A Conversation with Colin Homiski Second Forte Is Not the Pianoforte (Pardon the Pun!), but Conducting
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The New York Flute Club N E W S L E T T E R December 2001 Jayn Rosenfeld and Patti Monson contacted the composers NOW HEAR THIS! on this month’s program with the following questions about the pieces being performed: (i) How did the piece get started in your head? (ii) Was the piece first conceived for flute? Great New Music (iii) What is the most important element/component of the piece to you, the composer? Here are their answers. Bob James Odyssey for flute and piano Bob James (b. 1939) earned an M.A. in com- position from the University of Michigan in 1962, What aspect of this piece was most important to you, as the composer? and his long and varied career continues to evolve Because I usually work in the jazz idiom, the challenge at every turn. Currently at work on his 24th solo for me was to create a piece that had the feel of spontane- album, he has collaborated over the years with ous improvisation, but was completely notated. And, be- many of the finest musicians in the jazz field. His ing a pianist, most of the time I’m directly involved in performing the music that I albums with David Sanborn and Earl Klugh each compose, which gives me a chance to influence the outcome by illustrating the won Grammy awards and he is the founding phrasing and other nuances from the piano. For this reason I get great satisfaction member of the fusion group Fourplay. While at from learning that something I’ve composed takes on a life of its own, and survives CBS, James recorded three classical albums for based on what I’ve put on paper. its Masterworks label, including, with Guher and How did this piece start in your head? Suher Pekinel, J.S. Bach Concertos for Two & This piece was prepared as a part of a celebration honoring the Canadian musician Three Keyboards. He has written musical scores Kenneth Mills, and it was premiered at his testimonial in Toronto. I knew him to be (Cont’d on page 7) a very energetic, prolific, eclectic and positive-thinking person, and these quali- ties inspired me to create something ap- propriate to the occasion. Like many cre- NOW HEAR THIS! ative artists, I often suffer from “writer’s Great New Music block,” but because of a short impending Sunday, December 9, 2001, 5:30 pm (Cont’d on page 7) CAMI Hall, 165 West 57th Street I N T H I S I S S U E Bob James Odyssey David Latulippe, flute; Jim Lahti, piano ❚ Great New Music ..................... 1 Arthur Kreiger Intimate Exchanges for flute and synthesized sound Jayn Rosenfeld and Patti Diva Goodfriend-Koven, flute Monson query the composers ❚ Dean Drummond Precious Metals New Music: A Resource .......... 6 Stephani Starin, flute by Patti Monson ❚ Selecting “Great New Music” .. 7 Joan Tower Snow Dreams by Katherine Fink Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Oren Fader, guitar ❚ Meet Colin Homiski ............... 10 Karl Korte Distant Pentachords for flute, windchimes and tape A conversation with the NYFC- Karla Moe, flute commissioned composer Paul Schoenfield Slovakian Children’s Songs (selections) From the President ..................... 2 Carol Wincenc, flute; Stephen Gosling, piano Music of OUR Time Member Profile: John Wion ....... 3 Jim Lahti Sonata David Wechsler, flute; Jim Lahti, piano Remembering James Hosmer .... 4 Nancy Toff and Phil Lashinsky Program subject to change. Announcements Pre-Concert Ensemble Gathering ...... 2 Holiday Pre-Concert Ensemble Gathering Flute Happenings ............................... 3 Sunday, December 9, 3–5 pm; Kaplan Space at Carnegie Hall Member Announcements ................... 3 NYFC Young Artist Competition 2002 .. 6 See announcement on Page 2. 2 — NYFC Newsletter Music of OUR Time! by Jan Vinci ear NYFC Members: THE NEW YORK FLUTE CLUB INC. I can remember the first time that I was introduced 2001–2002 D to playing contemporary music. My first teacher, Judith Bentley, said that I must think more like a composer. Board of Directors Jan Vinci, President She asked me to improvise a “piece” on one note using tone Patricia Spencer, First Vice President colors beyond my normal spectrum, developing rhythmic Ardith Bondi, Second Vice President motives, and utilizing silence as a powerful means of Svjetlana Kabalin, Recording Secretary expression. This not only spurred on creative ideas as I Michele Smith, Membership Secretary From the improvised, but forever changed how I perceived notes on a Donna-Mari Fieldsa-Fowler, Treasurer page, no matter what the style of music. I began trying my Darla Dixon President best to hear and understand the music as the composer did, Katherine Fink the moment he or she wrote it—respecting that instant of Susan Friedlander creation which has given birth to so much incredible music through the years. Rochelle Itzen