AMERICAN CLASSICS KAISER • FEBONIO • EDWARDS AXELROD • DELPRIORA GORDON • HARRINGTON Music for Mandolin and Guitar Duo Ahlert & Schwab American Music for Mandolin and Guitar the end of the second movement represents the cutting of Timothy Dwight Edwards: Strange Attractor the thread of time. Strange Attractor (2005) was inspired by an aptly named Tyler KAISER (b. 1962) Lawrence AXELROD (b. 1960) The composer physical phenomenon occurring in the realm of chaos The Fates 7:35 Mercurials 6:31 Tyler Kaiser was born in Duluth, Minnesota and has theory where the closer one looks the stranger things 1 Urth & Clotho 3:05 0 Mercurials No. 1 2:31 composed, performed, taught and lived in this area longer become. 2 Verthandi & Lachesis 1:58 ! Mercurials No. 2 1:20 than some would consider prudent. Most of his credentials The composer 3 Skuld & Atropos 2:27 @ Mercurials No. 3 0:50 are, therefore, from this area, because he likes to serve his Timothy Dwight Edwards received the Arion Award for Tom G. FEBONIO (b. 1950) # Mercurials No. 4: Cantilena 1:42 community, but he has received numerous grants, creative achievement in music from Amherst College commissions and awards from organizations such as the Water Ballads, Op. 47 16:36 Mark DELPRIORA (b. 1959) where he received the Bachelor of Arts degree graduating National Endowment for the Arts, the American Composers 4 old monk with stick – icy pond in spring 2:16 Sonata 11:49 magna cum laude. His compositional studies there with Forum, the American Society for Composers, Authors and 5 $ Lewis Spratlan helped to forge his musical aesthetic. He sprite 2:29 Ruins I 7:07 Publishers, the McKnight Foundation and many others. His 6 left by the tide 4:19 % Ruins II 4:37 later studied jazz at the University of Massachusetts, compositions include two comic operas (he is working on receiving a Master of Music degree. He received his 7 rainy day 5:28 Jay GORDON (b. 1956) a third), two symphonies, numerous works for orchestra, doctorate in Music Composition from the University of 8 moon 1:51 ^ Daimonelix 7:52 concert band, chamber ensembles and many arrangements Chicago, where his teachers included Ralph Shapey, Timothy Dwight EDWARDS (b. 1962) Jeffrey HARRINGTON (b. 1955) for assorted early instruments. As a performer using a Shulamit Ran, Andrew Imbrie and John Eaton. He has 9 Strange Attractor 6:33 & Indigo Trails 5:43 variety of instruments he has been involved with many of the taught music at the University of Chicago, University of organizations of the Duluth area including the Duluth- Illinois and Columbia College Chicago. Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Superior Chamber Contemporary music in the United States plays a big part Skuld: the goddess of destiny of the future, a dwarf, Orchestra, the Northland Opera Theater Experience, Lyric Lawrence Axelrod: Mercurials in the repertoire of the mandolin and guitar. In the last ten embodied in the future. Opera of the North, the Center for Early Music Orchestra, the Mercurials is the second piece I have written for the Duo years especially, many interesting and stylistically very Arrowhead Chorale, Colder by the Lake Comedy Troupe, Atropos cuts the thread of life, corresponds to the Roman Ahlert & Schwab. Since the first one was one extended diverse works for these instruments have appeared. This the Northshore Big Band, and the Chambure Vihuela Morta. movement that was calm, flowing and slowly developing, recording is conceived as a tribute to all American Quartet. He has given numerous faculty recitals at the The Fates for guitar and mandolin is a work I originally I wanted the second piece to be completely different. The composers who have devoted themselves to writing for College of St. Scholastica and the University of Wisconsin, composed in 1983-1984 for guitar and recorder. I had four short movements vary greatly in character and tempo, the mandolin or guitar in one or more works. Apart from the Superior, both institutions where he also teaches. publicly performed the first movement a few times in the use different kinds of playing techniques and have very selection of works recorded here there are so many other past with the recorder player Shelley Gruskin but not the limited compositional materials. compositions which would have been worthy of inclusion, Tom Febonio: Water Ballads, Op. 47 other movements. After I had written Den lille Havfrue for The composer but for reasons of time or on dramaturgical grounds not all Duo Ahlert & Schwab, they requested another work so I set The Water Ballads were written in the winter of 2009 and works could be considered. We would like to give thanks Lawrence Axelrod is a composer, pianist and conductor, about rewriting this piece for them. The changes in the are dedicated to Birgit and Daniel. I did not intend a suite whose musical activities have taken him around the United to GWK and to the Swampscott String Ensemble for their new version are mainly in the mandolin part to make it or a program when I began composing, but about midway support. States and Europe. As a composer, he has had works more idiomatic and to add textures and effects not through the process I realized that the work was taking played by Pinotage, the Lincoln Trio, the Duo Ahlert & possible on the recorder and also some rhythmic/metric its own course, which I then followed to conclusion. Schwab, the Ensemble JungeMusik Berlin and the Verdi Tyler Kaiser: The Fates changes were made in the second and third movements. The composer String Quartet in recent seasons. In the dual capacities of Urth: the goddess of destiny of the past, a giantess, Therefore, the first