Annual American Composers Update
Emma Lou Diemer
Emma Lou Diemer resides in Santa Barbara, CA, where she
is Professor Emeritus of the University of California,
Santa Barbara. In 1998, she received her 36th consecutive
ASCAP award for performances and publications.
Premieres
Homage to Paderewski, for viola and piano, premiered
Apr. 5, 1998, with Kathryn Steely and Andrew Cooperstock
at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, in Austin,
TX. On Aug. 7, 1998, Bryan Anton and Joan DeVee Dixon
presented
Psalm 122, for bass trombone and organ,
at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, in Little Rock, AR. Heard
first at the University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AR,
Aug. 9, 1998, were
Psalm 121, for organ brass,
and percussion, with Dixon and the Emmanuel Brass; and
Psalm 151, for organ, with Diemer. The Sleepy Hollow
(NY) High School Choruses, directed by John C. Banks,
gave the first performance of
The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow, for SATB choir and piano, May 1998. Sung first
at the University United Methodist Church was
But Those
Who Trust in the Lord, for a cappella choir, with
the church's Aldersgate Choir, John Wakefield, director,
in College Park, MD, Oct. 1998. On Oct. 11, 1998, two
works had premieres at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Cumberland,
MD:
Four Psalms for Trumpet and Organ, with John
Anthony and Dixon, and
Four Psalms for Flute and Organ,
with Sue Lowcock Harris and Dixon. Kate Morgan and Diemer
introduced
Aria and Scherzo, for flute and organ,
at an all-Diemer concert at Ascension Lutheran Church,
Thousand Oaks, CA, May 3, 1998.
Performances
The same program included many of her keyboard and choral
works, with the Chancel Choir, directed by Howard Sonstegard;
Edith Ott, piano; Morgan, flute; Bill Barrett and Jerry
Lockwood, trumpets; Mike Engstrom and David Ryan, trombones;
Bonnie Boss, percussion; and the composer at the organ.
In 1998,
Suite of Homages had performances with
the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, Music Director,
at Jordan Hall, of the New England Conservatory, Boston,
MA (May 9); and with the Halle (Germany) Symphony Orchestra,
under Rudolph Werthen (Jan.). Jamie V. Ryan and the Lawrence
Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bridget-Michaele Reischl,
presented
Concerto in One Movement for Marimba and
Orchestra at the Lawrence University Conservatory
of Music, June 12, 1998 in Appleton, WI. Diemer played
Declarations for Organ at a Birmingham (AL) Art
Music Alliance program at Birmingham-Southern College,
May 5, 1998. On Apr. 26, 1998, organist Eileen Guenther
performed
Variations on "A Mighty Fortress" at
Foundry United Methodist Church, Apr. 26, 1998 in Washington,
DC.
Publications
Ice Rhythm; marimba, optional electronics;
C.
Alan Publications, Sept. 1998.
Aria and Scherzo;
flute and organ or piano;
Sacred
Music Press, spring 1998.
Toccata for Piano;
in Brown & Benchmark Publishers
The World of Music,
4th edition, David Willoughby, ed., 1998.
Fantasy on
"O Sacred Head"; organ; in
Indiana
University Press Contemporary Anthology of Music
by Women, James R. Briscoe, ed., 1997.
Recordings
Fantasy for Piano; Nanette Kaplan Solomon;
Leonarda,
Sept. 1998.
Suite of Homages; Halle Symphony Orchestra,
Werthen conducting; Contemporary Record Society, fall
1998.
Further Information
