Samuel Magrill***

Samuel Magrill is Assistant Director, Professor of Music and Composer-in-Residence of the School of Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond. In December 2004, he went to Chennai, India, and presented a concert of his works there on January 1, 2005. In the summer of 2005, he received a UCO Faculty Merit Credit Award for research and creative activities. In fall 2005, he received his 18th consecutive ASCAP Award. All of Samuel Magrill’s works are available through Lynn Morse Publishing, 1725 Westwood Lane, Edmond, OK 73013.

Premieres

Hommage à Brahms for clarinet, cello, and piano was introduced November 15, 2004, by Ron Howell, Tess Remy-Schumacher, and the composer on a Chamber Music Concert at the University of Central Oklahoma; the same group also performed the work on February 1, 2005, at an Oklahoma City Pianists Club Meeting and on February 6 at a Ladies Music Club Concert in Oklahoma City. Whitman Songs for bass-baritone and piano was premiered April 5 by Kevin Eckard and the composer at an Oklahoma City Pianists Club Meeting in Oklahoma City.

Performances

On November 5, 2004, the composer presented a concert titled Music of Samuel Magrill: Eight Examples at the University of Texas-Arlington (UTA). Works performed included the first movement of Fanfare for Peace, UTA Trumpet Ensemble, Rick Bogard, Director; Strands of Time for half-track stereo tape; Hong’s Song, violinist Hong Zhu; Sacred Suite, soprano Soo Hong Kim and cellist Elizabeth Morrow; In Contra for trumpet and tape performed by Rick Bogard; Island of the Dew of God, violinist Hong Zhu and the composer; East West Duo, violinist Hong Zhu, cellist Elizabeth Morrow, and percussionist Vijay Ganesh (on the mridangam, a south Indian drum); and Tango Cellito for viola ensemble performed by Glori Vela, Cody Russell, Charles Krigbaum, and Catherine Forbes, violas. On January 1, 2005, the composer, assisted by Indian musicians and members of the Madras String Quartet, presented a concert titled A Bouquet of Music (from Traditional Western to Modern Composition) at the Kalasamarpana Foundation, Alwarpet, Chennai, India. The works presented included Suite for Piano and Suite for Piano II performed by the composer; Swans in the Blue, flutist S. Balakrishnan, clarinetist M. S. V. Raja, and the composer; Island of the Dew of God, violinist V. S. Narasimhan and the composer; Hommage à Brahms, clarinetist Raja, cellist V. R. Sekar, and the composer; and East West Duo, violinist Narasimhan, cellist Sekar, and percussionist D. A. Srinivas (mridangam). The piano solo Deep Fork Variations was performed by the composer on March 12 on The College Music Society South Central Conference Concert at the University of Oklahoma. Vignettes, eight songs for soprano and piano on poems of Donald E. Hines (soprano Pamela Richman and the composer), and Odyssey Etude (flutist Amy Zuback and the composer) were presented April 14 on an Edmond Chamber Players Concert at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. Three Poems of Wallace Stevens for soprano and piano and Klavierstück for piano, were performed by Richman and the composer on June 27 on an Edmond Chamber Players Concert at the Amadeus Piano Festival in Tulsa, OK.

Recordings

Hommage à Brahms, Tess Remy-Schumacher & Friends: Hommage à Brahms for clarinet, cello, and piano; clarinetist Ron Howell, cellist Remy-Schumacher, with the composer at the piano; Xolo CD 1008

***Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate

Further Information

• 2003-2004 American Composers Update
• 2002-2003 American Composers Update
• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• 1999-2000 American Composers Update
• 1998-1999 American Composers Update
• 1997-1998 American Composers Update
• 1996-1997 American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online