Artistry First
 

NEWS

• European customers can now purchase Ballerbach works through Ruh Musik in Switzerland.  Contact Felix Hauswirth at Ruh Musik AG, Soodstr.53, 8134 Adliswil, Switzerland.   Email: felix.hauswirth@ruh.ch  Telephone: +41.1.711.7444

• The first work in the new biannual Ballerbach Consortium Commissioning Project has been completed.  American composer John Frantzen was awarded a $5,000. commission to write a new work for wind ensemble.  Titled Pater Noster, this 14 minute work will be premiered this fall throughout the US by the 10 universities of the consortium.  The Ballerbach Consortium Commissioning Project is a biannual commission funded by a consortium and organized by Ballerbach Music.  For more information see the Ballerbach Consortium Commissioning Project page.

• The new choral works are now available. The Ballerbach Choral Editions feature 15 new works by contemporary American composers.  These works feature traditional to contemporary styles in a variety of voicings and use of instruments while always retaining a singable lyricism.  See the Choral Editions page.

• Robert Stern's work Ultima Fantasia, published by Ballerbach, has been recorded by the University of Massachusetts Wind Ensemble, Malcolm Rowell, conductor, on a new CD from Albany Records titled Wind Currents.

• Congratulations to composer Robert Stern on his recent retirement from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he concluded a long teaching career in the Department of Music.

• Composer James Syler was the subject of a new doctoral dissertation by Dr. Gregg Gausline from the University of Miami.  The dissertation analyzes Syler's five large wind works and includes extensive interviews on composing and the creative process.  To view a 24 page online preview of Wind Ensemble Compositions of James Syler visit ProQuest Digital Dissertations and enter the title in the "search" block.

• Felicia Sandler, composer of Rosie the Riveter for wind ensemble and recently published by Ballerbach, has accepted a position in the music theory department at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.  Dr. Sandler is a recent doctoral graduate from the University of Michigan School of Music.

• James Syler's work Minton's Playhouse, published by Ballerbach, has been recorded by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Stephen Steele, conductor, on a new CD from Albany Records titled David Maslanka: Symphony No. 5.

• Four newly published works for wind ensemble include:

Rosie the Riveter by Felicia Sandler (gr.6) was commissioned by Robert Reynolds at the University of Michigan where Ms. Sandler recently completed her doctoral studies.  It's a high energy 10 minute metallic romp written as a tribute to the women of WW II and their work as riveters, welders and workers in the war effort.

Concertino for Tuba and Winds by Stuart Glazer (gr.5) is a three movement work completed in 1999 that is built on lyricism and color. A very playable piece for students and guest artists. There are only a handful of works for tuba and winds and this should prove to be a worthy addition.

Sanctuary by Tyler White (gr.5-6) is a dramatic 12 minute work completed in 1997 by Tyler White, composer and conductor of the University of Nebraska Orchestra.  It is a tribute to the children of the war torn former Yugoslavia.
 

• The new Ballerbach Young Band Editions are underway with the first work Symphonic Episode by Stuart Glazer.  This grade 3 work features contrapuntal lines, color, full ensemble sounds and many opportunities to teach strong fundamental musicianship within a large ensemble format that doesn't  lower it's musical standards.  Detailed musical notes are included to aid the conductor in the pedagogical aspects of the piece.  More grade 3 works for this series are in production.

• A new and improved Ballerbach Newsletter is in production which will be sent free via email.

• A new interview featuring composer John Frantzen discussing his new work Pater Noster for the Ballerbach Consortium Commissioning Project can be found at the Interviews page.

• Works from the Ballerbach catalog continue to be performed throughout the US, Canada and Europe.