Basically Modern

BMD featured on CD of 'Donald09' Opera by Danielsen

2010-11-21T14:01:00.005-05:00

In 2008-2009 we collaborated with Danish composer Morten Skovgaard Danielsen on several works. Several of the pieces are included in his posthumously released opera Donalds09.

We are featured throughout Act 2. Track 8 'Conversations' is a dialogue between Paris Hilton (Allan) and Che Guevara (Kristen). 'This Year I'm A Stray Black Cat' features Allan on processed Double Bass and Kristen on Piano.

Morten had a unique approach to notation. The score often used the 16th note as the beat so the the score was full of 64th notes making the score very complex. Allan remembers asking Kristen and Morten to take a walk while recording the complicated solo bass part.

Morten was a nocturnal creature who would stay up all night composing and then sleeping through the day. We would return home late at night and then rehearse with him during his residencies with us.

Donald09 can be purchased and listened to via Dacapo Records. The opera was positively reviewed by Gapplegate in November 2010.

BMD Contribute to British Drama: 'The Glue'

2010-11-15T11:08:00.004-05:00

We have just agreed to contribute music to forthcoming British drama 'The Glue'.

The Glue series is a new drama series set in North and East London. Written and directed by Ibi Vaughan. The series explores the lives and bonds between ten strangers from completely different worlds who are brought together in ways that they could never have imagined. Throughout April 2010 we filmed nine introduction stories that will establish the nine individuals who will become members of The Glue. Each introduction story/episode will be released online in the Autumn of 2010. The first series of The Glue will be aired in 2011.

Along with original music we also partnered with Turkmen/Russian composer Maral Yakshieva.

Review: Mark Greenfest - New Music Connossieur

2009-02-02T15:20:00.003-05:00

Slants of Light...New Chamber Music by Debra Kaye
Mannes Concert Hall, New York, NY
Saturday, January 31, 2009, at 8pm
by Mark Greenfest

"A Due (2008), for the Basso Moderno Duo; Allan Von Schenkel, double bass, and Kristen Williams, piano. Written in Taos, this piece has a lovely bucholic sound, lively and intelligent, emotionally expressive and sonically impressionistic, in which sound worlds of double bass and piano overlap and contrast. This is a meditative, lyrical, impassioned partnership. These younger performers are most impressive musicians".

Basso Moderno Duo Holiday Concert

2008-12-28T00:03:00.004-05:00

The Basso Moderno Duo gave their Annual Holiday Concert with special guests The Capitol Pride Singers and Native American musicians Eric Marczak and Dawn Standing Woman at the WAMC 'The Linda' in Albany, NY.

The concert began with a one hour Basso Moderno Duo Recital which featured composers from all over the world including the US Premiere of YOU by Radiohead/O'Riley/BMD. In attendance at the concert was famed composer Pauline Oliveros for whom BMD commissioned 'Blue Heron' in 2007.

BMD were joined on stage by Native American flute player Eric Marczak and storyteller Dawn Standing Woman. The collaboration aims to bring audiences in contact with contemporary Native American artists. This was the second opportunity that BMD has had to work with these fantastic performers and it was a very memorable experience. Eric is also a talented instrument maker and co-owner of Mohawk Valley Guitars.

The Finale of the concert came with the performance of the Capitol Pride Singers who presented a joyful holiday program. The lighthearted music touched on all celebrations of the season including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. The music was fun they brought about an exciting finale.

The Basso Moderno Duo would like to thank Graeme McKenna and Staff for the opportunity to performe once again at WAMC 'The Linda'.

Basso Moderno Duo in Romania

2008-12-16T11:28:00.002-05:00

BMD at the George Enescu Museum in Bucharest, Romania

The Basso Moderno Duo recently returned from giving two concerts in Romania. BMD made their Bucharest debut at the famed George Enescu Museum as part of the Meridian Contemporary Music Festival. Several leading composers were present at the concert including Liana Alexandra, Fred Popovici, Ulpiu Vlad amongst others. The program featured mostly new works composed in 2007-2008 as well as other works commissioned by the Basso Moderno Duo. Watch a clip of the performance HERE.

BMD returned for their second recital in the once capital of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, performing at the Music Academy alongside composer Iulia Cibicescu-Duran and her notable husband Eugen Cibicescu-Duran, a well known violinist/violist. Afterwards, Eugen demonstrated Romanian fiddle styles by playing music from various regions. BMD discussed future collaborations with Iulia including the composer’s possible first US visit. In addition to the concert, BMD met with composer Ionica Pop and reviewed a recently composed sacred work.

Basso Moderno Duo Interviews Morten Skovgaard Danielsen

2008-11-30T21:09:00.006-05:00

Morten Skovgaard Danielsen, 1967, Denmark, holds a diploma in composition from the Royal Academy of Music, Copenhagen. In 1999, Danielsen achieved the nomination and final selection as a official Danish Composer for three years, thus earning him financial independence and several Composer in Residencies all over Europe.

