Events
Past EventsJune 4, 2011 (Saturday), 7:30 p.m. (Note early start) Symphony Space Thalia Theater2537 Broadway at 95th Street New York, NY 10025 212-864-5400 www.symphonyspace.org "Rivers," Richard McCandless's new work for two percussionists, will receive its world premiere on the June 4 concert of the New York Composers Circle's 2010-2011 concert series. Jude Traxler and Matt Donello will be performing. "Rivers" was written in response to a comment by Steven Schick (a friend and colleague of McCandless's since 1973): "I have hopes for a percussion music with more repose and more moments of real beauty." Regarding the work McCandless writes, "'Rivers' is based upon remembrances and reflections of the many canoe trips I took in my youth while visiting the southern part of Missouri. Those rivers were calm and meandering, with only occasional small rapids. This allowed for plenty of time to marvel at the subtly changing beauty of the water, and the surrounding cliffs and forests." The Washington Post has commented, "Mr. McCandless showed himself to be a master of sounds - subtle, emphatic, expertly shaped and richly expressive." The program also includes the following works: Robert S. Cohen - "An Ant's World" for 5-octave marimba. John Eaton - "Elegy for Jane" for mezzo-soprano, mandolin, guitar and harp. Hubert Howe - "Timbre Study No. 7" for electronic playback and dancer. Joseph Pehrson - "Motorfogger" for electric cello. Roger Blanc - "Poem" for guitar and harp. Tickets are $20, payable at the door. More information is available at www.symphonyspace.org and www.nycomposerscircle.org. June 18, 2010 (Friday), 7:30 p.m. (Note early start) Symphony Space Thalia Theater2537 Broadway at 95th Street New York, NY 10025 212-864-5400 www.symphonyspace.org "Voyager," Richard McCandless's work for solo percussion with electronic playback, will be performed as part of the American Composers Alliance annual New Music Festival. Mr. Jude Traxler will be performing. Voyager has been performed at three other national new music festivals, and is working its way into the percussion repertoire. It has always been tremendously well received by the players and audiences. The Washington Post has stated that, "Mr. McCandless clearly places a high priority on communication as well as innovation." The composer states, "This work takes its name from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, the first human-made object to leave our solar system. Voyager's journey is immense. Traveling about 1,000,000 miles a day, it will take 20,000 years to leave the gravitational field of our Sun, where it will enter deep space and travel for billions of years. At some point during this journey, human beings will no longer exist, and Earth will be no more than a charred cinder. But Voyager will be traveling on." Tickets: $12 in advance, $14 day of show. More information is available at www.symphonyspace.org, and www.composers.com. May 25, 2010 (Tuesday), 8:00 PM Saint Peter's Church, Citigroup Center619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street New York, New York 10022 212-935-2200 "69th and Broadway," Richard McCandless's new work for solo percussionist, will be premiered on the May concert of the New York Composers Circle 2009-10 concert series. The composition will be performed by the extraordinary percussionist Peter Jarvis. "69th and Broadway" was commissioned by Mr. Jarvis, and is being published by Calabrese Publishing. Mr. McCandless says of the work, "My favorite New York diner is at 69th St. and Broadway. The intersection of 69th Street and Broadway is not perpendicular, but an angle of about 60 degrees. While sitting in the diner, you see each passing vehicle three times: through the glass, reflected in the 69th St. window, and reflected in the Broadway window. Because of the 60 degree angle, you see the reflection of each vehicle for a shorter amount of time in one window than in the other, even though each vehicle is traveling at a constant speed. This idea is presented in the opening of the piece and weaves its way throughout." Regarding his work, the Washington Post has stated that, "Mr. McCandless clearly places a high priority on communication as well as innovation." The program also includes the following works: Richard Brooks, "Five Fainlight Songs" (soprano and piano) Tickets are available at the door: $20 suggested donation. More information is available at www.nycomposerscircle.org March 27, 2010 (Saturday), 3:45 p.m. City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate CenterElebash Hall 365 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016-4309 212-817-7000 "Voyager," Richard McCandless's work for solo percussion with electronic playback, will be performed as part of the New York City Electronic Music Festival. Mr. Jude Traxler of the Manhattan School of Music will be performing. Voyager has been performed at two other national new music festivals, and is working its way into the percussion repertoire. It has always been tremendously well received by performers and audiences. Regarding his music, the Washington Post has stated that, "Mr. McCandless clearly places a high priority on communication as well as innovation." The composer states, "This work takes its name from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, the first human-made object to leave our solar system. Voyager's journey is immense. Traveling about 1,000,000 miles a day, it will take 20,000 years to leave the gravitational fieldn-made object to leave our solar system. Voyager's journey is immense. Traveling about 1,000,000 miles a day, it will take 20,000 years to leave the gravitational field of our Sun, where it will enter deep space and travel for billions of years. At some