ALL OF THE WORKS MENTIONED ABOVE CAN BE HEARD ON MY YOUTUBE
THREE SONGS FOR BLUESMAN AND ORCHESTRA
A very exciting integration was THREE SONGS FOR BLUESMAN AND ORCHESTRA, a work commissioned by the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra. For this piece, I was to set three songs written by great Chicago bluesman John Primer to an orchestral environment. It
was performed twice in Chicago : first at Dominican University, and the next evening at Chicago’s fabulous Symphony Center, (where I had heard the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform Brahms' Fourth Symphony numerous times.)
Blues for Harp, Oboe, and Violoncello
My chamber work, Blues for Harp, Oboe, and Violoncello was recorded and performed by members of the Cleveland Orchestra -- among them: world-famous artists , oboist John Mack, and harpist Yolanda Kondonasis.
• This work has enjoyed many performances since its premiere at the iconic Frick Gallery, played by by first chair players of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The trio performed it a second time at the Carnegie Museum of Art. To my knowledge, It was last- performed at the Breckenridge International Festival of the Arts in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Composer & Integrator of Blues and Classical. ... AND MORE!
Key Works and Recognition
I love the blues, and have championed it whenever I have had a chance. I have been noted by blues experts such as Dr. William Ferris, Paul Oliver , Sam Charters, Greg Johnson,, and David Evans-- each of whom called my work the most successful ever in bringing the blues to classical music., sInce George Gershwin.
Chimera Rag
But the blues is not the only flavor of Americana that I have integrated into classical music. Chimera Rag(String Quartet no.8) was my tribute to Scott Joplin, the great Ragtime composer. “Charming” was the term heralded ragtime performer and expert Ann Charters used to describe the piece.
Old Time Music
I played a lot of "old time music" when I was coming up, and incorporated that essence in my Woodwind Quintet no.14, entitled OldTimeMusic."
Freight Train Variations
Freight Train Variations (String Quartet No.6) is my tribute to the great folk -blues artist, Elizabeth Cotten, who composed and recorded ”Freight Train,” which she sang while accompanying herself on guitar. She was a lovely, talented artist whom I loved,, admired, and studied when learning guitar. I had the opportunity and great privilege of opening for Ms. Cotten --with my folk trio--when I was fifteen years old-- when she appeared in Baltimore..
Blue Mirror
Blue Mirror is a solo work for guitar that I composed to integrate traditional blues guitar into atonality- (a bold try to be sure!)
(It’s received over300 listens on YouTube!\]
• My String Quarter No. 1: The Blues premiered at the
Smithsonian Chamber Music Series in Washington, D.C.
- The same String Quartet received its Chicago premiere in 2006 at the Cultural Center, and its European premiere in Sweden in 2008-- performed twice there, alongside a work by Wynton Marsalis.
Summer Sounds
Summer Sounds’,a work commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony Chamber Music program, is my attempt to bring the sounds of baseball to the classical music stage. It was performed by wonderful players of the BSO.