Annual American Composers Update
Michael G. Cunningham
A faculty member at the University of Wisconsin - Eau
Claire Department of Music and Theatre Arts, Michael G.
Cunningham is a resident of Altoona, WI. Recent compositions
are the
Clarinet Concerto, with wind ensemble;
Tricinium, for organ; and
Shall I Compare Thee?,
for SATB choir and brass. A piano suite was reviewed favorably
by Dr. Helen Marlais in the
American Music Teacher
April/May 1997 issue.
Premieres
On Apr. 2, 1997, a University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
program featured the premieres of
Piano Sonata No.
5, with Donald Patterson;
Ayre, for flute quartet,
with Tim Lane and his students;
Espressivo, for
marimba and piano, with Tom Bartman and Matthew Bear;
Declamations, for euphonium and piano, with Ed
Jacobs and Michael Johannes;
Rivals, for two trumpets,
with Matthew Mealey and Kyle Newmaster; and
Piano Trio
No. 5, for alto and tenor saxophones and piano, with
Tom Luer, Matthew Pivek, and Cunningham.
Capers,
for flute and piano, was heard first at the Upper Midwest
Flute Association conference held Feb. 22, 1997 in Minneapolis,
with Tim Lane and Barbara Wimunc-Pearson.
Performances
Cunningham's
Cello Sonata was performed by Randall
Fromme at the University of Minnesota on Mar. 2 and again
on Mar. 12, 1997. Led by Tom Tritle,
Churches of Utrillo,
for horn choir and organ, was played at the University
of Northern Iowa, Oct. 28, 1997. David Bohn presented
Miraculous Legends, for organ, at an Apr. 25, 1997
Madison conference of the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers.
Chaconne, for tuba quartet, was heard at Riva del
Garde, Italy, July 6, 1997, with Jerry Young, Ed Jacobs,
Nathan Vicek, and Sara Hanks. On Dec. 15, 1996, George
Wolfe soloed in
Ohio River Medley, for saxophone
and band, in Ellettsville, IN.
Publications
Baritone Saxophone Sonata;
Delicacies, flute,
oboe, and cello; Media Press, Inc.
Chromaglyphs,
bass flute and guitar or clavichord;
String Quartet
No. 5; Piano Sonatas Nos. 5 and 6; Small Etudes, piano;
Vocalise, piccolo trumpet and organ;
Violin
Sonata;
Acrostics, cello;
Night Flight,
two violins and piano;
Quatrain,
Remembering
Bill Evans and
Moxie, jazz ensemble; all by
Seesaw Music Corp.
Recordings
Shakespeare Sonnets -- Set 6, for tenor, flute,
and cello; Frank Hoffmeister; private-label CD.
