Annual American Composers Update

Paul Martin Zonn

Since becoming Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Illinois, Paul Martin Zonn has moved to Nashville, TN, where he conducts the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble; has played with the Acme Jazz Movers, Vassar Clements, and others; produces albums and participates in recording sessions for major labels, including Sony Columbia and New World Records; and continues composing and arranging. The University of Miami School of Music named him Distinguished Alumnus and invited him to speak at its 1998 graduation/convocation, where he was presented with a plaque in honor of his work as a composer, performer, teacher, and advocate of new music. He has more than a dozen new projects in the pipeline, including commissions, recordings, and performances, beginning in early spring 2000. In spring 1999, Zonn's transcription, ornamentation, and continuo realization for oboe and mandolin ensemble of Telemann's Concerto in D Minor for Oboe and String Orchestra was heard first with Wilma Zonn and the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, led by the composer, at Vanderbilt Univ., at Cafe Milano, and on public radio station WPLN. In 1999, a CD he conducted and co-produced, New World Records All the Rage (#80544-2), containing 1897-1924 mandolin ensemble music, won the Nashville Music Award for best classical music recording and the Association for Independent Music award for best acoustic instrumental recording.

Premieres

In 1997, Tennessee Secrets, for chamber orchestra and mandolin quartet, was premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Edwin London conducting (Feb.), followed by performances with the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and guest artists, conducted by the composer, at Vanderbilt Univ. (Apr.); and with the Middle Tennessee Symphony Orchestra, under Zonn, in Murfreesboro (Sept.). The Univ. of Evansville Symphony Orchestra, under Lonnie Klein, gave the first performance of Victory Celebration Fanfare, Oct. 1998. Vanderbuilt Univ. faculty artists introduced Three American Dances (1. Lowdown Dirty Blues, 2. Too Slow for Arthur Murray, 3. Another Undanceable Waltz), for oboe, C-melody saxophone, mandolin, guitar, viola, and accordion, Nov. 1998. At ClarinetFest 1999 in Ostend, Belgium, Howard Klug and Read Gainsford presented Beyond Dancing (1. A Memory of Sal, 2. In the Midst Again, 3. Andrew's Chops), for bass clarinet and piano, July 1999. The clarinet trio Ultimate Nimbus was played first by Trio Indiana on the Indiana campus. All works were commissioned by the performers.

Performances

Ultimate Nimbus has been performed by the Evansville Philharmonic Clarinet Trio and by the Marine Band Clarinet Quartet.

Publications

Ultimate Nimbus, E-flat, B-flat, and bass clarinets; Beyond Dancing; Nimbus III, trio for E-flat, B-flat, and bass clarinets, soprano and alto saxophones, oboe, and English horn; all by Woodwindiana Editions.

Recordings

Several compositions; Acme Jazz Movers, Zonn, clarinets and saxophones; Acme Jazz Movers; Vassar Clements, Zonn, clarinets and saxophones; Vassar Clements and the Little Big Band; both by Chrome Records. Ultimate Nimbus; Chicago Clarinet Trio; Helicon HE 1028 CD.