Chris D. Burton

UNO Composers Reading Session – April 22

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:17:21 +0000

The current semester’s reading session for UNO students is focused on Brass instruments. Many of the students are working on Brass quintets at the moment and are looking forward to having them read through.

The reading will be held on the NOCCA campus on April 22nd from 2:00-3:30.

Rage Against the Dying of the Light

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:07:05 +0000

Rage Against the Dying of the Light is a refrain taken from the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas. In the poem, Thomas pleads with his dying father not to succumb to his end easily, but rather to fight all the way through his final moments. To me, this represents more of a call to action. It seems to speak a message that many people need to hear: “Never give up.”

Piano Piece selected for New Pieces Project

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:13:25 +0000

The University of Central Missouri hosted a New Pieces Project where composers were asked to write for young players to give them new repertoire and a chance to learn how to analyze and practice new music. The Mild Conundrum of Mr. Fliverty Chase, telling the story of the adventures of mysterious individual, was chosen for this project. It will be prepared by one of their students and recorded for an April recital.

I’ll tell you a little bit about the piece: I wanted to give the younger player something to use their imagination on. This piece actually has no set story line and, as you can see, a lot of story (or maybe just a little story) can be inferred from the title. I want the students who play the piece to figure out what they think Mr. Chase’s conundrum might be. I plan to continue the “Fliverty Chase” story-line at some point, so more keep an eye out for that.

Red Note Music Festival

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:28:21 +0000

String Quartet No. 1 was recently chosen as a finalist selection for the Red Note Music Festival at Illinois State University. Though I did not win the contest, I was among the top 18 choices of 285 total entries. Congrats to Joseph Turrin:

The winning work is “Riffs and Fanfares,” by Joseph Turrin of Clifton, New Jersey. Mr. Turrin will receive the $750 prize, and a performance of his work by Fulcrum Point New Music Project during the RED NOTE New Music Festival in March 2012.

“String Quartet No. 1,” by Stylianos Dimou, of Rochester, NY, was named Runner-Up.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to:

“Ten Variations,” by Gilad Cohen of Princeton, NJ
“Parachute Dance,” by Stephen Feigenbaum of Winchester, MA
“Credo,” by Heeyoung Yang, of West Lafayette, IN