M. William Karlins***

M. William Karlins was a featured visiting composer in the composition program of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, School of Music October 21-22, 2004. He was also a guest composer at the Carolina Saxophone Symposium at UNCG on October 23. Karlins was commissioned by former Chicago Symphony Orchestra solo piccolo player and flutist Walfrid Kujala to write a solo flute piece in celebration of his 80th birthday, February 18, 2005. A newly completed work, Partners, for violin and piano, was written for violinist Minghuan Xu and pianist Winston Choi; the piece will receive several performances in 2005. Karlins is now Professor Emeritus from Northwestern University. His e-mail address remains unchanged:m_karlins@northwestern.edu.

Performances

Introduction and Passacaglia was performed January 20, 2004, by alto saxophonist Naomi Sullivan, tenor saxophonist Hayley Lambert, and pianist Alistair Watson, with a repeat performance on June 9 at the Royal College of Music, London, England. The Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Robert Hasty, presented Elegy for Orchestra, February 5. Under and Over received a performance March 2 by Andrew Kohn, string bass and David Tessmer, flute/alto flute; West Virginia University. Music for Tenor Saxophone and Piano was performed by Lambert with pianist Joanna Smith, April 1, Royal College of Music. Saxophonist Paul Bro joined the North American Saxophone Alliance in a performance of Improvisations on “Lines Where Beauty Lingers,” May 1, University of North Carolina, Greensboro; the work received another performance on November 14, from soprano saxophonist Susan Fancher, Guest Artist Recital Series, University of North Carolina, Greensboro. ...and all our world is dew ... (Woodwind Quintet No.2) was heard in a concert by Quintet Attacca, May 2, Fifth Annual New Music Marathon, Northwestern University. Night Light (Saxophone Quartet No.3) was presented October 23 by the Red Clay Saxophone Quartet, Carolina Saxophone Symposium, University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Publications

Improvisations on “Lines Where Beauty Lingers,” solo bass clarinet and any solo saxophone editions; Tritone Press/Theodore Presser. Catena II, solo soprano saxophone and brass quintet; Just a Line from Chameleon, two Bb clarinets; Variations on ‘Obiter Dictum’, solo cello, piano, and percussion; Song for Soprano, alto flute and cello; Three Songs, soprano (or mezzo-soprano), flute, and piano; all by Media Press.

***Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate

Further Information

• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• 1999-2000 American Composers Update
• 1997-1998 American Composers Update
• 1996-1997 American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online