|
|
Concertmusic Bio |
"...Kaufman is among the most deeply, strikingly talented composers we have ever encountered, anywhere. He is a 'natural' composer, born to it, and his music pours out passionately and more or less continuously. A true composer, someone sure to contribute significantly to this country's musical culture." Steven Stucky - Pulitzer Prize Winner 2005.. "... decisively gifted with a unique and individual voice. His self motivation is complete... he has assembled an astonishing catalogue of characteristic works all bristling with force, energy, as well as tender expressiveness." Yehudi Wyner - Pulitzer Prize Winner 2006 "Christopher Kaufman is one of the most talented composers I have ever taught... he is an exceptional talent in every way... he produces music at an almost alarming rate and most of it is awesomely good.." Donald Erb - former composer-in-residence, St. Louis and Dallas Symphonies, Prof. at Cleveland Institute of Music and others. “... a remarkable talent... in the highest category...” Karel Husa - Pulitzer Prize Winner 1969 "Kaufman is one of the most talented young composers - in the top 5 - I have encountered in over 25 years of college teaching!" Sydney Hodkinson - Prof. of Composition Emeritus, Eastman. "... such musical talent as cannot be questioned!" Bernard Rands - Pulitzer Prize Winning composer and Prof.essor at many distinguished institutions worldwide.
|
|
|
|
||
|
CONCERT MUSIC PLAYER
|
||
|
Listen to RADIO SHOW:
|
|
| *Press Highlighted Titles to read more about Works: SELECTED COMMISSIONS: For Ensemble/Soloist and
CDTape of Natural, Orchestral and Electronic Sounds and Projection of
Visual Images. ISLAND
('Eeslahnd') - for orchestra and narrator, with poet Bill Holm and using
14 Icelandic Poems - by Daniel Rieppel, Marshall University, MN. PICKLES AND THE JUNKMAN'S DAUGHTER - music theater/opera, with writer/director Dominick Rossetti - 2 performances at the United Nations and Film MOMENTA - for solo piano - Daniel Rieppel SIGNS OF HEAVEN - for soprano,
organ and cello CANTO - for cello and piano - by the Presbyterian Church of Rome, NY MADRIGAL IN SPRING - for piano trio the Ithaca Piano Trio YOUNG MUSICIANS CYCLE -
for cello ensemble and cello soloist INITIATIONS - for wind ensemble - by Mark Scatterday, Cornell Wind Ensemble INTRO, THEME AND VARIATION - U. of San Juan in Puerto Rico SYMPHONIC WAVES - for wind
ens. |
||
| SELECTED WORKS FOR INDIVIDUALS: MUSIC
FROM EARTH - for alto saxophone soloist, eastern/western orchestra,
electronic and natural sounds About MUSIC FROM EARTH the composer writes: ..."Music From Earth represents a new evolution in my work in terms of how music is put together and presented. I came to computers recently and now am enjoying working with film artists and for those projects modern technology is paramount. It was with great pleasure that I discovered the possibilities for the combination of live and electronic music. I use my western orchestral sounds and electronic instruments in original ways born of my long experience with live music and orchestral composition. Add to these the eastern orchestra, electronic instruments and natural sounds and you have a very fulfilling orchestral ‘universe’. ...The resultant sound world and presentation is unique and versatile, infinitely diverse and able to monumentalize inspiration and compositional planning like nothing else I have ever before been able achieve. MUSIC FROM EARTH is often presented with lighting and visual projections of natural images - sometimes up close to seem as abstract images, sometimes of recognizable creatures or forms..." RUNNINGMUSIC - for three trombones - for Haim Avitsur MUSIC FOR SAXOPHONE - for Rita Lutz RIEPPELMUSIC - for piano and chamber orchestra - for Daniel Rieppel SHADES OF SOPHOCLES - for solo violin - Sophie Arbuckle SONA #1 - for tuba and piano - for David Unland VIBRANCY - for flute and tuba - Laura Campbell and David Unland MOVEMENTS FOR CELLO - for Anne Grabe FIBRAS DE LA OSCURIDAD Y LUCE