performance of this music by Ahlert & Tom Febonio was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1950 pianist and composer, he presented two concerts in South embodied in the past. Schwab was at least 2/3 of a première. and began his musical career at the age of sixteen playing Africa in May 2008, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape The pairing of two mythologies is one of the ideas that the electric bass in a rock-and-roll band. This kept him Town. He presented an all-Mazurka program at the Clotho weaves the thread of life, corresponds to the occurred to me in the creation of the original. The same Roman Norn. occupied for about a decade, during which time he took University of Wisconsin/Madison in March 2008. He also characters of past, present and future appear in two up songwriting and recording, traditional music and jazz. gave a variation of this program at Butler University Verthandi: the goddess of destiny of the present, a sprite, different cultures and two different instruments; perhaps As an adult he studied piano with Edith Mehaffey, and the (Indianapolis, IN) as a guest performer in November 2007 embodied in the present. the guitar is Greek and the mandolin is Nordic for the sake viola, theory and conducting with Joseph A. Leary. His and as part of the Fazioli Salon Series on WFMT in April Lachesis measures the length of the thread of life, of the story. Otherwise, the programmatic nature of the compositions to date are mostly tonal and structured along 2007, playing both classic and newly-written compositions corresponds to the Roman Decuma. music is primarily subjective; however, the Bartók snap at classical or romantic lines. in that form. He also opened the Swedish Electroacoustic Music Society’s conference with a recital in Stockholm in The emotional states of the two movements run from the landscape, is available from online audio sources as is wild, sandy road through a mangrove swamp and was full May 2007, repeating the program in Lahr, Germany a few hauntingly melancholic to the somewhat giddy. In fact, Hoary Plucks: Renaissance Lute Music of Italy, Spain and of alligators, crocodiles, manatees and all kinds of sub- days later. The Verdi String Quartet have been strong the initial gesture of the second movement is inspired by England played on guitar. Choral titles include The Keeping tropical water birds. Indigo Trails was written for and supporters of Lawrence Axelrod’s music, giving premières motion of lizards hopping about from rock to rock in sunny of the Soul, a sort of global mass in nine languages, premiered by mandolinist Mike Marshall for a fund-raising of his Diary Pieces, Anges et Déesses (with Ingeborg Danz, Lagonegro, Italy while taking a walk with Daniel Ahlert and including Latin, Pali, Lakota and Chinese; Monte Jalama, concert for New Music Works of Santa Cruz, CA in 2009. mezzo-soprano), and String Quartet No. 1, the last for the Birgit Schwab. a nature-inspired work in reflection on a Spanish mountain; The composer and Sixty Against One: the life of Joan of Arc. opening concert of the Vielsaitig Festival in Füssen, The composer Jeffrey Harrington was born and raised in the Deep South Germany in August, 2004. His music was also presented of the United States. While he has studied with many Mark Delpriora was born in New York City. He began his Jeffrey Harrington: Indigo Trails in a portrait concert featuring four works as part of this composition studies with Roland Trogan at the age of famous composers at Juilliard and Tulane, including Elliott festival. His compositions have been performed in fourteen and later with Giampaolo Bracali. His guitar My music has always sought to exploit under-explored Carter and Roger Sessions, he attributes his musical composer’s festival concerts around the United States. He studies began with Rolando Valdez Blain and continued melodic and rhythmic territories from around the world education to self-study and his familiarity with the music was invited to perform a piano recital as part of the Eighth with Manuel Barrueco in the 1980s during which time he without openly quoting or utilizing pastiche. I seek to be of New Orleans where he spent most of his formative International Festival of Electroacoustic Music held in was Manuel Barrueco’s teaching assistant. Mark Delpriora influenced by and then warp energies and textures which years. He is likely the first composer to utilize the internet Havana, Cuba in March 2000, and returned there in March is currently co-chair of the guitar department at the abound in today’s world music saturated world. Two major to further his career, and probably invented the free music 2004 to give a second recital. His work for orchestra and Manhattan School of Music. His works are published by influences informed the composition of Indigo Trails and distribution model. By employing pre-web computer tape, Cassandra Speaks, had its première with the San Editions Orphée and Bèrben Edizioni Musicali. serve as contrasting forces, popular electronic and rock systems he distributed his music (both scores and all Jose Symphony (CA) in June 1999, music director Leonid music and Middle Eastern music. Indigo Trails uses these recordings) to musicians and listeners around the world Grin conducting. This work was previously recorded by the Jay Gordon: Daimonelix influences within a classical context by taking apart the free of charge and continues to do so to this day at his site: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Szymon Kawalla rhythmic and melodic motives and putting them back http://jeffharrington.org. The word “daimonelix” refers