Annual American Composers Update
Samuel Jones
Samuel Jones is serving in his fourth year as Composer
in Residence for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra for the
2000-2001 season. He returned to the faculty of the Conductors
Institute in July 2000 for his eighth summer season. His
next commission comes from the Mississippi Boychoir to
compose a work for narrator, boychoir, and orchestra based
on a children's story by Eudora Welty, to be premiered
in the 2001-2002 season. Works for the Seattle Symphony
and others are scheduled subsequently. In 2000, he was
awarded an honorary doctorate by Millsaps College (May),
and elected to the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame
(Apr.). A version of
Janus for string quintet and
piano arranged by Jones and Adam Stern will be published
by Campanile Music Press,
Carl
Fischer, Inc., exclusive agent.
Premieres
In Prospect (Movement II of the string quintet
and piano version of
Janus), commissioned by the
Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz, Music Director,
for the opening of the newly renovated Bon Marche store,
was heard first as accompanying music for an installation
of sculpted panels in the chain's flagship Seattle store.
Performances
Symphony No. 3 (Palo Duro Canyon) was played by
the Seattle Symphony, Larry Rachleff, conducting, Nov.
9, 10 and 12, 2000. In 1999, Gregory Isaacs conducted
the Cascade Symphony in
Janus, in Edmonds, WA,
Oct. 26, and in Seattle, Oct. 27. 2000 performances of
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men was on the schedule
of the Utah Symphony, Keith Lockhart, conducting, in Salt
Lake City, Mar. 17-18, and in Provo, Mar. 16.
Cello
Sonata was performed by Emmanuel Lopez, cello, and
Denise Parr-Scanlin, piano, at West Texas A & M University,
in Canyon, TX, Sept. 8, 2000. On Mar. 10-11, 2001, the
Northwest Symphony and the Bainbridge Choral Society,
Anthony Spain, conducting, will present
Symphony No.
2 (Canticles of Time) in Seattle.
Recordings
Roundings: Musings and Meditations on Texas New Deal
Murals and
Cello Sonata; Amarillo Symphony,
James Setapen, conductor; Emmanuel Lopez, cello, and Denise
Parr Scanlin, piano;
Naxos
8559079 (21st Century American Classics) CD, Sept. 2000.
Further Information
