Dear Friends at NC DENR: I have been following this issue for some years now. Obviously the Ukraine war has intensified the EEC’s efforts to obtain “clean” energy, a category of which unfortunately includes wood. Wood pellets provide an important source of employment through Enviva’s plant in Ahoskie, and we should be happy about that. read more
Category Archives: Uncategorized
David Froom (1951-2022)
July 7, 2022 – 8:47 pm
Beautiful post by Christopher Kendall in remembrance of David Froom. https://mailchi.mp/ab2deab82fb2/froom?e=1a424fad15
American Academy Arts and Letters Statement in Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine
March 10, 2022 – 3:59 pm
Statement in Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine
George Crumb 1929 – 2022
February 11, 2022 – 12:13 pm
Lorca wrote La muerte entra y sale de la taberna (“Death walks in and out of the tavern”), which George Crumb set in Madrigals, Book II. This has been a big year of loss among composers whose work influenced me. (I will write about Louis Andriessen, who died in the summer, soon.) George Crumb’s death is particularly read more
Bridge Records Releases “The Music of Stephen Jaffe, Vol. IV”
February 4, 2022 – 11:19 am
The link above will get patrons to a hard copy. The following link will get patrons to digital copies. https://bridgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-music-of-stephen-jaffe-vol-4
Trio for Viola, Clarinet and Piano
January 1, 2022 – 11:48 am
The 21st Century Consort, among my wonderful collaborators, will introduce TRIO, for viola, clarinet and piano (“aka “Washington Trio”) as part of the Consort’s series in Washington on Sunday, February 5, 2022 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. http://www.21stcenturyconsort.org/index.php/in_season#19670. The performers are Paul Cigan, clarinet, Daniel Foster, viola, and Lisa Emmenheiser-Sarratt, piano. The Trio was commissioned by read more
Pandemic Collaborators: String Quartet No. 3 (“A Tapestry”)-Ciompi Quartet, and Four Pieces Quasi Sonata–Electric Earth Concerts
September 3, 2021 – 4:50 pm
In nice video renditions, two beautiful performances of my chamber music were presented virtually during the pandemic year. The Ciompi Quartet revisited String Quartet No. 3 (“A Tapestry”), and Jonathan Bagg and Mimi Solomon, under the guise of New Hampshire’s Electric Earth Concerts, performed Four Pieces Quasi Sonata for viola and piano. I am very grateful these musicians read more
Urging My Colleagues to Tell Gov. Cooper to Veto HB 324
September 3, 2021 – 4:36 pm
Dear Governor Cooper: as an educator with more than 40 years experience teaching at Duke University, I am offended by HB 324, and I am writing to you to ask for your veto of this scornful and unwise legislation. The proponents of the bill say that it would protect students from being shamed. Nobody would read more
James Primosch (1956-2021)
April 28, 2021 – 10:28 am
Very sorry to hear of the loss of my friend and colleague, Jim Primosch. I am very saddened to hear of his death, and send condolences to his family and to musical colleagues, especially in the Philadelphia area. I am a mourner at his funeral, and an admirer. Cinder We needed fire to make the read more
Still Life With Blue: feature by the Durham Symphony’s Music Director
April 14, 2021 – 11:01 am
Some volunteers are charmed. In May 2012, I composed something of a volunteer. William Curry, the Durham Symphony’s conductor came in at the end of the month, just as I was playing it through, and said “I want that piece”. To make a long story short, in 2013, Still Life With Blue became the first movement of a three read more