Annual American Composers Update
Kirke Mechem
SAI National Arts Associate Kirke Mechem is a San Francisco,
CA resident. In July 1997, he was Composer-in-Residence
at the Lancaster Festival.
Premieres
Winging Wildly, Op. 64, for a cappella SATB choir,
commissioned by The Music Group of Philadelphia, Seán
Deibler, conductor; The Lancaster (OH) Chorale, Robert
Trocchia, conductor; and the San Francisco Chamber Singers,
Robert Geary, conductor, will have joint premieres in
March 1998.
Earth My Song, Op. 61, for SATB choir
and piano, commissioned by the Elgin (IL) Choral Union,
led by John Slawson, was introduced by the chorus in May
1997. In April 1997,
Time: Lines Found on an Old Bell
at Chester, Op. 63, No. 3, for a cappella SATB choir
and baritone, commissioned by the Kansas State Choir,
directed by Rod Walker, was presented by them.
Christmas
the Morn, Op. 63, No. 1 (SSAA) and No. 2 (SATB), for
a cappella choir, commissioned by the Phoenix Boys Choir,
Harvey K. Smith, conductor, was premiered by them; and
the SATB version was heard, led by Steve Eubank, as part
of the Topeka High School Madrigal Singers' 60-year reunion,
December 1996.
Rejoice an Easter Psalm, Op. 65,
No. 1, for a cappella SATB choir, commissioned by the
friends of Winifred Baker in honor of her 40th year as
conductor, received its first performance from the Winifred
Baker Chorale and San Francisco Civic Chorale, with the
composer conducting, November 1997.
Performances
In 1997
The Jayhawk: Magic Bird Overture was heard
with the San Jose Symphony (Jan.), the Marin Symphony
(Feb.), and the Lancaster Festival Orchestra (July).
Tartuffe,
an opera in three acts, had productions at the Monteux
Opera Festival, Maine, August 1997, and at the Wiener
Konservatorium, Austria, winter 1997-98.
Publications
Earth My Song; Christmas The Morn; Rejoice: An Easter
Psalm; Time; all by
G.
Schirmer.
Recordings
Island in Space; separate recordings by the San
Francisco Chamber Singers and by Pacific Chorale.
Time;
Kansas State Choir.
Further Information
For more complete information, see Kirke Mechem's entry
in our
Composers
Bureau Online.
