Larry Thomas Bell ***

SAI National Arts Associate Larry Thomas Bell was guest composer and curator of American SongFest, a series of concerts at the Woodstock (NY) Fringe Festival in August 2003. Three of his works for young performers and audiences - Songs of Innocence and Experience for children's chorus and orchestra, Hansel and Gretel, A Fable, for narrator and orchestra, and Four Pieces in Familiar Style for two violins - have been recorded on a CD issued by the Preparatory Division of New England Conservatory.

Premieres

Songs of Time and Eternity, with soprano D'Anna Fortunato, and Shakes-peare Sonnets, with soprano Catherine Thorp, were premiered at the 2003 Woodstock (NY) Fringe Festival, on August 23 and 30 respectively, with the composer at the piano. Pianists Riley Yuan and Roger Creel presented Suite from Hansel and Gretel at the Rivers Music School, MA.

Performances

Guitarist John Muratore presented Celestial Refrain on February 16, 2003, at the Eglise Américain de Paris Atelier Concert Series. Prelude in F (The Sentimental Muse) was performed on March 16 by pianist Raphael Thoene in Moers, Germany. Pianist Jonathan Bass played Reminiscence and Reflection: 12 Preludes and Fugues, on April 4 at the Royal Academy of Music, Worcester, MA. On April 19, Hansel and Gretel: A Fable for Narrator and Orchestra was heard in Boston (MA) Symphony Hall on a program with the NEC Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ben Zander, with narrator Ray Brown.

Publications

Suite from Hansel and Gretel, op.65, piano; Casa Rustica Publications. Songs of Innocence and Experience, children's chorus and orchestra; Ione Press (ECS Publishing).

Recordings

The Sentimental Muse, All-Bell Orchestra and Band, Jordan Winds and Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Joel Suben; North/South Recordings 1031. Reminiscences and Reflections: 12 Preludes and Fugues for piano, performed by Jonathan Bass; N/SR 1032. The Book of Moonlight, Ayano Ninomiya, violin and Larry Bell, piano; N/SR 1033.

***Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate

Further Information

• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• 1998-1999 American Composers Update
• 1997-1998 American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online