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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'