Brightmusic composers and musicians: first row, left to right, Gregory Lee, Amy I-Lin Cheng, second row Tomasz Zieva, Kate Pritchett, Kris Maloy, last row, Carl Rath, Royce McLarry, Char Burrow, Michael Anderson, Edward Knight, and Rod Deemer.  Photo by Nancy Condit c. by Nancy Condit

BRIGHTMUSIC GIVES CONTEMPORARY
"AMERICANA" SEASON FINALE

By Nancy Condit

Brightmusic enjoyably wrapped up its chamber music season with contemporary "Americana" music at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral.  For those who did not have the pleasure hearing the concert, it will be broadcast on KCSC's "Performance Oklahoma" on June 5 at 5 p.m.
 
Much of the music, including a world premiere "Vigils," by Dr. Rob Deemer, was commissioned by Brightmusic.  Deemer, currently composition chair in the school of music at the State University of New York, taught at OU and OCU from 2005 to 2007.  The work was inspired by his work with Brightmusic trumpeter Michael Anderson at OCU.  Deemer wrote in the program notes, "One of the many uses of the trumpet throughout history is to signal the beginning and ending of the day, so I chose to write a work inspired by the vigil prayers that several different religions take in the evening, at midnight, and at the break of day."  The piece was for violin, viola and cello.

Dr. Kris Maloy is adjunct professor of composition and saxophone and director of jazz studies at OCU, and a music faculty member at UCO.  In his premiere of the commissioned "Overture to the Great American Songbook," that covered nearly 300 years, Maloy explained, "I wanted to write something that used authentically American songs, famous songs that most of us would recognize.  And I wanted to do more than a medley, something that would borrow from lots of songs in a free way, incorporating the different traditions of regional music that have coalesced over the years into the tradition of American folk song." The piece was written for violin, viola, cello, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, horn and piano.

Dr. Edward Knight's "Beneath a Cinnamon Moon" was is a series of reflections on chapters on the history of the Great Plains.  It was commissioned by Brightmusic in 2007 in honor of the Oklahoma Centennial, and was performed again that year at the OK Mozart Festival in Bartlesville.  ""While researching ancient songs originating from tribes living in and around what is now Oklahoma, I was moved by the musicality of the Wichita and Pawnee... I've created and layered evocative propulsive textures and sprinkled them with elements from the state's history, creating an extended rondo that highlights virtuosic elements."  Knight is a professor music, composer-in-residence and director of composition at OCU.  The piece was written for clarinet, viola and piano.

"Twilight Music," composed by John Harris Harbison, was play by the horn, violin and piano.  Harbison "is a prominent and prolific American composer" who has taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for many years.  The Pulitzer prize winner has composed symphonies, operas, concertos, numerous chamber music works, a ballet, solo vocal works and many choral works.  Twilight Music was commissioned by the ChamberMusic Society of Lincoln Center in 1985.  The premise is that "the horn and the violin have little in common," and, when they share material, this work shows "how differently they project it."   The piece was played by the horn, violin and piano.

Bill Douglas wrote of his "Suite Cantando," "Although much of the music in this suite was influenced by jazz and world music, the players are instructed to sing expressively throughout, as though they were playing Mozart or Bach.  The Canadian-born composer, pianist and bassoonist lived in Boulder, Colorado, and teaches at the Naropa Institute.  His large discography includes 11 CDs for Hearts of Space Records.
"Douglas describes his philosophy of music as that music 'can be helpful to the world.  It can evoke such positive emotions as compassion, tenderness, strength, nobility, upliftedness and joy."  The work was performed by the clarinet, bassoon and piano.

Dr. Edward Knight's "Beneath a Cinnamon Moon" was is a series of reflections on chapters on the history of the Great Plains.  It was commissioned by Brightmusic in 2007 in honor of the Oklahoma Centennial, and was performed again that year at the OK Mozart Festival in Bartlesville.  ""While researching ancient songs originating from tribes living in and around what is now Oklahoma, I was moved by the musicality of the Wichita and Pawnee... I've created and layered evocative propulsive textures and sprinkled them with elements from the state's history, creating an extended rondo that highlights virtuosic elements."  Knight is a professor of music, composer-in-residence and director of composition at OCU.  The piece was written for clarinet, viola and piano.

The musicians were Dr. Gregory Lee, violin, Royce McLarry, viola, Tomasz Zieba, cella, Chad Burrow, clarinet, Carl Rath, bassoon, Michael Anderson, trumpet, Dr. Kate Pritchett, horn, and Dr. Amy I-Lin Cheng, piano.