Annual American Composers Update

Allan Blank

Allan Blank lives in Richmond, VA, where he works part-time at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Premieres

At the Richmond Public Library, Jan. 29, 1998, David Shaffer-Gottschalk gave the first performance of Six Studies for Piano, One Hand (Left or Right), sets 1 and 11. Hope Erb directed the Richmond Greater Children's Chorus in the premiere of Catch a Little Rhyme, for children's two-part chorus and piano, at Virginia Commonwealth University, June 7, 1998. The Richmond Chamber Players presented Trio, for flute, bassoon, and piano, at the Virginia Museum, Aug. 9, 1998.

Performances

On March 15, 1998, Shaffer-Gottschalk played Blank's Piano Sonata at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. A University of North Carolina, Charlotte program included Three Chinese Poems, for women's chorus, Mar. 27, 1998. Hope Erb directed The Geater Richmond Children's Chorus in Two Little Kittens, June 7, 1998 at Virginia Commonwealth University. On June 12-13, 1998, the University of California, Riverside's Choral Society, conducted by Dr. Lois Musmann, presented Peace Cantata, for chorus and orchestra. In 1998, Roland Davis Dowdy and Dawn Dowdy performed Two Pieces for Alto Saxophone and Piano at Northwestern Univ. (Mar. 26) and at the College of William And Mary, in Williamsburgh, VA (Apr. 5).

Publications

Trio; flute, bassoon, piano; Falls House Press. Four Poems by Emily Dickinson; soprano, flute, clarinet; A Melodic Tour for Two Clarinets; both by International Opus. Two Pieces for Alto Saxophone and PIano; Roncorp Publications. Diptych (with refrain); eight horns; A Little Suite; three trombones; both by Nicholas Music Co.

Recordings

Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra and Overture for a Happy Occasion; both with the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra; MMC Recordings MMC New Century, Vol. VIII, CD 2053.