Michael G. Cunningham
Michael G. Cunningham's new works include Recollections,
for jazz band (Old Radio Swing, Braziliana,
and The Jockey); Piano Trio No. 8, for
piano, oboe, and clarinet; Piano Trio No. 9,
for piano, violin, and clarinet; Fox Trot,
for violin and tenor saxophone; Duologue, for
alto saxophone and marimba; String Quartet No.
6; Piano Sonata No. 7; the mini-opera Elizabeth
and DeVere; and the three-act concept opera The
Fall of Occitania. 1st Books has published his
edition of the 371 Bach chorales.
Premieres
Under the baton of Ivar Lunde, Symphonette
(Symphony No. 4) was premiered by the Eau Claire (WI)
Chamber Orchestra at Grace Lutheran Church on May
19, 2001. At a March 30th Wisconsin Alliance of Composers
conference concert held at the University of Wisconsin
- Madison campus, organist David Bohn presented Tricinium.
Mark Heidel led Richard Fletcher and the University
of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Wind Symphony in the first
performance of Concerto for Clarinet, December
2, 2001. A Singfest at Eau Claire's South Middle School
on April 8, 2001, included the premiere of Jabberwocky,
with Cathy Reitz and the Chippewa Valley Girl Choir,
April 8, 2001. On March 11, 2001, the composer gave
a program introducing Salute to Debussy, with
oboist Lunde, hornist Andrew Parks, and pianist Barbara
Wimunc-Pearson; Violin Sonata No. 2, with Nick Seeger
and the composer at the piano; and five choral works
(Summer Songs, Come Holy Spirit, Posies, To Mistress
Margaret, and A Holy Standard) conducted by Cunningham
and repeated the following month.
Performances
Saxophonist George Wolfe and the Muncie
(IN) Municipal Band performed Ohio River Medley
on July 26, 2001, in Muncie's Guthrie Park. The following
were presented on various University of Wisconsin
- Eau Claire spring 2001 campus programs: Inventions,
for saxophone duet, with Michael Roesch and Jacob
Karula; Duetto, for clarinet and bassoon, with
Richard and Kristine Fletcher; and Piano Trio No.
5, for piano and two saxophones, with Wimunc-Pearson,
Nancy McMillan, and Richard Fletcher. During 1999
and 2000, the children's musical Aladdin McFaddin
had eight productions in eight states for a total
of 25 performances
