Richard D. Russell » Violin Sonata

Violin Sonata recording posted

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:08:00 +0000

It took a while, but I have finally been able to post a sound file of my Violin Sonata on my website. Head to the Listen section and you’ll be able to listen to the three movements in their entirety. The performers are Stanichka Dimitrova, violin, and Bethany Porter, piano, from the performance of 14 February 2009 at Symphony Space Thalia in New York. Here’s a pic of me and Stani from some time before the performance.

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Violin Sonata at Stony Brook

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Stani Dimitrova and Bethany Porter offered an outstanding performance of my Violin Sonata in the Staller Recital Hall at SUNY Stony Brook. Stani is working toward her Doctorate in violin performance at the school, and she also performed superlative work by Bach, Beethoven, and Glazunov. Here are a few pics of Stani and Bethany performing my piece in concert yesterday. (Click image for larger view.)

UPDATE: Here’s a pic of me long before the concert started, with the beautiful Staller Recital Hall at SUNY Stony Brook in the background. What’s up with the pattern on that tie?!

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Is there a gendered aesthetics? A few good questions

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Eve and Adam

When I wrote my Violin Sonata last year, I was grappling with several questions from the realm of New Musicology. I thought I would share them here to see if they might get your creative juices flowing…

1. Is there a feminine aesthetic of music? Does music by women sound “different?” If so, how?

2. By the same token, is there a masculine sound of music? Is Beethoven masculine? Bartok? Bernstein?

3. Do composers ever borrow (if that’s possible) the other aesthetic?

4. Are there any hierarchal values encoded in music? For instance, what is the underlying, deeper cultural meaning to the notion of a feminine ending?

5. What does it mean that so many conductors and composers are men? On the faculties of major conservatories, how many women do you find teaching composition or conducting?

6. Does any of this matter? How can you support your answer?

7. Before you start your next composition, ask yourself, “What would my music sound like if it was my ‘feminine’ style’?” Or your my masculine style, for that matter. (Note this question has value no matter what your own gender is!)

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Violin Sonata at Symphony Space

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:47:00 +0000

Here are several pics from the¬†¬†Saturday, February 14 performance of my Violin Sonata at Symphony Space. The concert was presented by the New York Composers Circle, and is their custom, I was asked to say a few words before my piece started.

Superlatives are not strong enough to represent the outstanding effort these musicians put into this virtuoso tour de force. The piece was selected to close the evening, and Stanichka Dimitrova and Bethany Porter delivered the goods. Here are several pics (click image for larger view).

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Violin Sonata to at Symphony Space Feb 14

Richard D. Russell — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:45:00 +0000

On February 14, my Violin Sonata will be presented under the auspices of the New York Composers Circle at Symphony Space Thalia (Broadway at 95th Street). The concert starts at 7:30 pm and admission charge is $20 (tix available at the door or call 212–864-5400). My fine performers will be Stanichka Dimitrova on violin with Bethany Porter on piano. An exciting aspect of the concert is that three Honorary Members of the NYCC will share the bill. We’ll hear pieces by Elliott Carter, Tania Leon, and Dinu Ghezzo. Here’s the poster, click for larger view.

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Violin Sonata to Premiere May 11

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:19:00 +0000

Stani Dimitrova will premiere my first Violin Sonata on May 11 at 3pm, with Jenny Huang gracing the piano. The venue is the historic Blessed Sacrament Church at 152 West 71 in Manhattan. Also on the bill is Sofia Dimitrova who will be performing a special piano/vocal arrangement of my Three Elegies, written just for this occasion.

Violin, soprano, and piano make a terrific combination! Other pieces are by Mozart, Saint-Sa√´ns, and my colleagues Evan Lewis and Rafael Fusco. The performance is being presented by the Musica Bella Orchestra.

Admission is by donation. Click the image for larger size!

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Spring 2008 Preview

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:09:00 +0000

Spring is in the air, and that means Spring concerts on the way. This half of the season will see the premiere of my first Violin Sonata, and a fresh performance of my Three States of Water (for three flutes) at New York University. As well, I’ll have something new in store for a chamber music concert hosted by the Musica Bella Orchestra in May, just before we head off for summer fun and relaxation.

Stay tuned!

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