In 2001, Danielsen was awarded the Haakon Boerresen Prize for “outstanding efforts in the field of contemporary composition”. Alongside other grants, he has successfully headlined international Festivals, given a huge number of interviews on television, radio and in Magazines. In 2002, he announced his 'exit' as a composer and took up writing. His poems have been published in a number of Underground Text-books. In 2004, Danielsen returned to composition. He is currently a constant traveler, receiving commissions from all over the world. After the release of his debut album ROADMOVIE ACCESSORIES 2000/01, he was baptized both 'The enfant terrible' and ' Emblematic for a whole generation' by the press.

BMD: Could you begin by telling us about your current project?

MSD: I am composing an opera which is built up by commissions from ensembles in Europe and the USA. The main goal of this work is an attempt to build a musical symbiosis between Baroque Music and Punk Rock, especially the Grunge movement. I am a huge fan of slap sticks and spent time learning about “Mickey Mouse” techniques as well as my passion of “fairytale-like” or “Magic-Music” is installed in my music. This allows for very sudden change of mood and style such as slap sticks. A lot of cameos are entering the libretto, amongst them Francesco Petrarcha, the Montgolfier Brothers, Che Guevara and Paris Hilton.

BMD: Please tell us about your early works and the various periods you went through.

MSD: I began composing and gave my first concert at age five while attending the Musical Kindergarden in Odense, Denmark. During my time at the academy, I studied every kind of modern composition techniques and I studied hard. I went through three periods of creating music including the “Academic Style”, which offered my knowledge of musical composition mixed up with a manic flirtation with all kinds of Renaissance and Baroque era styles. I easily wasted weeks on writing Palestrina or Bach style movements, especially the fugue. It made me two faced in that by day I would investigate d minor conflicts and at night I was a regular head banger, introducing recordings of early Grunge. The Academy did not approve and considered me a mess.

At age 28, I realized, that the “perfect” piece can never be written. I revised the same piano piece (INSTALLATION, piano solo/electronics, 1994) eleven times in a row. All I learned, was that the “Masterpiece” is outgunned in terms of “over-individualism”. I am not pointing out, that “serious” music - as some people call it to somehow draw a line between music for the classic concert hall and whatever appears to be “not serious”. I am certainly no fan of “work in progress”. Attempting to finish other commissions in this period also failed. I got to a point of “positive depression”. Each OPUS became impossible. Indulging in a high speed life style, I began to provoke without any intension of being provocative at all while just being plain honest about my opinions and attitude. At age 32, I trashed all my home made “systems”, writing the piece TripInVainwithStarsbutSUGARfeelOkay in one single afternoon during a severe hangover in South Italy. In Paris, during the fall of 2000, I gave up any attempt of writing what I felt would at least somehow resemble a “finished” piece, re-writing D-TOX for violin solo (originally written in Rome 1999 for a small ensemble). My perfectionism was at last installed in the tempo in which I from then on enjoyed to compose. My Dogma opera was composed in 21 hours, in which I was locked up in a hotel rom. I wrote both the libretto and the music, using note sheets marked by the Danish Radio Broadcast Company. It began as a show off and ended up performed 12 times in a row during 2005.

BMD: What aspects of your earlier works is still present in your work today?

MSD: Farthest from your mind is the thought of falling back. In fact, it isn´t here at all, so you dig your hole carefully and you wait.

BMD: Who is influencing you now?

MSD: People! People like the Basso Moderno Duo. Contradictions! I love contradictions as much as I hate boarders between nations. I look upon every single life as a type of installation. Existence is art in itself and every second is a performance. Someone once said: “A sculpture is something you stumble upon in a museum, moving backwards to get a better glance of a painting.” That is my point. I constantly “stumble” over people and I install them in my memory as sculptures. Modigliani saw people the same way. That would explain his obsession with portraits, eyes without pupils, and open spaces of never-seen landscapes. Every individual is a piece of art and vice-versa, which puts the definition of “art for art’s stake” as well as being mere existence. All of that influences me.

BMD: Is your music in a single style or do your compositions differ from work to work?

MSD: I tend to write very energetic music with lots of grace notes. This has been my style over the past thirteen years. Both the music of Bach and Cobain was equally important to me. It was my goal to create a symbiosis between baroque music and Punk-Rock. I am a mixture of Stockhausen, Cobain, myself and hard core punk.

BMD: From the interviewers’ perspective, your music challenges the traditional classical music listener. Which one of your pieces/projects do you feel pushes your own boundaries?

MSD: That would be the CD project SHOTGUN DIARY (2001-02) and my first opera ABSENSE.

BMD: Do you prefer to compose music that will ultimately be performed live or music which is meant solely for recording?

