Annual American Composers Update
Michael G. Cunningham
Michael G. Cunningham's recent compositions are
Advent
Psalms (four) and
Christmas Psalms (four),
both for SATB choir and piano;
Violin Sonata No. 2;
Cello Sonata No. 2; four new saxophone quartet transcriptions;
and
Jabberwocky, for youth choir. He has produced
a CD of
Trigon and five other saxophone/piano works
with Matthew Pivec and Cunningham, which can be purchased
by writing to Cunningham at the Music Department, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 54702. Cunningham has also subsidized
the publication of his 19th-century theory/composition
workbook,
The Romantic Century, available from
1st Books Library
of Bloomington, IN.
Premieres
A Psalm of Life (poetry by H. W. Longfellow) was
premiered by Eric Townell and the Festival Choir of Madison,
May 13-14, 2000 in Janesville and Madison, WI. On Mar.
5, 2000, professors Stephanie Graber and Mark Pruett presented
Three Ditties, for oboe and piano, at Stout University
in Menomonie. WI.
Michigania, for middle school
band, was introduced by Bill Simon and an invitational
band at tbe Eau Claire Delong Middle School on Feb. 7,
2000. Heard first at the University of Wisconsin - Eau
Claire in 2000 were
High Jinks, for tuba and piano,
with professors Jerry and Barbara Young, Feb. 6;
Sonora
Battuta, for traps and electronic piano, with students
Brian Spurgeon and Zach Halmstad, Apr. 18;
Shakespeare
Sonnets, Set 7, with professors Kathryn Proctor-Duac
and Barbara Wimunc-Pearson, Oct. 29; and the new band
version of
Hymnal Fantasy and Variations, with
Robert Bayless and the University of Wisconson - Eau Claire
Wind Symphony, Apr. 9.
Performances
A program at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
on Jan. 14, 2000 included
Piano Trio No. 3, with
saxophonists Lawrence Gwozdz and Stanley Morris, and pianist
Henry Runkles, and
Sonata for Tuba, with the Youngs.
Ohio River Medley was performed by saxophonist
Tom Luer and the Chippewa Falls (WI) High School band,
conducted by Douglas Greenhalgh on Mar. 23, 2000. On Apr.
25, 2000, the new full-band version of
Little Rhapsody
was played by saxophonist Eric Christianson and Symphonic
Band 1 of North High School in Eau Claire, Dennis Luginbill
conducting.
Further Information
