The SCI Newsletter Society of Composers, Inc
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The SCI Newsletter Society of Composers, Inc. P.O.Box 296 OLD CHELSEA STATION NEW YORK, NY 10113-0296 ACA Laurel Leaf Award VOLUME 23, NUMBER 4 MAY/JUNE 1993 Cleveland State University Hosts Fran Richard Speaks Successful Annual Conference in April ,For New Music This year's SCI Annual Con The 27th Annual Conference of the composers to return to that example of ference at Cleveland State University Society of Composers, Inc. was recently common support. Rands' Canti Tril was distinguished by two things that held in conjunction with the Sound En ogy was presented that evening by the we sometimes fail to get at our con counters Festival at Cleveland State Cleveland Chamber Symphony featur ferences: big audiences and good University. For this event the Mayor of ing tenor Paul Sperry, soprano Julia press. In The Plain Dealer, Cleveland proclaimed the festival Con Kierstine and bass Thomas Paul. Cleveland's major newspaper, Fran temporary Music Week. Festival chair Composers performed at the Fes Richard, director of the symphony and Edwin London planned a comprehensive tival included:, Daniel Adams, Wil concert department of ASCAP, was program of contemporary music featur liam Albright, Michael Angell, Marc extensively quoted on contemporary ing performances by the Cleveland Apfelstadt, Milton Babbitt, Burton music and its audience. amber Symphony directed by Edwin Beerman, Frederick Bianchi, Gavin Here are some of the things she 1don, the Ball State University En Borchert, Richard Brooks, William said: "Our field is at a terrible disad s~mble for New Music directed by Cleve Brooks, David Buddin, John Burge, vantage. In New York people will L. Scott, the Cleveland State University Keith Carpenter, Elliott Carter, Kris stand in line in the rain for new films, Chamber Winds conducted by Howard tine H. Burns Coil, James F. Crowley, plays, restaurants, the visual arts and Meeker, the Duquesne Contemporary Mario Davidovsky, Charles Dodge, dance. Yuppies are interested in every Ensemble conducted by David Stock, the Jacob Druckman, Donald Erb, Stev~n thing new and exotic. But when they Larry Parsons Chorale, the Oberlin Con Everett, Richard Felciano, Ross go home they've got Vivaldi on the temporary Music Ensemble conducted by Feller, Nick Fells, Ulf Grahn, Jose phonograph." Timothy Weiss, the University of Akron Halac, Evan House, Duane Heller, Jin New Music Group/DAEDALUS Hi Kim, Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, Some advice to serious composers: directed by Rober Zahab, the University Karel Husa, Marvin Johnson, Stephen "Choreographers need new composi of Akron Percussion Ensemble directed Jones, Alexandros Kalogeras, Dennis tions. They need big pieces, not just by Larry D. Snider and the University of Kam, David Kechley, Christopher the 3-minute fanfare for an orchestra's Illinois Contemporary Chamber Players Kriese, Libby Larsen, David S. Lef obligatory bow to new music." conducted by Paul Martin Zonn. kowitz, Peter Lieuwen, Anthony Lis, The Festival included additional non Wend ell Logan, Erik Lund, David Gerald M. Schapiro, Joseph SCI concerts featuring All About Jazz Macbride, Donald Martino, Salvatore Schwantner, Christopher Shultis, Ann Band directed by Howie Smith, Univer Martirano, Edward Mattila, Emilio Silsbee, Howie Smith, Frederick sity Circle Wind Ensemble conducted by Mendoza, Andreas K. Meyer, James Speck, David Stock, Sever Tipei, Gary M. Ciepluch, Mediamix York Mobberley, Jose Mariano · Morales Augusta Read Thomas, Budd A. Udell, presenting works by English composers, Matos, Bain Murray, Tony Myatt, Mary Jeanne van Appledorn, Andrew Speculum Musicae, pianist Sever Tipei Robert Newell, Maria A. Nieder Waggoner, R. D. Ward, David Ward and [THE], performer/composer duo berger, Eric Oberthaler, Richard Steinman, Reynold Weidenaar, Edwin Harkins and Philip Larson. Orton, Tera de Marez Oyens, Glenn George Wilson and Phil Winsor. Palmer, Susan Parenti, Wayne Peter Bernard Rands gave the keynote ad Also scheduled were paper presen son, Gerald Plain, Bernard Rands, dress at the Conference banquet. He tations coordinated by Randolph Brendon Renwick, Phillip Rhodes, ke movingly about Tanglewood and Coleman into several topics: the Peda John C. Ross, Steve Rouse, Carlos ..•nes past when composers were more gogy of Composition, Criticism and Sanchez-Gutierrez, Marc Satterwhite, supportive of one another, and urged Composition, Music and Composers, J. Mark Scearce, Michael G. Sczerba, continued on page 2 SCI Committee on Women and Minorities SCI Region II Conference Features Young Musicians by Marshall Bialovsky Several sub-committees were also On May 8th, Montclair State Col- At the meeting of the SCI Commit- established at the meeting -- a com- lege (NJ) hosted SCI's Region II Con- tee on Women and Minorities at the munity service committee and a com- ference, coordinated by Ting Ho. This 1992 SCI Annual Conference at the poser-performer committee -- and I am conference was specifically dedicated University of Alabama, in the midst of awaiting further development of these to "Contemporary Music