MSD: Both. Live performances are still limited to festivals, concert halls, underground scenes, or whatever. The recording is much more powerful. It is the way people absorb art these days.

Basso Moderno Duo Mentioned in Chamber Music ‘Rorem at 85’

2008-11-05T11:17:00.006-05:00

The Basso Moderno Duo would like to thank Ned Rorem and Frank J. Oteri for mentioning us in the recent Chamber Music cover story ‘Rorem at 85’. Chamber Music is a journal published by Chamber Music America.

“At the other extreme of the string resister is Nocturne, for double bass and piano (2007), a three-minute work in which the bassist plays a soaring melody from its lowest to highest registers, as the pianist maintains a steady flow of eighth notes.

Nocturne was premiered last year at the Smithsonian by the Basso Moderno Duo”.

December 2008 by Frank J. Oteri

Sonia Megias Lopez interview with BMD

2008-10-21T10:39:00.008-04:00

Sonia Megias Lopez recently completed a residency at the Basically Modern Arts Sanctuary where she composed ‘White Doll’ for the Basso Moderno Duo. During her stay here she was interviewed by Kristen Williams.

Tell me about the work you completed at the Basically Modern Arts Sanctuary.

I just completed a new work for the Basso Moderno Duo. The work's title, "White Doll" comes from a very beautiful choral habanera, "Black Doll". I've sung this habanera with the "Entredós" choir in Madrid. The work is an intimate wink to my friend Patricia, a woman whose presence has encouraged and helped me a lot. "White Doll" is organized in more of a process than a structure. This process begins with unpitched (non-harmonic) sounds, continues with pitched (harmonic) notes in central section, and returns to unpitched sounds to finish the work. Theatrically, this process is represented by a white cloth doll's actions: she starts sleeping (inside the piano, over highest strings, then stopping their sound), wakes up (noise lightly becomes sound), goes out from her bed and remains out for a while (beautiful melodies and harmonies) to finish returning to her bed (unpitched sounds). This work has been easy to write for Basso Moderno Duo because they are always opened to theatricality and high beautiful melodies in the double bass, both qualities not easy to find in a music group.

What inspires you?

My inspiration in fact comes from a lot of things and feelings. Inspiration depends each time on what I have around me. In some of my works I focus my whole attention on the commission characteristics: what kind of music are the performers used to playing (what are their limits). Where is the piece going to be performed (acoustic, room), how long does the work need to be, what kind of audience ... etc. In some other works I feel really free and I ask myself: "what do I need to hear?" What do I need to feel from a stage?” I leave my mind work from my deepest feelings and my childhood. In some works, I combine both aspects: commission + myself.

How do you get your ideas?

My ideas depend on what mood I have. When I am inspired and full of energy, ideas come in a very fluid manner. My friend Joaquín Martínez Oña, a magnificent music teacher, posed to me the possibility that composers are simply mediums that sends the ideas to us as a superior being. He continues by saying that our mission in life is to give the ideas a development and shape and then to transmitting them to the listener.

What guides your work?

My work is guided by creative impulses. As a good Gemini, one of my two personalities is impulsive, obstinate and very demanding. It is concerned with "pulling the wagon" in my projects. What gives shape to those starting ideas are reflected in the kind of performers and audience that I imagine the work will have in most of its performances and specifically the premiere.

What do you hope for the future?

Who knows! Life brings so many choices. I would like to continue composing and teaching, and I'd also like to live in contact with the nature.

You love to travel, where will you go next?

At the moment, I'm returning to Spain in order to rehears my next premiere and to see my family and friends whom I miss a lot.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Julie Mandel composes ‘Solitude In The City’ for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-08-07T13:22:00.004-04:00

Julie Mandel has just composed ‘Solitude In The City’ for the Basso Moderno Duo to be part of our New York Women Composers program. Mandel was a student of Ernst Krenek and is an active composer of musical theater and chamber music.

“My intention was to write music that would make good use of both instruments, piano and bass, giving each a part that best utilized their abilities. The unusual high range of the solo bass was particularly interesting, offering opportunities not usually associated with the bass.

In writing ‘Solitude In The City’ I thought of the piano, with its ability to play chords of several notes and colors and provide almost continual movement, as representing the City; while the bass is set alone against that busy background to experience loneliness in the midst of a crowd, perhaps lost in the anonymity of the city”.

Basso Moderno Duo Wins Montpelier Concert Series Competition

2008-07-29T16:40:00.002-04:00

The Basso Moderno Duo was selected as the winner of the Montpelier Concert Series Competition. In addition to an honorarium, they will be giving a recital on October 11, 2009. The concert will featured newly composed works written especially for the Basso Moderno Duo by member composers of the New York Women Composers, Inc.