SOLLOSANTE WAKEN - concerto for viola
and piano/viola duo version, CHARACTERMUSIC - for viola and piano, SOLO
VARIATIONS FOR VIOLA and MUSIC FOR VIOLA, STRINGS, PIANO AND PERCUSSION EXPANSE - for solo guitar
and CUP OF FIRE - concerto for guitar |
||
| OTHER
SIGNIFICANT WORKS: THE PHOENIX - full chamber ballet, VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER - full music theater production, THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY - for orchestra and electronics, BRASS QUINTET, TALES OF THE OCEAN CITY SUITE - orchestra and electronics, the 'young ulysses' series of orchestral works 'THE GARDENS OF LEMURIA, MYTHAGOS and ULYSSES AND THE SIRENS, CHIRON - chamber symphony, SPIRIT - for chamber orchestra,...AT THE GATES... - nine trombones, DIALOGUE OF STRUCTURES - for organ and trumpet, POEM CYCLE #3 - for soprano and piano, NOCTURNAL PHANTASY - for clarinet and piano, RING OF FIRE - for orchestra, MERCURY'S SHADOW - violin duo, IN MEMORIAM:WENDY MARANISS - solo piano, the music from 16 SHORTS, HERMANNESQUE and other film inspired music (refer film bio). |
||
| AWARDS AND SUPPORT: M.J.F. Fund, The Saltonstall
Foundation, CAP Individual Artists Award, UCC Council on the Arts, Sage
Fellowship, SOS, Community Arts Partnership Grants, Meet the Composer
Grants, Featured Artist Obama Music, Arts and Entertainment, private donations. |
||
E
D U C AT I O N Cornell University - DMA • Ithaca College - MMA • The Cleveland Institute of Music - BMA • New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts - High School Principal teachers - Pulitzer Prize Winners Karel Husa and Steven Stucky and Donald Erb, Eugene O’Brien, Sydney Hodkinson, Bert Braud. |
||
| SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCES AND OTHER EVENTS: My music was featured at/by the UNITED NATIONS, ACA FESTIVAL OF AMERICAN MUSIC, the INTERNATIONALES MUSIKINSTITUT IN DARMSTADT, JUNE IN BUFFALO, the AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA readings, the ITHACA FESTIVAL, the NORTHEASTERN COMPOSERS CONFERENCE, the CHARLES IVES CENTER FOR AMERICAN MUSIC, ENCORE SUMMER MUSIC and EASTMAN'S MUSICA NOVA. As FOUNDER/DIRECTOR of CHIRON PERFORMING ARTS for 14 years presented the work of hundreds of artists of all disciplines. CHIRON's schedule featured an annual festival of the arts and a series of chamber concerts. For a number of years we performed annually at the WBFO OPUS:Live Radio series in Buffalo, NY. DEMETRIUS SPANEAS toured the Balkans, Russia and Europe with MUSIC FROM EARTH as a featured work. I attended the MACDOWELL ARTS COLONY five times. BRASS QUINTET was performed by BOMBASTIQ BRASS, WESTWIND BRASS and QUINTUS BRASSUS. MERCURY'S SHADOW - was performed by violinists Monica Bauchwitz and William Hakim - CONCERTS IN THE HEIGHTS. With violist George Rosenbaum formed 'The Rosenbaum/Kaufman Duo' and performed all over the United States - with a signature performance at the University of San Juan in Puerto Rico with composer/guitarist Javier De La Torre. CARSON P. COOMAN performed DIALOGUE OF STRUCTURES at Harvard University. Pianist JON LIECHTY performed my piano music in New York and Maine. Conducted my orchestral music with the Long Beach Symphony. |
||
| MU
LT I -ME D I A P R E S E N TAT I O N
|
||