Composition and Theory

“A Love Affair with Sound” (4/20): A Free Recital of New Compositions by Matthew W. Shepherd

Since my first première two years ago—a breakneck performance by Rob Frankenberry of my piano solo My Green Malady II—I’ve had over a dozen works (and over two hours of music) performed at Pitt. For my senior project in music, then, it seemed natural to organize a full-length concert of my own works, and with the help of Phil Thompson and Roger Zahab, this event—which I wouldn’t have considered possible three years ago—is actually happening. The concert, entitled “A Love Affair with Sound,” will take place on Sunday, April 20 at 2 p.m. in Bellefield Hall Auditorium, Oakland. It will be free and open to the public. Performers will include Sarah Albani, Callah Antonetti, Ben Harris, Emily Hawkins, Dave Hidek, Jess Hohman, Joe Liu, Kaitlin Mitchell, Roger Zahab, and myself. Three of the nine works will be premières, while another three are revised versions prepared for this event:
• Flurries† for string quartet • Bean Sprouts for marimba • New Harmony Sweet† for piano • SummerSet* for ’cello • Epistemology Wars for violin and vibraphone
{intermission}
• Same Seats (2nd semester) for marimba, four hands [co-written and choreographed with Dave Hidek] • Fushicho, Mvt. III† for string quartet • Chivalry Timbers* for flute • Colla Viola* for viola and piano

* première performance † première of revised version

 

If finals have you all worked up, you can come and relax with my music at Bellefield Hall. (And if that doesn’t apply to you, you’re certainly welcome to attend as well.) My housemate and I will be baking homemade vegan cookies, too, so you can get music, a break from studying, and some snacking in on a Sunday afternoon.

For slightly abridged program notes—written in a fairly informal style, somewhat like my pieces—continue below.

Fresh music from Pittsburgh: March 27, April 1

ALIA MUSICA Pittsburgh presents... ...a trumpet and a harp... Vivaldi and jazz... double reeds and string quartet... a bass clarinet and a suspended cymbal... an insistent tritone and a woodwind chorale Sounds interesting? Well, I'm delighted to write here in the Pitt music blog, and to invite everyone to attend this concerts. Alia Musica is an 'independent' ensemble, but it actually stemmed from Pitt and still features most of Pitt's composition grads.

IonSound Project: New works by Pitt Grad Students

ionsound.jpg Pittsburgh-based contemporary music ensemble IonSound Project will present a program of new works by University of Pittsburgh Graduate Student Composers. Bellefield Hall Auditorium, free Press Release Pitt’s Department of Music will present new compositions by graduate student composers in collaboration with Pittsburgh contemporary music ensemble IonSound Project. The program will feature works by Mark Fromm, Matt Gillespie, James Ogburn, Matt Heap, Alec Summers, and Kerrith Livengood.

eighth blackbird and Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society present a weekend of new music events

Starting this weekend Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society will host eighth blackbird, the leading contemporary music ensemble, in a three-day residency culminating in their performance Monday night for PCMS at Carnegie Music Hall. On Saturday night, eighth blackbird will perform compositions by local university student's including Pitt Grad student Kerrith Livengood.

From the Office of the Lieutenant Governor

simsproc.jpg We were hoping to have this in time for the Music on the Edge Concert devoted to Ezra Sims and his music, but are still pleased to announce the special proclamation in honor of Ezra from Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll. The complete text reads as follows: "As Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it gives me great pleasure to recognize you, Ezra Sims, on the occasion of your 80th birthday.

Music on the Edge Celebrates the music of Eugene Phillips, Franz Lehar Composer-in-Residence David Felder, and a world premiere by Eric Moe

Music on the Edge will pack three grande occasions into one venti event: a concert in honor of Pittsburgh violinist, composer, and octogenarian Eugene Phillips, an introduction to 2008 Franz Lehar Composer-in-Residence David Felder, and a world premiere of a new composition for flute and piano by Music on the Edge codirector Eric Moe. Those in attendance will have the chance to visit with all the composers after the concert.