Annual American Composers Update
Jan Bach
Jan Bach, now in his 32nd year of teaching
composition and theory, holds the position of Distinguished
Research Professor at the Northern Illinois Univ. School
of Music, in DeKalb. On Aug. 1-3, 1997, he was one of
seven guest composers invited to the Harmony Ridge Brass
Festival in East Poultney, VT. He is working with his
former composition teacher, Robert Kelly, to get the
latter's autobiographical and analytical book, The
Evolution of an American Composer, into print next
year. He has completed a commission, Pilgrimage,
for Ramon Parcells, trumpet and Mari-Paul Parcells,
piano.
Premieres
On Oct. 12, 1997, Variations on a
Theme of Brahms, commissioned by the Elmhurst (IL)
Symphony, Stephen Alltop, conductor, was premiered by
the orchestra. Concertino for Bassoon and String
Orchestra is scheduled to receive its first performance
in March 1998, with Victor Benedict and the North Carolina
Symphony, under Gerhardt Zimmermann, in Chapel Hill.
Performances
Concerto for Steelpan and Orchestra
was played by Liam Teague and the Sinfonia da Camera,
under Ian Hobson, at the Krannert Center, Urbana, IL,
Mar. 14, 1997. In March 1997 Mark Fisher, euphonium,
and Mark Lawson, piano, toured colleges and universities
from the University of Iowa to the Eastman School of
Music with Concert Variations. Stephen Larson
led the Rockford Symphony in Gala Fanfare, Apr.
26, 1997. In 1997 Mary Stopler, flute; Elizabeth Cifani,
harp; and Terry VanderBerg, viola performed Eisteddfod
at Lockport, IL (Apr. 13); at Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL (Apr. 26); and at the National Flute Association
Convention, Chicago, IL (Aug. 16). The King William
Woodwind Quintet presented Skizzen in San Antonio,
TX, June 7, 1997.
Publications
Three Shakespearean Songs, SATB
a cappella; Stars of Promise Publishing Co.
Recordings
Fanfare and Fugue, for five trumpets;
Adolph Herseth, Anthony Plog, Otto Sauter, Bo Nilsson,
Urban Agnas; Doyen Recordings, Ltd. Contrasts for
Trumpets DOY CD 009.
Further Information