Lawrence Kramer composes 'At the Crossroads' for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-07-25T22:30:00.005-04:00

USA composer Lawrence Kramer has just completed 'At the Crossroads' for the Basso Moderno Duo. Kramer is a professor at Fordham University, co-editor of the journal 19th-Century Music and has authored many books on music including: Why Classical Music Still Matters (2007).

Of the work Kramer writes:
"The crossroads is the traditional site for fateful encounters and fateful decisions, from the Oedipus of Sophocles to the speaker of Robert Frost’s 'The Road Not Taken.' My piece 'At the Crossroads' seeks to evoke the drama of the crossroads in compressed musical form. (What happens at the crossroads happens quickly.) The music begins with the double bass and piano in very different frames of mind, but the two instruments gradually unite, part again, and reconcile—a process made possible here by the expanded expressive range of the double bass in high solo tuning".

The premiere will take place on October 22, 2008 at Fordham University.

Basso Moderno Duo Awarded New York Women Composers Seed Money Grant

2008-07-23T21:58:00.004-04:00

The Basso Moderno Duo was granted the 2008 New York Women Composers Seed Money Grant.

The purpose of this grant is to bring attention to composer members of the NYWC and the BMD plans to do so through a series of concerts, a radio broadcast, and recordings. To learn more about the NYWC visit: www.newyorkwomencomposers.org

Maral Yakshieva Residency at Basically Modern Arts Sanctuary

2008-07-11T16:52:00.003-04:00

Maral Yakshieva of Turkmenistan and Russia has joined us at the Basically Modern Arts Sanctuary to compose a new work for the Basso Moderno Duo. The Duo will share the stage with the composer and pianist on Sunday July 13 at the WAMC Performing Arts Center 'The Linda' in Albany, NY at 4:00.

Marie Incontrera composes 'Liszten' for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-07-06T17:14:00.004-04:00

Marie Incontrera recently composed a new work for the Basso Moderno Duo entitled ‘Liszten’. This work will be included within a larger program the duo are organizing which focuses on members of the New York Women Composers, inc.

Of the new work, the composer says “Liszten was inspired by a fusion of the intricacies of dance, classical techniques and rhythmic rock. My intention in writing this piece was to have the subtleties of each style interact the way dancers or musicians interact with each other and with their audience in each of the aforementioned artistic media”.

To learn more about Marie Incontrera and her music please visit her website www.lamentbassmusic.com

Mikhail Kokzhayev Residency at Basically Modern Arts Sanctuary

2008-06-26T14:54:00.003-04:00

The Basically Modern Arts Sanctuary opened its doors to famed Armenian composer Mikhail Kokzhayev in June. The Basso Moderno Duo hosted Kokzhayev for his first visit to the USA. During his stay he composed two pieces for the Basso Moderno Duo including ‘Birds and Bell’ and ‘Unrepeatable in Repetition’. In addition to time spent composing, Kokzhayev accompanied us to our recital in Washington DC at the Harman Center for the Arts and a day trip to Woodstock, NY.

Frank Corcoran composes ‘Quasi Una Perla’ for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-06-24T22:31:00.004-04:00

Irish composer Frank Corcoran has just completed a short duet for bass and piano. The new work ‘Quasi Una Perla’ is the second work he has written for Allan Von Schenkel and Kristen Williams, with the first being a two movement piece for unaccompanied bass entitled ‘Quasi Un Basso’. ‘Quasi Una Perla’ gives the duo the opportunity to share Corcoran’s music with a wider audience and to bring attention to this talented composer.

Of the new work Corcoran says “Since my cycle of ‘Mad Sweeney’ - inspired works of the nineties, (beginning with ‘Suibhne Gealt / Mad Sweeney’ for Speaker and Chamber Orchestra, text from the Old Irish by Séamus Heaney) I have composed a whole series of " Quasi" works. I as a composer at this place in time I am no longer musically innocent - I know too much world-music and composed music of the past; so I´ve written ‘Quasi Un Concerto’, ‘Quasi Una Missa’ or ‘Quasi Un Preludio’ and so on - I am filtering musical forms of the past and of my past. This miniature piece for the higher tuned bass and piano of Basso Moderno is a mini-novel, a mini short-story for the new colouristic and expressive possibilities of this unique instrumental combination. Everything flows, however, - as in so many composing masters of the past- from the opening little idea, a simple re-iterated open fifth for the piano and its loud bisection by the bass. In the space of less than three minutes my piece opens up a kaleidoscope of tonal thought and play with this idea. The miniature becomes a pearl of great price - Quasi Una Perla".

The Basso Moderno Duo plan to premiere ‘Quasi Una Perla’ at the Meridian Festival in Bucharest, Romania in December 2008.

Basso Moderno Duo Interview on Pens Eye View

2008-06-12T14:45:00.004-04:00

The Basso Moderno Duo have been interviewed on Pens Eye View.

Read the Interview Here!

