 |
Annual American Composers Update
Samuel Magrill
SAI National Arts Associate Samuel Magrill is Professor
of Music and Composer-in-Residence in the School of
Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in
Edmond. In the summer of 2001, he received his 14th
consecutive ASCAP Award, a UCO Faculty Merit Credit
Award, and a UCO faculty research grant for his work
in composition. In November 2000, he was given an Historic
Preservation Award from the Edmond Historical Society
for his opera Showdown on Two Street. He was
honored by a reception for his work at the historical
society, February 2001. His music was featured on radio
station KCSC, in Edmond, in April 2001 as part of its
M. G. Novelty Classical Birthday Hour.
Premieres
In 2001, works introduced at UCO included Cello
Rag Rag (2000-01, English text by Magrill with German
translations by Tess Remy-Schumacher, Hebrew by Idit
Shner, and Italian by Ronald Manning), for soprano and
cello ensemble, with Pamela Richman, Remy-Schumacher,
Jennifer Mills, Keith Tiller, and Nathan Diekman (February);
Circe's Palace, an opera based on part of Nathaniel
Hawthorne's Tanglewood Tales, commissioned and
sung by the UCO Opera Division, Kay Creed, director,
conducted by the composer (February); and Song of
Shalom (Hebrew liturgical texts), for soprano and
cello, with Richman and Remy-Schumacher (September).
Fanfare for Peace (2000), for six trumpets, written
for James L. Klages, director of the UCO Trumpet Ensemble,
had its first Performances in February 2001, with Ryan
Sharp, Josh Rasdall, B. J. Shaw, Jennifer McDaniel,
Robert Hoots, Brian Burney, at UCO, conducted by Magrill;
and at the College Music Society (CMS) South Central
Regional Conference, in Fayetteville, AR, with Klages
conducting. Odyssey (2001), for two flutes and
wind ensemble, premiered May 2001 with Rebekah Bruce,
Mira Magrill, and the Edmond Central Middle School Eighth
Grade Band, Andy Heitz, conductor, at Sante Fe High
School, in Edmond. At St. Johns Southgate, in Melbourne,
Australia, Double Concerto (2000-01), for two
cellos and string orchestra, was presented by Remy-Schumacher,
Michelle Raynor, and the Melbourne Musicians, Frank
U. Pam, director, June 2001. Juliana Overmier and Magrill
gave the first performances of Odyssey Etude
(2001), for flute and piano, in August 2001, on an Oklahoma
Flute Society Concert in Oklahoma City; and at the National
Flute Association 2001 Convention's Oklahoma Composers
Concert at the Hyatt Regency Dallas (TX) at Reunion.
Performances
After the premiere, Cello Rag Rag was heard
in February 2001 on a Chiefly Canfield Concert at the
First Christian Church, in Edmond; on a Ladies Music
Club Composer Program in Oklahoma City; and at the CMS
Regional Conference in Fayetteville, AR, with the same
performers; and in June 2001 in Queensland, Australia,
at the Townsville Community Music Centre and at the
Cairns Civic Theatre, with Richman, Remy-Schumacher,
Tracy Berlin, Meryl Nash, and Diekman. Also heard at
the Chiefly Canfield Concert was Movement for Strings
(1971), for string orchestra, with the UCO Chamber Orchestra,
Magrill conducting. Remy-Schumacher played "Tess"
Variations (1998), for solo cello, December 2000
on an Edmond Chamber Players Concert at Redlands Community
College, in El Reno, OK. In January 2001, Reflections
(1986), four songs for soprano and piano, was on a program
at the Epworth Villa, in Oklahoma City, with Richmand
and Magrill; and at Marilyn Govich's UCO faculty recital,
accompanied by the composer.
Recordings
Showdown on Two Street; Spectrum
Further Information
|
|
