Annual American Composers Update
Samuel Magrill
SAI National Arts Associate Samuel Magrill is a Professor
of Music and Composer-in-Residence at the University of
Central Oklahoma (UCO), in Edmond. In June 2000, he received
his 13th consecutive ASCAP Award, and a UCO faculty research
grant for his work in composition. Also in 2000, he became
an SAI National Arts Associate (Jan.) and received a Distinguished
Creativity Award from the UCO's American Association of
University Professors chapter (Apr.). His opera
Showdown
on Two Street was commissioned through the American
Composer's Forum, in partnership with the National Endowment
for the Arts, the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation,
Rockefeller Foundation, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation,
and Land O'Lakes Foundation, as part of its Continental
Harmony program (an Associate Partner of the White House
Millennium Council). The mayor of Edmond made Magrill's
The "Edmond" March (1999) the official march of
the city.
Premieres
In 2000,
The "Edmond" March premiered with the
Edmond Central Middle School Eighth Grade Band, Andy Heitz,
conductor, at Santa Fe High School, in Edmond (May); and
was played again by the UCO Summer Band, under Ron Howell
(June). Sponsored by the Edmond Historical Society and
Museum, the first full productions of Magrill's opera
Showdown on Two Street (1999, libretto by the composer,
adapted from Stephen Crane's
The Bride Comes to Yellow
Sky, with a soliloquy from Shakespeare's
Twelfth
Night translated to Italian by Ronald M. Manning)
took place June-July 2000, with the UCO Opera, Kay Creed,
producer; Carveth Osterhaus, Staging Director; and the
Millennium Orchestra, Magrill, Music Director and conductor.
In 2000, scenes from the opera were presented at the College
Music Society South Central Regional Conference, in San
Antonio, with Pamela Richman (Marjorie), Talia Magrill
(Jessica/clarinet), Mira Magrill (Ashley/flute), and the
composer at the piano (Feb.); and at a UCO program of
Magrill's work, with the same performers plus singer Meredith
Hanebutt and actor Jon Haque (July).
Performances
At concert of his works at Concordia University, in River
Forest, IL, Oct. 1999, pieces heard included
The Green
Monkeys (1991) and
Strange Jazz (1993), for
tape;
Three Poems of Wallace Stevens (1971),
Reflections
(1986), and
Vignettes (1991, poems by Donald E.
Hines), for soprano and piano; and
Suite for Piano
(1971) and
Suite for Piano II (1971); with Richman,
soprano, and Magrill, piano.
Reflections was also
performed by Richman and Magrill at Oklahoma Christian
University, in Edmond, Oct. 1999, and at the UCO, July
2000; and by Marilyn Govich and Magrill at the University
of Oklahoma, in Norman, June 2000.
"Tess" Variations
(1998), for solo cello, was played by Tess Remy-Schumacher
at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany,
Nov. 1999; at various venues in Oklahoma City, OK, Feb.
2000; and at Mays' Landing, in Malibu, CA, May 2000; and
by Jennifer Mills, at the UCO, Apr. 2000. In 2000, James
Klages soloed in
In Contra (1986), for trumpet
and tape, at the UCO (Mar. and July); and at the Society
of Composers, Inc. Region VI Conference, in Huntsville,
TX (Apr.). Earl Hefley conducted the Oklahoma Community
Orchestra in
Let the Festivities Begin! (1999),
at Oklahoma Christian University, Apr. 2000.
Publications
All works; Lynn Morse Publishing.
Recordings
Tess Variations for Violcello Solo; Sabiá
Music Productions
Tess Remy-Schumacher plays Lutoslawski,
Henze, Magrill, Stahlke, and Ibert.
Further Information
