Nakatani - La Giclée (2021)
The initial inspiration came from a small park near where I live where several water fountains cross each other and children play in and around them during the summer. The strings’ pizzicatos express “water splash” (giclée in French) – big and small, high and low. My recent tendency for composing is to be with something inspirational throughout the creative process, which could be a piece of a symphony or a movie scene. This time, it was “Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin. It did not necessarily influence me compositionally, but rather gave me strength and support. Though I have always enjoyed his music, it was a different experience – I understood something I had never thought. A small part of the middle section in La Giclée is an homage to Gershwin.
— Yoko Nakatani
Yoko Nakatani received a B.A. from the Osaka College of Music in Japan, M.M. from the University of Oregon, and Ph.D. from Brandeis University in Music Composition and Theory. She is the recipient of the Ira Gershwin Prize in Music Composition in 2005 at Brandeis University. Ms. Nakatani gave a recital in Japan in 2010 as well as in Belgium in 2011, all based on her original compositions. Her first CD, "Résonance Poétique" is based on the recording from the recital in Japan. She was commissioned by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra as well as Mu Phi Epsilon Boston Alumni Chapter in 2020, and again commissioned by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra for their recording project in 2021. The CD, "Miniature Symphonies" by LCO was released in summer 2022. She was selected by MMTA to be a Massachusetts Commissioned Composer for 2023, and her new composition will be premiered in October 2023. Ms. Nakatani is the founder of the music non-profit organization, Vivace, Inc.
Benton - The Sentinel (2021)
A programmatic piece, “The Sentinel” follows the story of a hulking, moss covered stone golem that is awoken by a danger to that which it protects. The first movement, “Looming,” describes the tense moments before the dormant sentinel senses danger. The golem springs to life, determined to defend against it. “Unyielding,” the second movement, portrays the mighty battle of the sentinel with the threat. With the danger defeated, the last movement, “Fading,” depicts the sentinel fading away. It deactivates, falling back into slumber until it is needed again.
— Brittney Benton
Driven by storytelling and imagery, Brittney Benton's music takes you on a journey through a lush melodic and harmonic soundscape, filled with personality at every turn. Brittney holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition with a Minor in Music Technology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is very interested in working outside of the concert hall, especially in the realm of video game music. Brittney’s music has been performed by the Bellevue Chamber Chorus, ZOFO, the Beo String Quartet, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, and more. In 2020, she was named the winner of PARMA Recordings “Summer 2020 Call For Scores”, and the winner of the Bellevue Chamber Chorus’ “Emerging Composer Competition” in 2021. In 2022, she was named one of the winners of Chicago a Capella’s “Her Voice Competition”.
Schönberg - Kammersymphonie Nr. 1, Op. 9 (1906)
Probably the first attempt to create a chamber symphony was this one by Arnold Schönberg. If one thinks about the time when it was written - a time of enormous orchestras and prolonged lenghts - Schönberg’s chamber symphony is a reaction to the enormousness of the Romantic period, but not in opposition: in compression! A whole entire orchestra is reduced to a mere 15 instruments (although the sound remains just as full) and the form is condensed into one single movement. Definitely a successful experiment, Schönberg once again sets a new trend.
Arnold Schönberg playing ping pong in Hollywood, CA