point during this journey, human beings will no longer exist, and Earth will be no more than a charred cinder. But Voyager will be traveling February 20, 2010 (Saturday), 1:00 p.m. Biosphere 232540 S. Biosphere Road Oracle, AZ 85623 520-838-6200 "Voyager," Richard McCandless's work for solo percussion with electronic playback, will be performed as part of 'Music of the Sphere - An Afternoon With Stars and Music at Biosphere.' Mr. Stephen Tipping will be performing. The performance will be preceded by a short talk about the Voyager mission by the distinguished astronomer David Arnett. Voyager has been performed at two national new music festivals, and is working its way into the percussion repertoire. It has always been tremendously well received by performers and audiences. Regarding his music, the Washington Post has stated that, "Mr. McCandless clearly places a high priority on communication as well as innovation." The composer states, "This work takes its name from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, the first human-made object to leave our solar system. Voyager's journey is immense. Traveling about 1,000,000 miles a day, it will take 20,000 years to leave the gravitational field of our Sun, where it will enter deep space and travel for billions of years. At some point during this journey, human beings will no longer exist, and Earth will be no more than a charred cinder. But Voyager will be traveling on." This special event is included with the price of the Biosphere tour admission: $20 Adults, $13 Children 6-12. More information is available at www.b2science.org October 18, 2009, (Sunday), 6:00 PM (note early start) An Evening of StarsBechstein Hall 207 West 58th Street, between Broadway and 7th Avenue New York, NY 10019 212-581-5550 "An Evening of Stars" will include Richard McCandless's "Childhood" for speaking percussionist. Mr. McCandless will perform the piece on this Gala Fundraising Concert of the New York Composers Circle. The concert is comprised of the eight compositions selected by the NYCC's Board of Directors from the many pieces presented by the group over the past three years. The Gala Fundraiser provides the New York Composers Circle with most of its operating budget. "Childhood" has received many positive comments from the press. Among them, the Washington Post wrote "In a composition in which his percussion gives color and emphasis to a text from Rimbaud's 'Illuminations,' Mr. McCandless showed himself to be a master of sounds - subtle, emphatic, expertly shaped and richly expressive." On another occasion, the Washington Post wrote that "Percussionist Richard McCandless bypassed music's melodic dimension, but achieved considerable drama and psychological depth in his composition 'Childhood,' a performance of texts by Arthur Rimbaud in which he brilliantly accompanies his own speaking voice on a variety of drums." Please click here for the concert announcement (pdf). It includes details of additional aspects of the Gala. May 26, 2009 (Tuesday), 8:00 PM Tickets are available at the door: $20 suggested donation. "Pile Driver," Richard McCandless's work for percussion quartet in a new two-player version will be performed on the May concert of the New York Composers Circle 2008-09 concert series. Regarding "Pile Driver," the Washington Post wrote "The concert ended with a piece by McCandless called 'Pile Driver,' which he introduced with the half-boast "This piece is not subtle," but the poetry McCandless found in the cacophony made 'Pile Driver' absorbing." The program also includes the following works:
April 14, 2009 (Tuesday), 8:00 PM "Pile Driver," Richard McCandless's work for percussion quartet, will be performed on the April concert of the Oberlin Percussion Group under the direction of Michael Rosen. Regarding "Pile Driver," the Washington Post wrote "The concert ended with a piece by McCandless called 'Pile Driver,' which he introduced with the half-boast "This piece is not subtle," but the poetry McCandless found in the cacophony made 'Pile Driver' absorbing." The program is in Warner Concert Hall, and also includes works by the following composers:
The concert will be preceded by a discussion by McCandless regarding "Pile Driver" and his other works. It begins at 6:45 in Room 339 of Bibbins Hall. There is no admission charge. May 20, 2008 (Tuesday), 8:00 PM Tickets are available at the door: $15 suggested donation. "Childhood," Richard McCandless's work for solo speaking percussionist, will be performed on the May concert of the New York Composers Circle 2007-08 concert series. "Childhood" has received many positive comments from the press. Among them, the Washington Post wrote "In a new composition in which his percussion gives color and emphasis to a text from Rimbaud's 'Illuminations,' Mr. McCandless showed himself to be a master of sounds - subtle, emphatic, expertly shaped and richly expressive." The program also includes the following works: Eugene Marlow "The Caverns at Carlsbad" (three trombones, bass trombone) April 19, 2008 (Saturday), 7:30 PM "Voyager," Richard McCandless's work for solo percussionist and electronic sounds, will be performed on the spring concert of the UNO Percussion Ensemble. Graduate student Analynn Fassler will perform the work. April 26, 2007 (Thursday), 8pm Richard McCandless and Rich O'Meara present their recent chamber works for percussion, with and without electronics. Featured are the premieres of McCandless's "Canyons" and O'Meara's "Ghlash," both for percussion and live electronics. Performing together since 1983, the Washington Post has said, "These composer/performers clearly place a high priority on communication as well as innovation."
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