Mary Ann Joyce-Walter composes ‘Scherzatina’ for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-05-24T16:38:00.004-04:00

At the request of Basso Moderno, Mary Ann Joyce-Walter has just presented us with a new piece entitled ‘Scherzatina’. When asked to comment on the work she says: “I wanted to compose a short piece that would be, first and foremost, a dialogue between solo bass and piano. I tried to work out this interplay between the two instruments through melodic fragments (based mainly on minor 2nds) that could, through quick twists and turns, expand and be transformed through textural changes in electrically-charged rhythms in the various registers of both instruments.”

Mary Ann Joyce-Walter was born in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and received her M.A. and Ph.D. in theory and composition from Washington University, St. Louis, after which she moved to the New York City area where she has remained. She is an active composer and a Professor of Music at Manhattanville College. Her works have been performed at international festivals throughout Europe and Russia as well as many parts of the United States.

Semih Korucu composes ‘Emphaty 4’ for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-05-06T14:42:00.004-04:00

Turkish composer Semih Korucu has just completed his new work ‘Empathy 4’ for the Basso Moderno Duo. It is the forth part of a series entitled ‘Emphaty’, with each work being for a different duo combination. Korucu says of the work “This piece is established on one chord and mode – C major triad and the mode B#,C#,D#,E,F#,G,A,Bb (minor 2^nd followed by a major 2^nd or mMmMmMm), which was Messian’s favorite. In this piece, we hear two melodic lines trying to emphasize around one mode. In this context, empathy is something to reach by deep listening, dialog and emotional bond”.

Semih Korucu (b.1965) studied at MSU Fine Arts University in Istanbul with Usmanbas, Firat, Tarcan and Bayraktar. Korucu is currently the coordinator of the Composition Department at the Conservatory of Mersin University in Turkey where he teaches composition, fugue, harmony, score reading and analysis.

Basso Moderno Duo at United Nations

2008-04-25T16:52:00.005-04:00

The Basso Moderno presented a program of recently composed works at the United Nations in New York City alongside the Izabel Gozkowsky Dance Company at the ‘Women in Crises’ Conference.

The performance took place in the Dam Hammarskjold Auditorium with a very nice Steinway Grand, which has the United Nations seal carved on the side.

Izabel Gotzkowsky choreographed a dance solo for herself to ‘Nocturne’ by Ned Rorem, a work we commissioned in 2007 and premiered at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Program
Larry Bell - Pop Set
Sonia Megias Lopez - Tango No. 2
Felix Yanov-Yanovsky - Dialogue
Liana Alexandra - Melody
Betty Beath - From a Lake of Honey
Ned Rorem - Nocturne

Ulpiu Vlad composes 'DIN SUNETELE PRIVIRII I' for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-03-30T07:48:00.009-04:00

Romanian composer Ulpiu Vlad has just completed a new work for the Basso Moderno Duo entitled 'DIN SUNETELE PRIVIRII I' or 'From the Sounds of Sight I' for solo bass.

Vlad makes use of a variety of unique appoggiatura's, virtuosic improvisation and complex rhythmic motives. The score could be described as having highly detailed dynamics and phrase markings. The long phrases are placed in the extreme upper register of the instrument.

Ulpiu Vlad (b. 27 Jan 1945) is one of the leading composers in the active Romanian new music community. He is a professor at the National University of Music in Bucharest and has received many prizes for his unique musical voice. Many of his works have titles related to dreaming.

Basso Moderno in Bulgaria & Romania

2008-03-28T19:18:00.009-04:00

The Basso Moderno Duo has just returned from giving a series of recitals in Bulgaria and Romania.

Lyubomir Denev, composer, hosted us for one week as we gave three recitals throughout Bulgaria. Each concert was performed alongside a solo recital by Denev and our program included Denev's 'Funky Talking', which was composed especially for the Basso Moderno Duo. The first concert was at the Czech Cultural Center in Sofia on March 19. Hosted by the US Embassy in Bulgaria and the New Symphoy Orchestra, the standing room only concert was a great success. On March 20, we attended the double bass class of Petya Bagovska, the talented teacher at State Academy of Music in Sofia. After attending a recital conducted by Sir Neville Marriner we gave our recital at the March Music Days Festival in Rousse on March 22. Our program was positively reviewed in Bulgarian newspaper KULTURA by Ekaterina Docheva saying "The Basso Moderno Duo, from USA, presented the newest music - the works were created during the last two years. They are phenomenon, quite interesting, shocking the traditional taste and make up for a deficiency in the Festival." Our final Bulgarian performance took place as the opening event of the Springfest Festival at the American University in Blagoevgrad on March 23. The recital was mentioned in VERVE Magazine.

Iulia Cibisescu-Duran, composer, hosted our trip to Cluj, Romania. We gave a recital at the Music Academy which included also include performances of Cibisescu's 'Piece for Basso Moderno' and 'Melody' by Liana Alexandra.

