Contemporary/Twenty-First Century

Andy Akiho’s “Pentalateral I”: Sandbox Percussion

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The music of American composer Andy Akiho (b. 1979) is infused with the sounds of the Caribbean. Based in Portland, Oregon and New York City, Akiho is a virtuoso percussionist whose primary instrument is the steelpan, a drum developed in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s. According to his biography, As a pannist, Akiho has a deeply physical relationship with playing, which undoubtedly informs his compositions. His style is further shaped by …

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Gabriella Smith’s “Maré”: yMusic

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“Maré” translates as “tide” in Portuguese. It is the title of a brief chamber work by American composer Gabriella Smith (b. 1991). Scored for flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola, and cello, it was written in 2017 for the New York-based sextet chamber ensemble, yMusic. It is included on the group’s fourth album, Ecstatic Science. Smith explains, I wrote it on an island in Brazil when I was staying at an artists’ colony. …

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Gabriella Smith’s “Tumblebird Contrails”: Ecstatic Wings

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A vivid experience in nature formed the inspiration for Tumblebird Contrails, a work for orchestra composed in 2014 by American composer Gabriella Smith (b. 1991). In her program note, Smith writes, Tumblebird Contrails is inspired by a single moment I experienced while backpacking in Point Reyes, sitting in the sand at the edge of the ocean, listening to the hallucinatory sounds of the Pacific (the keening gulls, pounding surf, rush of approaching waves, …

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John Adams’ “El Niño”: Five Excerpts from the Nativity Oratorio

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Composed in 1999, John Adams’ nativity oratorio, El Niño (“the child”), is a meditation on the nature of miracles. Based on the New Testament gospels, which Adams celebrates as “little more than long sequences of miracles,” the narrative structure is similar to that of Handel’s Messiah. Adams writes, Narrative passages alternate with arias and choruses that meditate or reflect on the principal themes. Among those could be mentioned the mystery of the Conception and …

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Michael Torke’s “Last Month”: New Music for Solo Violin and String Orchestra

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Last Month, the newest installment of American composer Michael Torke’s Last was released earlier this week. Scored for solo violin and string orchestra, the collection of twelve meditative pieces can be performed separately, or as a whole. The titles evoke memories and the passage of time. (Last Fall, Last Year, Last Month, Last Sunday, etc.) Torke comments that they “are almost like second movements of violin concertos.” His program notes for Last are as follows: The Stoics recommend …

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Remembering Cristian Ganicenco

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Cristian Ganicenco, principal trombonist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, has passed away. He was 58. Last Friday, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra put out the following statement: It is with immeasurable sadness we share the passing of our Principal Trombone, Cristian Ganicenco, after a private battle with cancer. Cristian was a longtime and deeply valued member of our Orchestra. Since joining in 1999, he contributed to our mission through …

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Michael Torke’s “Last Fall”: New Music for Solo Violin and String Orchestra

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American composer Michael Torke (b. 1961) has just completed a new concerto for solo violin and string orchestra simply titled Last. Last is a collection of twelve meditative pieces that can be performed separately, or as a whole. The titles evoke memories and the passage of time. (Last Fall, Last Year, Last Month, Last Sunday, etc.) Torke comments that they “are almost like second movements of violin concertos.” His program notes for Last are as follows: The Stoics recommend …

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