Jennifer Higdon wins Grammy

As usual, the niche "classical" categories were not nationally televised in this year's Grammy Awards ceremonies. But as reported in NewMusicBox the next day, Jennifer Higdon's Percussion Concerto received the 2010 Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Jennifer spent the first 10 years of her life growing up in Atlanta, near Lenox Square, connected by family to the then-new Memorial Arts Center scene (now known as Woodruff Arts Center) in the heart of Midtown, long before the Haight-Ashbury-like 14th Street west of Peachtree gave way to shiny, antiseptic offices and skyscrapers. (Ask Jen about the big rubber Jesus sometime.)

Read the article about Jen's Grammy win in NewMusicBox: http://www.newmusicbox.org/article.nmbx?id=6258

Sonic Generator Concert with Michael Gordon

Georgia Tech’s chamber music ensemble-in-residence, Sonic Generator, will feature the music of resident composer Michael Gordon in a free performance on Monday, February 8th at 8 p.m. at the Rich Theatre at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Most readers of this blog already know Gordon's music through his association with Bang on a Can and his fascinating collaborations with filmmaker Bill Morrison. We're delighted to be bringing Michael down to Atlanta and to be sharing his music with you.

Full details on our web site: http://www.sonicgenerator.gatech.edu

Hope to see you there!

Cobb Symphony Premieres Works by Two Atlanta Composers

This Saturday (1/9) at 8pm the Cobb Symphony will premiere works by two Atlanta Composers, Jen Mitchell and Robert Cronin.

Inspired by the works of Brian Froud, "The Pond" by Jen Mitchell is a ballet loosely based on the Grimm's fairy tale, "The Nix in the Pond." This suite is extracted from Act II. In Act I, a maiden plays her flute in the forest and enchants a prince as he hunts. They immediately fall in love. Act II opens with the prince hunting alone in the forest. Having overheard the maidens tune, an evil water sprite plays the tune and lures the prince into her pond. The maiden is drawn to the pond with the help of forest fairies and sees the prince trapped under the water sprite's spell. She and the water sprite battle for the prince by playing their flutes, but the maiden breaks the prince from the water sprite's spell and they flee. In Act III, the maiden and the prince have a forest wedding and celebrate with the forest fairies. The evil water sprite asks for forgiveness and bestows gifts upon the newlyweds, and they all rejoice together.

Robert Cronin, flutist for the Atlanta Symphony, will have his work "Concerto for Flute and Orchestra" premiered as well. His wife, Christina Smith also flutist for the Atlanta Symphony, will be the soloist. The work is in two movements, and in Christina's own words is "very exciting and lyrical. Can't wait to play it!".

Seems like it will be a flutastic night!

Derek Sivers' 7 Critical Marketing Basics Every Musicians Should Know

A useful article from cyberprurban.com:

"Derek Sivers' 7 Critical Marketing Basics Every Musicians Should Know"

Derek Sivers is best known as the founder of CD Baby.

Twitter Accounts

What is your twitter account? Let's get a running list...

Michael C. Bell: CD Release Party

From composer/pianist Michael C. Bell:

Masterful storytelling told through piano and orchestra
Tender, emotional music, laced with beautiful melodies
A journey that can be experienced actively or passively by the listener
Sit back, close your eyes, or let yourself fall gently to sleep as you listen to this elegant collection of songs from newcomer Michael C. Bell

CD Release Party @ Starbucks - Sat. Nov. 14 from 7pm to 9pm
435 Peachtree Pkwy
Suite 400
Cumming GA 30041

www.michaelcbellmusic.com

400 - Exit 13
Across from the Avenue

I need a bassist

Hey, Darren Nelsen here. I need a bassist for my fusion ensemble, someone who can read standard notation and play in odd time sigs.

The style of music is like King Crimson, Electric Kompany, and Frank Zappa, among others.

My immediate need is for an upcoming Dec. 11th gig at Eddie's Attic. I plan to do 3-4 rehearsals before then.

Please let me know if you or someone you know is interested. I need someone *quick*! :)

Thanks!

"Irreplaceable Doodles" - Tuesday, Nov. 17

and other flights of musical fancy

an evening of meaningfully unaccompanied musical modernism

featuring the irrationally exuberant music of
Karl Henning

and the tastefully delicious world premiere of “Smorgasbord” by
Nicole Randall-Chamberlain

as performed by the composers themselves

Karl Henning, clarinet & Nicole Randall-Chamberlain, flute

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
within the acoustical accoutrements of
Emory Presbyterian Church
1886 North Decatur Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

$10 general admission / $5 students with I.D.
at the door
(sorry, we are unable to accept credit/debit cards)

for more information, click here (Facebook event page)
or e-mail concerts@luxnova.com
or (if you absolutely must) tel. 404-654-3918 (Google Voice number)

Local Composer Seeks Volunteer Singers (Eyedrum Art Gallery)

From Daniel Clay:

Hello,

I am a composer and performance artist living and working in the Atlanta area.

I am seeking volunteer singers to perform with my vocal ensemble on Saturday November 14 at the Eyedrum Art and Music Gallery in Atlanta. The performance will be one of many at Eyedrum's First Annual Earball, a day-long festival of music and sound-based artworks and performances.

The compositions to be performed are, simply put, rounds for any large group of singers (of any ability, range, age, gender, etc. much like a church congregation) to perform. More specifically, the pieces are composed to explicitly demonstrate the physical and spatial aspect of group singing. Singers will be divided into groups and strategically placed around the gallery. When the pieces are performed audience and performers alike will experience the music "moving" throughout the gallery space.

I will be teaching the pieces to the ensemble shortly before the performance. In order to successfully perform the pieces I need as many voices as possible to participate. If you are interested in performing with my ensemble please contact me for more information.

The following is a schedule for the performance:

Saturday November 14 - Eyedrum Gallery

1:00 pm - Performers arrive at Eyedrum Gallery

1:30 - 2:30 - instruction and practice singing of the music

2:30 - 4:00 - break to observe other performances, grab a bite, etc.

4:00 - 5:00 perform!

Please contact me if you have any questions about my work or the event. This is an opportunity not only to perform new works by a local composer but to support and contribute to the richness and variety of Atlanta's art and music scene. Additionally, by participating you will be supporting Eyedrum Gallery, a bastion of underground and experimental art in Atlanta for more than a decade now. Eyedrum recently narrowly escaped closing its doors due to financial hardship.

Hope to hear from you, many thanks

Daniel Clay
daniel AT danielclaymusic DOT com
danielclaymusic.com

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/muc/1451148438.html