Basso Moderno Review: KULTURA

2008-03-28T18:29:00.007-04:00

The following review was published in KULTURA, a leading Bulgrian newspaper in Rousse, of the recital at the March Music Days Festival:

"The Basso Moderno Duo, from USA, presented the newest music - the works were created during the last two years. They are a phenomenon, quite interesting, shocking the traditional taste and make up for a deficiency in the Festival."
- Ekaterina Docheva
26 March, 2008

Read the Full Review HERE

Basso Moderno Duo Recital at Women Composers Festival in Hartford, CT

2008-03-06T16:45:00.008-05:00

The Basso Moderno Duo will perform the works of 11 contemporary women composers, including 7 premieres, at a recital on March 7, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, CT at the 8th Annual Women Composers Festival of Hartford!

THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN !!

Program

Sonia Megias Lopez (Spain) 'Tango n.2'
Pauline Oliveros 'Blue Heron'
Yoko Ono-Lennon 'Secret Piece II'
Emma Lou Diemer 'Old Movie'

Seven Premieres

Iulia Cibisescu (Romania) 'Piece for Basso Moderno'
Alla Penkina (Russia) 'Illustrations'
Betty Beath (Australia) 'From the Lake of Honey'
Elinor Armer (USA) 'Minotaur'
Emanuela Ballio (Italy) 'Tilia Tormentosa'
Ruth Schonthal (Germany) 'Moth Variation'
Liana Alexandra (Romania) 'Melody'

Composition:Today! An Interview with Basso Moderno Duo

2008-02-29T19:48:00.007-05:00

The Basso Moderno Duo has been featured in Composition:Today! An interview took place with composer David Bruce in February of 2008 and appeared in the British online Journal.

Composition:Today was created with the intension of bringing together the widest possible range of resources for Composers and anyone interested in New Music.

Read it HERE

Scott Brickman composes ‘Danzon Moderno’ for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-02-27T19:38:00.006-05:00

Dr. Scott Brickman is a full professor at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. His acoustic and electronic music has been performed throughout the USA as well as Canada, South America, Europe and the Middle East. Recordings of his works appear on the New Ariel, Capstone, Seamus and ERM labels. Dr. Brickman composed ‘Danzon Moderno’ especially for the Basso Moderno Duo.

“Danzon Moderno is based on a 12 tone row whose first six pitches are a subset of the octatonic scale. While the melodic and motivic pitch material is modern, other elements are traditional. The form is akin to early bebop music, where a doubled line is played at the beginning and the end of the piece. Solo sections for piano and bass are derived from motivic fragmentation of the row, and are framed by duet sections which elicit a call and response effect”. Scott Brickman, Feb. 2008

Octavian Nemescu, Romania, composes ‘AM UAT’ for Basso Moderno Duo

2008-02-26T00:09:00.005-05:00

Octavian Nemescu is one of the most important figures in Romanian contemporary music. Nemescu has received many awards including the Aaron Copland Prize, six prizes from the Romanian Composers Union and two prizes from the Concours International de Musicque Elecroacoustique de Bourges. His lifelong creative activities have led the exploration of avant-garde thought, approaches and compositional techniques. AM UAT manifests a variety of original musical practices which reflect this composer’s unique research.

"AM UAT is a music with a slow development, an a d a g i o. It must be played piano-pianissimo so to offer the pianist and the soprano the possibility to ascenddescends the STAIRCASE, falling down in forte towards an accelerated time, gradually condenced, the further a s c e n s i o n s become more and more difficult, being defiled by foreign musics which tend to change direction. But the target from the top of the STAICASE is finally reached by bright sounds of c r o t a l s peacefully to a STAIRCASE. Every ASCENSION is unique, non-recuring. When the bass and the increasing SILENCE. AM UAT is the title of the Egyptian Book of the Dead without a missing letter". Octavian Nemescu, February 2008

Iulia Cibisescu writes 'Piece for Basso Moderno'

2008-02-10T16:32:00.001-05:00

'Piece for Basso Moderno' is based on a modal cantilena in the bass, which is superposed with energetic writing in the piano part. The piece is composed of 3 sections which alternated a lyric and passionate language with a concrete rhythmic structure, which is developed in a climax, along with the dream-like language found in the harmonic system of the bass” - Iulia Cibisescu-Duran

Romanian composer Iulia Cibisescu-Duran composed ‘Piece for Basso Moderno’ in February 2008.

Dr. Cibisescu-Duran is a Romanian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world. Previous to teaching at the Gheorgehe Dima Academy of Music in Cluj-Napoca, she studied with Emil Simon, Petre Sbarcea and received her DMus in Musicology in 2001. Among her many honors are first prizes from the Gheorghe Dima National Competition, Lasi National Competition, Romanian TV Prize and others. In 2007, she received the Union Composers Prize. As a writer, she has published many articles and the book Plymorphic Structures in Postmodern Romanian Music (2002). She founded the contemporary music ensemble Art Contrast in Cluj-Napoca and is a member of the Composers Union of Romania and the Professional Women’s Advisory Board of the American Biographical Institute.

