Annual American Composers Update
James Drew
Composer/playwright James Drew is launching a major
children's project with the Tour of the Grand Celebration
Music, which the composer describes as a "giant
gamelan orchestra piece in which young performers, both
elementary and advanced can participate." The Tour thus
far has afforded children the opportunity of performing
in a modern chamber work alongside of professional artists.
The Celebration Music is presented in conjunction
with another new software project called Learning
by Creating, written by Drew and Mary Gae George,
Co-Directors of the Greywolf
Arts Institute, for teachers and their students.
(For more information, see the Aug./Sept. issue of the
American Music Teacher.) Drew has long been acknowledged
as a member of the American experimental tradition,
and he has now expanded the Greywolf
website to include the Harmonic Canon, which
documents the work of American experimental artists
historically and currently. Experimental artists are
invited to contribute to the Canon (i.e. writings,
interviews, photos, etc.) and can obtain information
by contacting jacopodrew@cs.com.
Drew's Spettro Teatro di Marionetta, Maria de
Fone, designer, is scheduled to join the art scene in
Milan in 2001.
Premieres
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands Brass and EBI Brass presented
the 5-space version of Resonating Spaces, conducted
by Josef Tief. The Drew/George piano duo premiered Submerged
Choirs, Book 2 in Indianapolis.
Performances
Drew/George played Hypothetical Structures in
Detroit. The ensemble Resonanz gave a performance of
Concerto for Small Percussion Orchestra in Belgium.
At Rotterdam's MMT Theatre, Drew directed the live version
of Blue in Atlantis. The Zinmann Ensemble presented
Drew's Chamber Symphony in Milan. In London,
soprano Ellie Zoft sang Lute in the Attic.
Publications
Transcending Music for Toro Takemitsu; The Ringing
Hour (A Miracle Play); The Clown's Evening; stage
production; Spatial Constructions; 1-7 geospaces;
Music of Suspended Colours; two or more pianists;
all by Greywolf Press.
Further Information