Sue Ann Kahn Last year’s “Into the Millennium” concert was a huge success, and we are Bärli Nugent pleased to present a second go-around. Kathy Fink, with the generous help of Rie Schmidt Patricia Spencer and Svjetlana Kabalin, has put together an sensational program Nancy Toff which will tap into our souls through fresh ideas, expressions, and tonal palettes. Patricia Zuber The Club would like to express their gratitude to the professional flutists who will contribute their exciting interpretations during this special evening. Advisory Board December’s concert was to feature the NYFC-commissioned work by Colin Julius Baker Gerardo Levy Homiski, and NYFC member Carol Wincenc had graciously agreed to perform its Jeanne Baxtresser Laurence Libin Harold Jones Marya Martin premiere. Due to a turn of events, Mr. Homiski was unable to finish the work for the concert; therefore, Ms. Wincenc will perform selections from Paul Schoenfield’s Past Presidents Slovakian Children’s Songs. Our sincerest appreciation to her! Georges Barrère .................. 1920–1944 The December 9th concert is sure to be inspirational. Maybe it will even spur John Wummer ...................... 1944–1947 on private commissions by our members. Some of my fondest musical experiences Milton Wittgenstein ............ 1947–1952 have been when I commissioned pieces, collaborated with composers, and per- Mildred Hunt Wummer ...... 1952–1955 Frederick Wilkins ................. 1955–1957 formed the new works for a variety of audiences. And what was refreshing to see Harry H. Moskovitz ............. 1957–1960 was that audiences were so intrigued and drawn to the new works. Trust the hearts Paige Brook ........................... 1960–1963 and minds of your audiences—commission new works! Mildred Hunt Wummer ...... 1963–1964 Join us in a holiday pre-concert get together prior to the December concert, Maurice S. Rosen ................ 1964–1967 celebrating only as flutists can do—playing our flutes, and as so many others do— Harry H. Moskovitz ............. 1967–1970 with much fun and good food! Paige Brook ........................... 1970–1973 Eleanor Lawrence ............... 1973–1976 Please come experience this electric evening of NYC flutists, performing works Harold Jones ........................ 1976–1979 which you, too, may adopt into your repertoire! ❑ Eleanor Lawrence ............... 1979–1982 Paige Brook ........................... 1982–1983 John Solum ........................... 1983–1986 Eleanor Lawrence ............... 1986–1989 Sue Ann Kahn ...................... 1989–1992 Nancy Toff ............................. 1992–1995 Rie Schmidt ........................... 1995–1998 Holiday Pre-Concert Ensemble Gathering Patricia Spencer ................... 1998–2001 Sunday, December 9, 3:00 –5:00 pm Newsletter Kaplan Space at Carnegie Hall Katherine Saenger, Editor 115 Underhill Road YOU ARE INVITED to a holiday pre-concert ensemble gathering Ossining, NY 10562 prior to the 5:30pm recital of new music at CAMI Hall. (914) 762-8582 [email protected] Holiday selections will be conducted by Ardith Bondi, Rochelle Itzen, Patricia Spencer, and Jan Vinci. Alice Barmore, Layout/Production We will play music and enjoy refreshments. 125 Christopher St., #4H New York, NY 10014 Please contact Rochelle Itzen if you plan to attend, and let her know (212) 675-9706 what you would like to bring for refreshments: [email protected] (212) 982-2703 or [email protected]. www.nyfluteclub.org The next Pre-Concert Ensemble Gathering will be on Sunday, January 20, 2002. Copyright © 2001 by The New York Flute Club Inc. All rights reserved. December 2001 — 3 FLUTE HAPPENINGS Influential flute teachers: Member Profile Leslie Barklamb, Julius Baker, Claude D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 1 John Wion Monteux, William Kincaid, Marcel Sunday 5:30 pm NYFC Member since Moyse DEC the 1960s 2 ESSENCE, with Helen Richman, High School: flute, and Jenny Mitchell, piano, in Employment: Principal Melbourne Grammar School, a debut recital presented by Artists International. Program to include the duo’s own arrange- flutist with the New Melbourne, Australia. ment of Gershwin’s Piano Preludes, Roussel’s York City Opera, professor of flute and Joueurs de Flute, Muczynski’s Sonata, Franck’s chamber music at the Hartt School Degrees: Sonata in A, and the NY premiere of Matthew (University of Hartford, Hartford, CT). None; instead of finishing his senior Whittal’s Ash Wednesday. A champagne year at Trinity College [University of reception will follow the concert. Most recent recital/performance: Melbourne], he left school in 1958 and • Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 154 West A Bronx Arts Ensemble concert on came to New York. 57th Street • Tickets, $19 at the door. October 14, 2001 at the New York Botanical Garden, in a program includ- Most notable and/or personally