The Basso Moderno Duo requested the work in anticipation of their March recital in Cluj and for their growing program of new works by Romanian women composers. ‘Piece for Basso Moderno’ will be premiered at the Women Composers Festival in Hartford, Connecticut on March 7 at the exclusive Charter Oak Cultural Center.

Basso Moderno Duo Premieres Music of Stockhausen

2007-12-05T12:45:00.001-05:00

The Basso Moderno Duo recently gave the North American Premiere of a work by celebrated German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.

The Basso Moderno Duo performed the work for Bass included in 'Orchestra-Finalists' from 'Wednesday' of his cycle of Operas 'Licht: Die sieben Tage der Woche' ("Light: The Seven Days of the Week").

The performance took place at the Sitar Center, in Washington DC, and was hosted by the Great Noise Ensemble.

Betty Beath composes 'From a Lake of Honey' for Basso Moderno Duo

2007-12-05T12:18:00.000-05:00

Celebrated Australian composer Betty Beath has composed a new work for the Basso Moderno Duo. Included here are her programs notes for this lyrical new work:

From a Lake of Honey…

I am very attracted to the idea of bridging cultures, of delighting performers and audience, of lush sounds and lyricism, so it was easy to say yes to Allan Von Schenkel’s invitation to write a short piece for the Basso Moderno Duo.

I wrote this work soon after completing a major commission for voice and orchestra, Gambar Gambar Jawa…Images of Java. The first performance had come and gone, I was pleased with the result and looked forward to writing a piece shaped by the familiar influences of home… sub-tropical Queensland, now at its best with the colours and perfumes of Spring and heading into the hot, balmy days of summer. However, in writing this piece I soon saw I had not gone far from Java… for the images and sounds which inspire this work might be found in the beautiful landscapeI held in my mind, a place you might find, at sunset, on the island of Bali, a ‘lake of honey’.

When I listened to recordings of the Basso Moderno Duo it was easy to respond to the lush, beautiful tone Allan Von Schenkel draws from his modified Double Bass and to realize how well he and partner, Kristen Williams respond to each other in their intimate musical conversations. These were influences which colour and give shape to From a Lake of Honey. Other obvious influences were the use of scale and rhythmic patterns which are associated with the gamelan.

I was aware that Allan would produce intense, warm, sensuous tone and that together the Basso Moderno Duo would ‘sing’. The piece is really a landscape of the mind, it is a simple musical work, which gives opportunities for an imaginative collaboration between performers and audience as they ‘journey’ to a ‘lake of honey’.

Betty Beath,
4th December, 2007.

Basso Moderno Duo: Recital in Spain

2007-10-31T17:46:00.000-04:00

In October, the Basso Moderno Duo traveled to Almansa, Spain to give a recital. As guests of composer Sonia Megias Lopez, the Duo performed her Tango No. 2 and discussed the possibility of commissioning a new work.

The free recital took place at the Teatro Principal di Almasa, as did the masterclass given earlier that day with students from throughout Spain. The students performed alongside the Basso Moderno Duo during the opening piece at the evening concert. With bassists situated among the audiences they performed a work by the Basso Moderno Duo called 'Improvisacion sobre un tema de Pink Floyd'.

The recital was divided in to five sections: Del Este, Los Latinos, Los Liricos, Los Fluxus, y Los Serios. These mini programs helped to tie short works together and were meant to bring cohesiveness to an evening of miniatures.

PROGRAMA

del este
Improvisacion sobre un tema de Pink Floyd - Basso Moderno Duo
Dawn on Mountain Lake - Alan Hovhaness
Canto - James Niblock

los latinos

Habanera - Larry Bell
Tango No 2 - Sonia Megias Lopez
Soiree at La Playa Hotel - William Ortiz

los liricos
Nocturne - Ned Rorem
Winter Hubris - Lee Hoiby
Also - Lee Hoiby

los Fluxus
Blue Heron - Pauline Oliveros
Secret Piece II - Yoko Ono
Pa-Alulung - Jonas Baes

los serios
Dialogue - Felix Yanov Yanovsky
Outburst - Richard St Clair
Whimsy - Harold Colin Cowherd

Basso Moderno Interview with Gandalf on WJFF

2007-09-07T20:05:00.000-04:00

Basso Moderno Duo was featured during a 2 hour live interview on Radio Station WJFF in Jeffersonville, NY on Labor Day during 'Monday Afternoon Classics' with Gandalf.

The interview highlighted both the music and the story behind the ensemble. In addition to the 12 selected works, the Basso Moderno Duo discussed its mission, contemporary music, and the new solobass/piano repertoire.

