the National Opera Association and will have scenes performed at the Manhattan School of Music in January, 2007, in New York. To hear the complete opera go to www.josephturrin.com and follow the links.

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9. GUBAIDULINA FESTIVAL IN JANUARY

Back in June 2005 I enthused in my Homepage about a work of which I had never heard by one of Russia’s leading composers, Sofia Gubaidulina. Thanks to the BBC, we have a chance in January to hear a cross section of her work, to watch film of her life, to hear her in interview, and in particular to hear HER great work for mezzo soprano and wind orchestra, Hour of the Soul.

Sunday 14 January 2007, 5.00pm

Ticket prices: £10 all seats (unreserved)

Weekend and Day Passes available

LSO St Luke's, The UBS & LSO Music Education Centre, 161 Old Street, London

Hour of the Soul

GUBAIDULINA - Introitus

GUBAIDULINA - Hour of the Soul

Guildhall Symphony Orchestras

Guildhall Wind Ensemble

Mikhael Agrest conductor

Nicolas Hodges piano

Karen Cargill Mezzo-soprano

Poetic imagery and religious symbolism drew Gubaidulina to the work of the strikingly original Moscow-born writer Marina Tsvetaeva, not least to her disturbing poem of 1923, Hour of the Soul. Tsvetaeva, officially ostracised following her return from exile to Russia in the late 1930s, committed suicide following the outbreak of war in 1941. Gubaidulina’s interpretation of Hour of the Soul translates the poem’s evocation of the soul stripped bare into music of spine-tingling drama.

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10. BIRTHDAYS IN 2007

Guy Woolfenden born 12 July 1937

Martin Ellerby, born 1957

Percy Grainger, born 1882

Ernst Toch, born 1887

Elizabeth Maconchy, born 1907

Willem van Otterloo, born 1907

Gyorgy Ranki, born 1907

John Gardner, born 1917

David Bedford, born 1937

Gordon Crosse born, 1937

Edwin Roxburgh, born 1937

Paul Patterson, born 1947

Martin Ellerby, born 1957

Simon Wills, born 1957

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11. THREE NEW TRUMPET CONCERTOS

January 5th 2007

Cardiff City Hall

T'R Gwyddel Terence Johns

A Concerto for Trumpet and wind band

Four Counties Youth Wind Orchestra conductor David Hughes

Terence John's first work for trumpet and wind was the Trumpet Concertino ‘To an Irishman' for Mark O'Keefe and The Dumbarton Wind Band, performed and recorded live at the Mid Europe Festival in 2004.

Trumpet Concerto by Marco Pütz

*** NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW ***

TRUMPET CONCERTO (2006)

Commissioned by Timothy & Hilary Reynish in memory of their son William and Amabile Music Team ltd., Director Philippe Schartz

Publisher: Bronsheim Muziekuitgeverij, NL

To be recorded on CD in March 2007

At last ELEGY FOR MILES DAVIS

Novello/Music Sales are publishing as a single work the slow movement of the Trumpet Concerto by Richard Rodney Bennett, Elegy for Miles Davis. It is available through Studio Music – in the USA through Shattinger or Southern Music.

Also a reminder from Merlin Patterson who writes: An omission from your trumpet concerto list: Concerto No. 2 for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble by Fisher Tull, pub. by Boosey 7 Hawkes (rental). This is actually a transcription from the orchestral original, which was commissioned by Doc Severinsen.

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12. NEW REPERTOIRE CDs

VOL 3 - ITHACA COLLEGE SYMPHONIC BAND 6733-MCD

VOL 4 - ITHACA COLLEGE WIND ENSEMBLE 6804-MCD

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13. THE ROYAL MILITARY SCHOOL OF MUSIC, KNELLER HALL, celebrates its 150th anniversary with a gala concert on August 1. A new work has been commissioned by Nigel Clarke.

14. SLOW DAWN by Michael Berkeley, which I commissioned for the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and premiered in October 2005, has been nominated for a British Composers Award. Other nominations are DARK RAIN by Andy Scott, a BASBWE Commission premiered last November at the Manchester Conference by John Harle and Rob Buckland with Chethams School Wind Ensemble, and John Pickard’s EDEN