Annual American Composers Update

Jane Ellen

SAI member Jane Ellen lives in Albuquerque, NM, where she is employed as Parish Organist at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church. She has received her 8th consecutive ASCAP annual award. In February 1997 she judged the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW), Albuquerque Branch, Creative Arts Competition for High School Girls, and the New Mexico Federation of Music Clubs Junior Division Composition Contest. On May 5, 1997, her published music was on display at a state NLAPW meeting in Albuquerque in honor of the National President. Christianity and the Arts magazine published an interview with Ellen by Marci Whitney-Schenck. In 1997 she spoke on opera history for the Albuquerque Elderhostel (July 14-18); on creativity in the arts, for the NLAPW Albuquerque Branch (Nov. 8); and presented lectures about opera and American music history to the Albuquerque OASIS branch throughout the year. Her 1997 arrangements include Jenny Lind Polka and Varsouviana, for period brass band, premiered by the Territorial Brass Band of New Mexico, a Civil War Reenactment Unit, under Ralph Harris, at the Albuquerque Garrison Annual Winter Ball (Feb. 8); and Be Still My Soul, a piano version of Sibelius's Finlandia, at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church.

Premieres

Original piano works presented by the composer at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church were Four Piano Preludes for Advent (December 1996), Reminiscence (May 11, 1997), and Reflections (Aug. 17, 1997). In 1997 other Albuquerque premieres included Jesus Christ is Born!, for SATB choir and piano, at Paradise Hills United Methodist Church, with pianist Mollie O'Meara and director Eric Shultis (Jan. 5); and Longing, for mezzo-soprano and piano, with Sandra Neel and Jane Vierneister, at a New Mexico Women Composers' Guild Concert at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (Mar. 9).

Performances

One Little Child, for two-part choir, the opening anthem of the Mass Choir at the West Side Choral Festival, directed by the composer, at All Saints Lutheran Church, in Albequerque, November 1996, was heard at the annual American Guild of Organists Student Organ Encounter Day, with director Sue Kil and the children's choir Liturgical Colors, at Monte Vista Christian Church, in Albuquerque, Jan. 19, 1997. Also heard in Albuquerque were Adagio for Flutes and Trumpets on Parade, with Roosevelt Middle School students, directed by Ralph Harris, at the annual Albuquerque Solo and Ensemble Festival (Mar. 1); and Gypsy Guitars and Busy Day Boogie, with piano students of Jane Karwoski, on a New Mexico composers program at the Piano Source (Nov. 2). On May 25, 1997, the Territorial Brass Band of New Mexico, under the direction of cornetist Ralph Harris, played the Jenny Lind Polka at the annual Living History Memorial Day celebration in Fort Garland, CO.

Publications

A Debt of Love, SAB, oboe, and piano; Neil A. Kjos Music Co. Mass of the Faithful, 2-3 part choir and congregation, Linen Press.

Recordings

A Debt of Love; Lenten anthem directed by Bradley Ellingboe; Neil A. Kjos Music Co. Music for the Church Year CD, Vol. 2.

Further Information

For more complete information, see Jane Ellen's entry in our Composers Bureau Online.