The program also featured the premiere of a composition composed by the Basso Moderno Duo entitled 'Inspired by Nature'. This piece is dedicated and inspired by the work of celebrated composer Pauline Oliveros. Oliveros, upon hearing the recording, called it "Beautiful".

An archive of the broadcast can be heard here.

Feature: Basso Moderno in Cape Gazette

2007-08-12T21:46:00.001-04:00

Cape Gazette - Friday, August 12, 2007

Milton's 'House on the Hill' Presents Music & Art
by Kevin Spence
Cape Gazette Staff

Basso Moderno Duo, a musical group that has performed pieces written by Yoko Ono and other noteworthy composer composers, will play compositions specifically written to highlight the paintings of Heather Levy, who is holding a solo exhibition. "Flights of Fancy," contains 34 paintings described by Levy as modern art with an avant-garde flair."The whole body is a whimsical collection of pieces highlighting the miracle of flight, whether literal or figurative," she said. Guests will have the opportunity to hear and perhaps participate in a musical performance, as the Basso Moderno Duo will play to celebrate Levy's collection.

Members Allan von Schenkel and Kristen Williams have returned to Lavinia Street to perform for their third time at the artists' refuge, however this time, they'll play 'Whimsy' [premiered at the Smithsonian American Art Museum July 15, 2007]. Dr. Harold Colin Cowherd, a prominent African American composer, wrote 'Whimsy' over the summer and Schenkel said the piece appropriately fits the theme of the art show.

"We promote this music to nontraditional classical musical audiences", he said. Schenkel and Williams present new music commissions from worldwide composers including pieces written by Yoko Ono, Ned Rorem, and Pauline Oliveros. To date, the pair has worked with over 100 composers from 37 countries. In July, Basso Moderno Duo played in the D.C. Fringe Festival where they performed their own written work, '69 Ways to Fall in LOVE'.

Schenkel strums his bass while his partner, Williams, plays the piano.

Levy and the group often collaborate together, but pairing music with Levy's work is a new venture, said Williams. To nontraditional audiences, "Chamber music can be more accessible or easier to understand in an art gallery or a dance performance," said Williams. Jeannie Greenhaugh, 205 Lavinia St owner, said audiences are encouraged to literally join in the Saturday nigh affair. "At times, we include audience participation works, where everyone becomes part of the piece," said Schenkel.

Contact Kevin Spence at kevin-spence@hotmail.com

Basso Moderno Duo Commissions 'Nocturne' by Ned Rorem

2007-08-09T22:19:00.000-04:00

The Basso Moderno Duo, in its quest to create a new repertoire for solo bass and piano, commissioned a new work from celebrated composer Ned Rorem. The resulting piece was his ‘Nocturne for Solo Bass & Piano’. Rorem stated, “I am going to write a real piece”, in response to the request for a short work.

‘Nocturne’ is a highly chromatic and flowing work with an endless melody which is always in transition. Both parts being equal, Rorem exploits the entire range of the bass and piano with long lines that are characteristic to his music.

Basso Moderno’s longtime dream to commission a piece from Ned Rorem was realized when the Smithsonian American Art Museum presented the opportunity to give a recital in the newly built McEvoy Auditorium.

Listen to ‘Nocturne’, by Ned Rorem, as played by the Basso Moderno Duo:
http://solobass.org/listen.html

Basso Moderno Wins Award

2007-08-08T20:51:00.000-04:00

The Basso Moderno Duo has received an award from the Washington DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for '69 Ways to Fall in LOVE'.

Elinor Armer composes 'Minotaur' for Basso Moderno Duo

2007-08-07T23:36:00.000-04:00

We have just received ‘Minotaur’ by celebrated composer Elinor Armer. The inspiration for the work resulted from her recent trip to the Greek island of Crete. The historical site of Knossos is identified as the site of the Labyrinth were the legendary Minotaur lived. Armer identified with the half man-half bull because she ’feels the pull between the beast and the human in herself’. The Minotaur’s desire to be more human is a metaphor for wanting to aspire to greater things while being brought back to more primal states such as crude rage.

Music Web International: Interview by Dominy Clements

2007-08-06T09:37:00.000-04:00

Basso Moderno Duo's August 2007 interview by
Dominy Clements of Music Web International.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Aug07/Basso_Moderno_Duo.htm

About Us

2007-08-05T22:35:00.000-04:00

The Basso Moderno Duo has commissioned over one hundred lyrical works for solo bass and piano by some of the world's most prominent and exciting living composers. Composers from over thirty countries have written specifically for Allan Von Schenkel's virtuosic and highly individualized manner of playing.

Kristen Williams piano playing is a perfect complement to the intense voice of the solo bass. Williams is a focused musician who is able to share, with the listener, her devotion to the piano. Our program is designed to delight and surprise audiences with a combination of lush sounds, tasteful writing and lyricism.