Judith Lang Zaimont****

Judith Lang Zaimont received the Aaron Copland Award in 2003, which included performances of her works, commissions, and a composing residency at Copland House from April-May 2004. Several articles have been published about her works: Clavier (April 2003) published an interview; Chamber Music (January/February 2004) ran a composer profile by Kyle Gann in which Zaimont’s music is described as “subtle, vigorous . . . elegantly professional [and] deeply felt;” Piano Today (Summer 2004) published an article about In My Lunchbox, (2003 commission from the California Music Teachers Association), and reprinted one of the five movements. She was the subject of an hour-long Texas Public Radio program on piano works in January 2004 hosted by Randy Anderson. Zaimont was the principal composer on a National Public Radio program, “Instrumental Women: Comparing Notes,” which featured Elegy for Strings, “Street Scene” from Hidden Heritage: A Dance Symphony, and “The May-fly” and “December Sleighride” from Calendar Collection. Zaimont was awarded a Bush Foundation Fellowship in Music Composition for 2005-06. Recent commissions include the San Antonio International Piano Competition, Symphony for Wind Orchestra in Three Scenes commissioned by Craig Kirchhoff and the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, and the 2005 Kaplan Foundation Commission, a biennial commission for a work for Wind Ensemble on Jewish themes. Zaimont’s Symphony No.1 is cited for distinguished orchestral handling in the third edition of Samuel Adler’s Orchestration text. Visit the composer’s website at www.jzaimont.com.

Premieres

“Tattoo,” Scene Three of Symphony for Wind Orchestra in Three Scenes, was the featured work at the opening concert of the National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) on March 26, 2003, performed by the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble conducted by Craig Kirchhoff. The Ages of Love, a cycle of five songs for baritone and piano, Virgie Rainey: Two Narratives, and Sonata for Piano Solo were introduced in an April 21 performance at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. On May 7, the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, led by Craig Kirchhoff, presented “Growler,” Scene One of Symphony for Wind Orchestra in Three Scenes; the same work was heard February 5, 2005, performed by the Florida State University Wind Ensemble, led by Richard Clary, at the International Festival of New Music, FL. In My Lunchbox, a five-movement suite for developing pianists, was performed several times during the Annual Convention of the California Music Teachers Association, July 2003, in Santa Barbara. Parallel Play, three movements for saxophone quartet, was introduced July 9, 2003, by the World Saxophone Congress in Minneapolis, MN. The piano work Wizards: Three Magic Masters, chosen as the required competition piece for the 2003 San Antonio (TX) International Piano Competition, was presented several times between October 27 and November 1. Astral (... a mirror on the astral plane ...) was premiered in Minneapolis on April 5, 2004, by clarinetist John Anderson; performed in New York and Israel in summer 2004; and performed again by Allen Kay at the Juilliard School in winter 2005. From the Folk: Song, Dance, two movements for wind quartet commissioned by the Aaron Copland Foundation, were premiered on May 25 at the Hoff-Barthelson School, NY. A consortium-commissioned work titled Stillness: Poem for Orchestra received regional premieres in 2005, including January 22, Rockford Symphony Orchestra conducted by Steve Larsen, and March 2, University of Laramie (WY) Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Griffith; the short score was completed at Copland House, the residency project for an Aaron Copland Award.

Publications

From the Great Land, seven songs for mezzo-soprano, clarinet, piano, Eskimo drum; Wind Quintet No.2: Homeland; From the Folk: Song, Dance, for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon; Astral ... a mirror life on the astral plane ..., clarinet solo; all by Jeanné, Inc. Bubble-Up Rag, concert piece for flute and piano; Wizards: Three Magic Masters, piano; both by Vivace Press. Symphony No. 1; Monarchs; Stillness: Poem for Orchestra; Symphony for Wind Orchestra in Three Scenes; all by MMB Music, Inc.

Recordings

Callisto – Darkness into Bright: anthology of solo piano music; “Sonata,” “Jupiter’s Moons” (suite in six movements), “Nocturne: La Fin de Siècle,” and “‘Hesitation’ Rag,” all performed by Joanne Polk; Albany/Troy 617. Judith Zaimont: Milken Archive of American Jewish Music: “Sacred Service for the Sabbath Evening,” baritone James Maddelena, Ernst Senfft Chor, Berlin Rundfunk Symphonie, conducted by Gerard Schwarz; “Parable: A Tale of Abram and Isaac,” dramatic cantata, tenor John Aler, baritone Randall Scarlata, soprano Frances Lucy, Laudebus  Chamber Choir (London), the ensemble from London Philharmonic; “A Woman of Valor,” mezzo-soprano and string quartet, recorded at Eastman School of Music in 1996, conducted by Samuel Adler; “Meditations at the Time of the New Year,” for 6-part chorus and two percussion, Choral Society of Southern California, Nick Strimple, conductor; Naxos CD. Pure Colors: “Wizards: Three Magic Masters,” pianist Young-Ah Tak; “Astral,” clarinetist John Anderson; “Tanya ‘Poems’,” cellist Tanya Remenikova; “Virgie Rainey: Two Narratives,” soprano Jean del Santo, mezzo-soprano Wendy Zaro-Mullins, pianist Tim Lovelace; “‘Bubble-Up’ Rag,” flutist Immanuel Davis, pianist Nanette Kaplan Solomon; “Valse Romantique,” Immanuel Davis, solo flute; Albany CD.

****Sigma Alpha Iota Honorary Member

Further Information

• 2003-2004 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