Samuel Magrill***

Samuel Magrill is Professor of Music and Composer-in-Residence in the School of Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond, OK. In the summer of 2004, he received his 17th consecutive ASCAP Award, a UCO Faculty Merit Credit Award for Service, and a UCO Faculty Research Grant for his work in composition. All Samuel Magrill’s works are available through Lynn Morse Publishing, 1725 Westwood Lane, Edmond, OK 73013.

Premieres

Tango Bandango for wind ensemble, commissioned by Dr. Brian Lamb, was premiered March 4, 2004, by the UCO Wind Ensemble conducted by Lamb, on Concert Six of the Society of Composers, Inc. 2004 National Conference; the work was also performed March 13 (with the name shortened to Tango!) at the College Band Directors National Association Southwestern Division Conference at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX (Texas premiere). Shalom for cello ensemble, commissioned by Dr. Tess Remy-Schumacher, was premiered March 5 by the UCO Cello Ensemble under the direction of Tom McCullough, on Concert 11 of the Society of Composers, Inc. 2004 National Conference; cellist Remy-Schumacher also performed A Wedding Braid on the concert. East West Duo was premiered at “Violin Bridges: East and West” on May 1 with Sandhya Srinath, carnatic violinist and Remy-Schumacher, western cellist, at the Arts/Harmony Hall Regional Center in Fort Washington, MD. Prince George’s, the Gorgeous County (lyrics by Nathan Bala) was introduced May 8 by miscellaneous Indian and western musicians conducted by the composer at “Music Transcends: Carnatic Music Reaches Out to the World,” a one-day international conference on music at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Greenbelt, MD. Summer Song, written especially for the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, was premiered by the orchestra, conducted by John Clinton, on July 3 at Oklahoma City University; the work received its European premiere July 7 in Bad Neuenahr, Germany, conducted by Peter Markes.

Performances

Deep Fork Variations for piano was presented by the composer June 21, 2003, on an Edmond Chamber Players Concert at the Amadeus Piano Festival, University of Tulsa (with Vignettes, eight songs for soprano and piano on poems of Donald E. Hines performed by soprano Pamela Richman, accompanied by the composer); on October 30 at the “Hear & Now 2003: Herbert Brün and his Co-conspirators Festival,” University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; on November 4 for Oklahoma City Pianists Club, Edmond, OK; and by pianist Amy I-Lin Cheng on September 9, 2004, University of Central Oklahoma, and September 12, Oklahoma State University. Tess Variations for cello was performed by Remy-Schumacher on November 5, 2003, on a Putnam City Original High School Concert; November 7, on a Douglas High School Concert; November 19, on a Lawton High School Concert; July 23, 2004, at the Phillips Academy Summer Music Program in Andover, MA; and by Tracy Troyer on March 7, 2004, on her Junior Cello Recital at the University of Central Oklahoma. Song of Shalom, based on Hebrew liturgical texts, was presented by soprano Richman and cellist Remy-Schumacher on January 27, 2004, at “A Potpourri of Song” at the University of Central Oklahoma; January 31, Concert VII at the 2004 Region VI Conference of the Society of Composers, Inc., Arkansas State University, Jonesboro; February 18, on the Annual Composers Program of Ladies Music Club, Catholic Church of St. Eugene, Oklahoma City (with A Wedding Braid by cellist Remy-Schumacher); May 3 on “An Evening of Chamber Music,” University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Lab (with Double Concerto performed by cellists Kirsten Underwood and Remy-Schumacher, accompanied by the composer, and Reflections, four songs for soprano and piano, performed by Richman, accompanied by the composer); and June 25 at the Amadeus Piano Festival, Edmond Chamber Players Concert, University of Tulsa (with Reflections, performed by Richman and the composer). Three Americans for orchestra (based on paintings by Robert Henri, Childe Hassam, and Thomas Moran), was performed February 17, 2004, by the Oklahoma Community Orchestra, under the direction of Manuel Prestamo, at Oklahoma Christian University, and again on March 4, by the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. John E. Clinton, on Concert Five of the Society of Composers, Inc. 2004 National Conference at the University of Central Oklahoma. Odyssey Etude was performed March 2 by flutist Cynthia Roop with the composer at the piano for “An Evening of Flute Music,” East Central University, Ada, OK; the same artists presented the piece again on March 26 at the University of Oklahoma, Norman; flutist Amy Zuback, accompanied by the composer, presented the work June 21 at the Amadeus Piano Festival, New Music Recital, University of Tulsa, OK.

Recordings

“Cello Music of Samuel Magrill,” Tess Remy-Schumacher, cellist; TessVariations; Sacred Suite with Pamela Richman, soprano; Wedding Braid, Song of Shalom with Richman; Cello Rag Rag, with Richman and cellists Remy-Schumacher, Eman Chalshotori, Tracy Troyer, Jennifer Armstrong, Nathan Diekman, Meryl Nash, Mika Hood, and Taylor Richardson; Tango Guitello, with Stefan Grasse, guitar; and American Quartet; Xolo CD 1006.

***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