to a series of spiraling rock conducting. Still Life with Sea and Whales, a work for together to create new material. The title, Indigo Trails, soprano, flute and two guitars has been released on the formations found in Northwestern Nebraska in the United comes from a bike path on Sanibel Island where I lived CRS label. A CD of solo and small chamber works was States. The rock formations, not surprisingly, are situated for 2 1/2 years before moving to France. It is an extremely Music notes by the composers released in the Fall of 2003. Lawrence Axelrod has received in a lonely place without much sign of human habitation. grants from Chorus America, Meet the Composer and Arts Even though the general landscape is seemingly International for the performances of his works. He was unremarkable, there is great mystery to the place. I visited also a founder and past chairperson of the Chicago there some years ago and found myself transfixed by the Duo Ahlert & Schwab Composers Consortium, as well as a member of CUBE. living quality of the place. The piece is in two sections. The Duo Ahlert & Schwab is considered to be one of the leading duos playing modern and historic plucked instruments, He has attended numerous composition residencies The first part is meant to convey the approach to the and as chamber musicians and soloists they appear at festivals and in concert halls throughout the world. The duo’s around the United States and in Europe. He has taught a daimonelix, at times reverentially hushed, but not without repertoire for mandolin, guitar and lute embraces music from the Baroque to the present day. They have discovered highly successful opera appreciation class at Ghost Ranch some dramatic struggles and frustrations. The last section forgotten works by old masters and have inspired their contemporaries to write for them. More than fifty composers Santa Fe each summer for nearly ten years. His teaching is the arrival at the daimonelix with a sense of serenity and of many nationalities and styles have dedicated compositions to them. The career of the Duo Ahlert & Schwab began experience also includes Music Theory at Columbia College the unknown. The ‘daimonelix’, by the way, are speculated in 1992 when they won the Concours international des Duos in Belgium and since then they have been prize-winners (Chicago, IL), and classes for young people. Lawrence to be the fossilized borings of giant prehistoric beavers. at other international competitions and held scholarships from German and international cultural foundations. Alongside Axelrod received his undergraduate degree from Amherst Perhaps I just took the mystery away. My apologies. radio and television performances they have released six CDs and since 2007 have recorded for the Naxos label. With College and a Master of Music Degree in orchestral their fresh and lively playing culture, with CD recordings which have set new standards, as well as their way of bringing conducting from Northwestern University. The composer Jay Gordon is a composer-guitarist based in Minnesota. music into the foreground in their concerts, Daniel Ahlert and Birgit Schwab have been delighting audiences for years Since studying classical guitar and composition, he has both at home and abroad. Mark Delpriora: Sonata been active as composer, guitarist, teacher and concert The instruments played on this recording: My Sonata for mandolin and guitar was written for and is producer. He writes primarily choral and guitar music. Mandolin by Reinhold Seiffert, 1989 • Guitar by Frank-Peter Dietrich, Tosca, 1996 dedicated to the Duo Ahlert & Schwab. The title Ruins Original works for guitar include Superbliss-machine refers to the fragments of classical forms contained within Embrace, Midwest Locations, and the collections the two movements. Sonata, rondo, scherzo, adagio forms LISTENING POINT and Royale Picture Dances. His are all present but perhaps not quite followed through. Diggunim Trees for two guitars, a Buddhist reflection on AMERICAN MUSIC FOR MANDOLIN AND GUITAR Tyler KAISER (b. 1962) 1–3 The Fates 7:35 AMERICAN CLASSICS Tom G. FEBONIO (b. 1950) Many of the works on this recording 4–8 Water Ballads, Op. 47 16:36 were written for award-winning Duo Ahlert & Schwab, who have contri- Timothy Dwight EDWARDS (b. 1962) buted greatly to making contempo- 9 Strange Attractor 6:33 rary music from the United States a Lawrence AXELROD (b. 1960) significant part of mandolin and 0–# guitar repertoire. The mellow tones Mercurials 6:31 and chiming sparkle associated with Mark DELPRIORA (b. 1959) these instruments is represented in a $–% Sonata 11:49 wide diversity of pieces whose styles and influences include fragments of Jay GORDON (b. 1956) classical forms in Mark Delpriora’s ^ Daimonelix 7:52 Sonata, references to the mysteries of Jeffrey HARRINGTON (b. 1955) nature in Daimonelix, named after & Indigo Trails 5:43 spiralling rock form-ations found in Nebraska, electronic music, rock Full track details will be found in the booklet music and Middle East-ern music in Indigo Trails, and chaos theory in Daniel Ahlert, Mandolin Strange Attractor. Birgit Schwab, Guitar WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDINGS Duo Ahlert & Schwab Photo by Rainer Schultz Recorded at Burg Sternberg, Extertal, Germany, www.naxos.com 12–13 October 2010 • Producer, Engineer & Editor: Hans-Ulrich Holst, Wachtmann Musikproduktion Publisher: Edition Corvus (tracks 1–8, 10–13, 17), little boat music (16), unpublished (9, 14–15) Kindly supported by Swampscott String Ensemble Cover image of the Grand Canyon © James Warren / Dreamstime.com • American flag, folk artist, 1880s