Alchemy @ UMich

The Symphony Band's performance last Wed. night was wonderful. Many thanks to Miller Asbill for programming the piece and the great job conducting, to Michael Haithcock for making this possible (and for dinner!), and of course, the band. As is often the case, the dress rehearsal was even better than the performance (it was, in fact perfect). The opening 4 minutes or so were the best I've ever heard (also helped by the fact that there were so few people in the audience, unlike during the actual concert, when someone slowly, painfully, tediously unwrapped a cough drop over the course of 5 or 6 bars - it was deafening). But whatever. It was a fantastic performance, and I'm deeply honored the group performed the piece.


Me, Miller Asbill, Michael Haithcock, after the performance


Last Thursday I had the wonderful opportunity to read through my just-finished 4th Parody Suite piece with the BGSU Wind Symphony (shout out to Bruce Moss for the generosity!). This is one of the amazing benefits of being 'in-residence' - it's the next best thing to having your own court orchestra.

The piece is a bit different than the other Parody Suite pieces in that it's not funny or tongue-in-cheek. It's more a fantasia on Holst's First Suite in Eb. Almost dreamlike. Lots of aleatory and such - I describe it as Holst meets early-80s Corigliano. The title, however, is every bit as corny as the other three...

Labels: Alchemy, Michigan, performance

Univ. of Michigan Symphony Band performs "Alchemy in Silent Spaces" Mvt. I

Just a quick announcement:

The University of Michigan Symphony Band will perform Mvt. I from my Alchemy in Silent Spaces this Wednesday night, February 21st, at 8pm. I heard them in rehearsal on Friday, and this promises to be a spectacular performance!

If you're in the southeast Michigan / northwest Ohio area, I'd love to see you there! The concert is at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, and is free.

Here's the full program:

Francis Poulenc Suite Francaise
Georges Enesco Dixtour, Opus 14, Mvt. 2
Charles Ives Scherzo: Over the Pavement
Aaron Copland Outdoor Overture
Steven Bryant “the logic of all my dreams”from Alchemy in Silent Spaces
Gustav Holst Second Suite in F

Hope to see you there!

...and yes, I know I'm way behind on posts. I'll try to rectify that soon. Some items of interest: I just finished my fourth Parody Suite piece, based around the Holst First Suite in Eb, I'm hard at work on a new piece for the USAF Band of Mid-America, and immediately after that I have a chamber winds work for BGSU, all three of which will be premiered in April. And then it's off to Austria where I'll be guest composer at the Mid-Europe Festival. More details coming soon...