and the much animated discussion, a decision from the composers. A suggestion was Young Musician," and involved both was made to pursue the idea of mentor- made to create a kind of Salon des the music department of the college and ing, where SCI volunteers would assist Refuses where any composer, those ac- the Music Preparatory Division. A con- interested music students in guiding cepted by the selection committee of the cert of piano music featured performan- their careers. The corollary would be conference and those that were not, ces by faculty and students from the to encourage women and minority might bring tapes and scores to share Preparatory Division, a presented members to join SCI. Letters were sent with others. works by Ulf Grahn, Kari Juusela, to all regional co-chairs asking them to Personally' I thought these were all Mikel Kuehn, Ken Madel!, Richard identify such volunteers. Elizabeth valuable and worthy ideas. We have Sorce, Joe Utterback, Joelle Wallach Vercoe was ready to begin a pilot pro- fallen into a rather unvaried routine in and C. B. White. An evening concert gram in the Northeast, but, as often our meetings, and perhaps some of featured the Montclair Youth Or- seems to happen, only Max Lifchitz these suggestions might enliven our chestra, and presented works by Sy volunteered to be a mentor, while other proceedings. In view of the fact that at Brandon, Daniel Goode, Ting Ho, El- co-chairs did not respond. Unfor- Cleveland both the Committee on liott Schwartz and Ren Weidenaar. tunately' I missed a great opportunity Women and Minorities meeting and the Paper presentations by Sy Brandon, this year in Cleveland to bring the panel on the same subject drew surpris- William Matthews and Daniel Goode matter up at the National Council meet- ingly large crowds, it is clear that this continued the theme of the conference. ing because of the schedule. is a subject where there are deep feel- Focusing the conference on this At the committee meeting this year ings and concern. Much should be specific theme solicited submissions in Cleveland again a large crowd ap- done, even if just through the mails. from a different segment of the SCI peared, but it was a different set of Over a hundred letters are currently membership and produced an intimate attendees with several new agendas. being sent from our New York office to but stimulating conference, especially Many people felt the apparatus of the Black composers listed by the Center for the young people who participated. concerts and papers needed to be for Black Music Research in Chicago SCI wishes to thank the faculty and staff broadened to encourage more minority asking their assistance in improving the of Montclair State's music department ----~membefs--.aHd-perhaps-m1tside:TS-tft-,nar...--t-4.llllJJllilJ.l..l.,.......ction_position...o~LL ---l--ll-Rf4-iicru>>--N~Hi·P.-+i-repa-r-a-t or-y Di vision,- tic i pate. An open day could feature Please contact me at 84 Cresta Verde and especially the brothers of the music for children composed by the Drive, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 Lambda Mu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha members, or groups that featured im- (phone: 310/541-8213) about any Sinfonia for their invaluable assistance. provisation, jazz or folk might be in- thoughts you have about SCI's affirm- vited to participate. Someone sug- _a_ti_v_e_a_c_ti_on_._________ _ ________________ gested affiliating with public schools to get into the world to show our stuff, Cleveland State Hosts SCI Annual Conference rather than waiting for them to come to us. A whole day could be devoted to (continued from page one) Music Performance and Instruments, and Technology feminist topics and concerts with and Composition. papers investigating Susan McClary Presenting papers were George Belden, Charles Bestor, Marshall Bialosky, type subjects -- i.e., serious feminist Herbert Bielawa, William Brooks, George Burt, Arun Chandra, Jonathan criticisms of music, not just the reciting Chenette, Randolph Coleman, James Cris;vell, Thomas E. Fitch, Orlando Jacinto of the names of women composers and Garcia, David Gompper, Daniel Goode, Ulf Grahn, Michael Hamman, Richard a sentence or two about them. Conse Hervig, Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, Ting Ho, Donivan Johnson, Roger Johnson, quently, several attendees were asked Keith Rothman, Joseph Koykkar, Takeo Kudo, Cort Lippe, Alex Lubet, Erik Lund, to write proposals on these issues , and Frank Mouceri, Vincent McDermott, Emilio Mendoza, Stephen Miles, Ernest I'll share them with you when I receive Molner, Tony Myatt, Richard Orton, Tera de Marez Oyens, Ron Pellegrino, them. Ronald C. Perera, Zenobia Powell Perry, Brendon Renwick, Robert Rollin, Clark Ross, Marilyn Shrude, Jo Ann Sims, Donald Sloan, Anthony Scott Watson, SCI Newsletter Dolores White, John D. White, Todd Winkler, Yehuda Yannay and Larry Zbikowski. Ting Ho, Editor SCI extends congratulations to Edwin London and his staff for providing such Department of Music an excellent Festival, and to Howard Meeker, Chair of the Department of Music Montclair State for making the Festival possible.