Richard D. Russell » violin

“Three Partings” at Mannes on February 19

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:13:49 +0000

Richard D. Russell’s song cycle, “Three Partings,” on texts of Lord Byron, will be performed at Mannes College of Music on February 19, 2012. Mannes is at 150 West 85th Street. The concert starts at 1:30pm and is free and open to the public.
This is the New York premiere of the work. The performers are Sofia Dimitrova, soprano, Stanichka Dimitrova, violin, Claire Stancarone, cello, and Christopher Schneller, piano.

The concert is the annual New Music from Mannes Faculty and Alumni. Also on the concert are compositions from Carol Bevan, Wendy Griffiths, Faye Ellen Silverman, Jonathan Bell, and Andrij Legkij.

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A Quick and Easy Way to Vary your Music

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 07 May 2010 05:58:33 +0000

Within iTunes or any audio file, it’s possible to tweak the equalization of the playback. This means boosting the bass or raising the treble. Every piece will be a little different. This is something to think about when you compose: is your music too treble-y? Too bass-y? Too stuck in the mid-range, with no highs or lows? As you write music, think about varying the regions you write in, so that the ear doesn’t feel too stuck in one area of the sonic spectrum.

Consider a piano trio, for instance. Obviously, one can “set” the violin high, “set”¬†the cello low, and have the piano fill in the mid-range. And yet, think of the different colors achieved in the piano’s left hand is very low, the piano’s right hand very high, with the strings taking the middle register. Or if all three instruments are in similar regions.

Of course, common sense must be used with dynamics to insure that nothing is lost “in the mix!”

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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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Two Pieces to Premiere Feb 15

Richard D. Russell — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:55:00 +0000

In an afternoon concert at Mannes College of Music, two new pieces will be premiered. First is an “Adagio” from a forthcoming string quartet, featuring Stanichka Dimitrova, violin (pictured), Lisa Romain, violin, Rose Hashimoto, viola, and Desiree Abbey, cello. The second premiere is “When Time is Over” a song cycle of four Emily Dickinson poems. The soprano will be Sofia Dimitrova (pictured), with Tamara Cashour on piano. The rest of the concert will be comprised of pieces by Mannes faculty and alumni. Mannes College is located at 150 West 85th Street, and the concert begins at 1pm. Admission is free.

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