Kirke L. Mechem***

Premieres

Kirke Mechem’s By the Rivers of Babylon, op. 71, for mixed chorus a cappella, commissioned by The Dale Warland Singers, was premiered April 24-25, 2004, in St. Paul, MN. The Ohio State University Chorale, under the direction of Hilary Apfelstadt, presented Suite for Chorus op. 69, four pieces for mixed chorus a cappella, on May 23 in Columbus, OH. Birthdays: Round Numbers, op. 72, six short pieces for mixed chorus with piano accompaniment, was commissioned and premiered December 3-5 by The Choral Scholars conducted by Veny Maldjieva, University of San Diego, CA.

Performances

The King’s Contest, a dramatic cantata for four soloists, mixed chorus, and chamber orchestra, was performed April 18-19, 2004, by the Commonwealth Singers and orchestra led by John Guthmiller, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond; and by students of the San Francisco School of the Arts under the direction of Ilan Glassman, April 30-May 1. Island in Space, for mixed chorus a cappella, was presented May 23-24 by the Houston Chamber Choir conducted by Robert Simpson; September 12 by the Downeast Singers conducted by Anthony Antolini, Thomaston ME; and May 2, 13, and 20 in joint concerts by the Claremont Chorale and University of California Alumni Chorus, conducted by Mark Sumner, in Berkeley and Pomona, CA. Tartuffe, an opera in three acts, was presented October 15-17, 2004, by OperaModa under the direction of Michael LaTour; it was previously performed by the University of Mississippi in a performances directed by Julia Aubrey, April 2-4. Missa Brevis, was performed December 10-12 by the New Amsterdam Singers, directed by Clara Longstreth, New York, NY. Song of the Slave, a suite for chorus, orchestra, and two soloists, will be performed March 5, 2005, by the Topeka (KS) Symphony and Chorus and the Baker University Chorus, with bass-baritone Wayne Shepperd, under the direction of John Strickler; the work was previously performed by the Bach Choir led by Brady Allred, October 25-26, 2003, Pittsburgh, PA.

Publications

By the Waters of Babylon, SATB a cappella; Suite for Chorus, SATB a cappella; Birthdays: Round Numbers, SATB and piano; all by G. Schirmer. The following pieces are included in G. Schirmer’s new four-volume American Aria Anthology: for soprano, “Dear Husband” from John Brown, “Fair Robin I Love”, and “Father, I Beg You” from Tartuffe; for mezzo, “Blow Ye The Trumpet” from John Brown and “Hold on A Moment, Dear” from Tartuffe; for tenor, “Believe in Love” from John Brown and “No More, False Heart” from Tartuffe; for baritone/bass, “The Songs of The Slave” from John Brown and “Every Day at Church” from Tartuffe.

***Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate

Further Information

• 2002-2003 American Composers Update
• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• 1999-2000 American Composers Update
• 1998-1999 American Composers Update
• 1997-1998 American Composers Update
• 1996-1997 American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online
• SAI's Music for Young People section