I'm excited to announce that my work Goodnight, Goodnight for band has been named the winner of the 2012 Music Composition Award by the Hot Springs Concert Band in Hot Springs, AR. This wonderful ensemble will perform Goodnight, Goodnight on Sunday October 21st at 3:oopm and I will be in attendance! Who: Hot Springs Concert Band performs Goodnight, Goodnight When: October 21st, 3:00pm Where: Woodlands Auditorium, Hot Springs Village, AR
Joy
There is so much joy here - beautiful to watch.
World Youth Wind Symphony Video Recording!
Slight correction from my last post: The World Youth Wind Symphony was the ensemble that performed Lauda at Interlochen under the baton of Gary Green. You can watch the wonderful video recording of the performance below. These are some very talented young people (high school students) who played my piece (and the whole concert) beautifully. Thanks to the World Youth Wind Symphony, Gary Green, and Interlochen! Bravo!
Lauda at Interlochen Tomorrow! Watch via Webcast!
My wind ensemble work Lauda will be performed tomorrow, Saturday July 14th by the Interlochen Symphony Band conducted by the incomparable Gary Green. Interlochen will be streaming live video of the concert at the link below. Check it out if you can! Who: Interlochen Symphony Band conducted by Gary Green When: Saturday July 14, 2012 - 7:00pm Where: Kresge Auditorium, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, Michigan Webcast: Live video streaming here
Quiet Places
For the most part, we live in a noisy, fast, and relentless world. Sometimes, especially when I am trying to come up with the initial ideas for a new piece, I want to be in a quiet place. A place where I can really savor the sounds I create and not be distracted by anything. A basement practice room, an empty church. For others, it's a garden, a backyard, a patio. Here's to enjoying a few moments in your own quiet place!
New Commission - Choir, Saxophone & Piano
I'm excited to announce a new commission which has just been finalized and that I am writing this summer. Dr. William Eash and the Bethel College Choir are commissioning a new piece for choir, saxophone, and piano! I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Eash and the Bethel Choir, and also to include saxophone (near and dear to my heart!) in this piece. The text we decided on is below. I have been thinking about ideas for the piece for a few weeks and have a good idea of the general structure and to some extent the roles of the various forces (men, women, saxophone, piano). Yesterday I got to spend a bit of time working on the piece in one of my favorite spots - the basement of the Eastman annex building! Stay tuned for more details about this piece! O thou, in whose presence
O thou, in whose presence my soul takes delight, on whom in affliction I call, my comfort by day, and my song in the night, my hope, my salvation, my all;
Where dost thou, dear Shepherd, resort with thy sheep? to feed in the pastures of love? Say, why in the valley of death should I weep, or lone in the wilderness rove?
Oh, why should I wander an alien from thee, or cry in the desert for bread? Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see, and smile at the tears I have shed.
He looks, and ten thou-sands of angels rejoice, and myriads wait for his word. He speaks, and eternity filled with his voice, reechoes the praise of the Lord.
"This Song of Mine" Recording Now Posted
In April, "This Song of Mine" for women's choir and piano was premiered by the Houghton College Women's Choir conducted by my friend David Horace Davies. David recently sent me the live recording from their premiere and it is wonderful (listen below)! His direction of the piece and the sensitivity of the singing is just beautiful. "This Song of Mine" is a simple lullaby, and I love the way this performance portrayed the piece. Bravo David and the Houghton College Women's Choir! [audio http://www.stevedanyew.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Danyew_this_song.mp3]
Houghton College Women's Choir David Horace Davies, Conductor Live Concert Recording - April 2012
Goodnight, Goodnight This Sunday - Greater Gardner Community Choir
This Sunday, May 20th, the Greater Gardner Community Choir will perform Goodnight, Goodnight under the direction of the wonderful Diane Cushing. I will be there and I'm really looking forward to the performance! Who: Greater Gardner Community Choir When: May 20, 2012 - 4:00pm Where: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Gardner, MA
Lauda at Texas Tech on Monday!
Lauda will be performed by the Texas Tech University Concert Band, directed by Duane Hill on Monday May 7th at 8pm. They are doing a really interesting program called "The Great Outdoors" and students in the ensemble have prepared visual slide shows and videos to play along with the music - very cool! Best wishes for a great performance! When: Monday May 7th, 8:00pm Where: Hemmle Recital Hall, Texas Tech University
"This Song of Mine" Premieres Tonight at Houghton College!
My new work for women's choir and piano, "This Song of Mine," will be premiered tonight at Houghton College in Houghton, NY. "This Song of Mine" will be published this fall by Santa Barbara Music, and tonight the work will be presented by the Houghton College Women's Choir under the direction of David Horace Davies. Houghton College Women’s Choir directed by David Horace Davies April 25th, 2012 – 8:00pm Recital Hall – Center for the Arts Houghton College