Daniel McCarthy

Daniel McCarthy was commissioned in the spring of 2004 by the Harrington String Quartet to compose three major works for the quartet’s upcoming recording to be released on the Albany label. He was also commissioned by Cleveland (OH) Orchestra Assistant Principal Bassoonist Barrick Stees to write the bassoon and orchestra concerto, Gothica. Mr. Stees will premiere Gothica at the Brevard Music Center with conductor David Effron during the 2005 season. Performances of McCarthy’s music during this reporting period include Carnegie Hall, Brevard Music Center, Interlochen Center for the Arts, University of North Texas, Arizona State University, Louisiana State University, The American New Arts Festival, and others. McCarthy continues as co-Chair of Society of Composers Region V, Director of the American New Arts Festival, and Chair of the Composition and Theory Section at The University of Akron (OH) School of Music. He has also been conductor/guest conductor of The Cleveland Chamber Symphony and the “Young and Emerging Composers Concert Series,” the Interlochen Festival Orchestra, and the University of Akron Symphony Orchestra. McCarthy is Professor (full) of Composition at the University of Akron School of Music and Instructor of Composition, Theory, and Computer Music at The Interlochen Arts Camp.

Premieres

Visions In Funk was premiered April 3, 2004, by the Harrington String Quartet, at Carnegie (Weill) Recital Hall, New York, NY. Song of Summer was first presented August 15, by the Intermediate Treble Choir of Interlochen Arts Camp, under the direction of Richard Phelps. The Harrington String Quartet performed Visions of the Anointed, January 22, 2005, at the Amarillo (TX) Civic Center Auditorium, and is scheduled to present the work again on March 10, 2005, at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). Gothica, a concerto for bassoon and orchestra, will premiere during the 2005 Festival Season with soloist Barrick Stees and The Brevard Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by David Effron.

Performances

The Call of Boromir, was performed April 7, 2004, at the American New Arts Festival by William Hoyt, horn, and Kevin Lewis, marimba. You, Who Sang In Summer, was presented at the same festival on April 8 by Quorum. Chamber Symphony No. 2 for Bassoon and Winds was heard in a performance April 11 by bassoonist Kathleen Reynolds and the University of North Texas Wind Symphony, under the direction of Eugene Corporon; the work received a second performance July 12 by William Ludwig and an ensemble conducted by Sarah McKoin, Brevard Music Center. Pianist Alexandra Mascolo-David performed Time Out of Mind: Six Tales of Middle Earth, May 3 at Carnegie (Weill) Recital Hall, New York, NY.

Publications

Gothica, concerto for bassoon and orchestra; Song of Summer, treble choir; Visions of the Anointed, string quartet; String Quartet No. 5; Light Up the Sky, orchestra; all by C. Alan Publications/McClaren Publications.

Recordings

Time Pieces (Chamber Symphony No.1); University of North Texas Wind Symphony conducted by Eugene Corporon with soloist Mark Ford; Hemispheres (Chamber Symphony No.2); University of North Texas Wind Symphony conducted by Corporon with soloist Kathleen Reynolds; both by Klavier Records. Telling Tales, (Chamber Symphony No.3); Interlochen Faculty Chamber Players conducted by Steven Ward with soloist Kimberly Cole; Capstone Records. “The Harrington String Quartet: The Quartets of Daniel McCarthy”; Visions In Funk, Visions of the Anointed, String Quartet No.5; Albany Records.

Further Information

• 2002-2003 Annual American Composers Update
• 2001-2002 Annual American Composers Update
• 1998-1999 Annual American Composers Update
• 1996-1997 Annual American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online
• SAI's Music for Young People section
• Further information, including audio samples, may be found at the composer's website