Martin Bresnick: a "WebQuest" of sorts

American Innovator Friends,

Thank you for your support in my time of technological troubles. In anticipation of this possibility, I had prepared these links to various resources so that I could put them on the blog -- so you can learn a bit more about Martin Bresnick and hear more of his music if you so choose.

Cheryl

"Martin Bresnick has not become nearly so well known as the quality of his music deserves; no other recent uptown composer possesses a style so elegantly smooth or can say so much with so few notes. Bresnick's works are marked by an economy of materials and lyrical intensity. The secret of Bresnick's language is that he has developed an intervallic way of working with tonality that allows for a smooth continuum between tonality and atonality." ~ Kyle Gann, American Music in the Twentieth Century, Schirmer Books

Martin Bresnick: Web Links & Library Resources

Martin Bresnick – The Official Website -- Check out the "Works" page.
http://www.martinbresnick.com/

Yale Alumni Magazine – Anne Midgette – Mar/April 2007 [I feel this is a wonderful and comprehensive piece!]
http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/2007_03/bresnick.html

New Music Box – Interview – (9:22) -- focuses on the team aspect of Bresnick and Moore
http://www.newmusicbox.org/article.nmbx?id=5858

Vic Firth – “Grace” Video – (12:26) -- about the writing of the double marimba concerto
http://www.vicfirth.com/features/bresnick.html

Behind the Beat – Audio Portraits (2:00 – 3:00 each)
http://www.behindthebeat.net/genre.asp?g=198

New York Times – Steve Smith – 12.3.2006 [focus on teaching]
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/arts/music/03smit.html?_r=1


On YouTube

For the Sexes: Gates of Paradise (based on poetry and engravings of William Blake)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgUbYnoiSZM (5:40)

Pine Eyes (1998)
· Scene 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuUrnh8u3NE (2:31)
· Scene 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taJN15COtUs (4:29)
· Scene 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p08hN6Ad_Q (6:26)

Willie’s Way - Lisa Moore, piano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmY8dd6u4ZE (10:54)


Bang on a Can: http://www.bangonacan.org/
Mission Statement: Formed in 1987 by composers Michael Gordon, David Lang and Julia Wolfe, [note: all former students of Martin Bresnick at Yale] Bang on a Can is dedicated to commissioning, performing, creating, presenting and recording contemporary music. With an ear for the new, the unknown and the unconventional, Bang on a Can strives to expose exciting and innovative music as broadly and accessibly as possible to new audiences worldwide. And through its Summer Festival, Bang on a Can hopes to bring this energy and passion for innovation to a younger generation of composers and players.

UK Library Holdings:

Sound Recordings:
· My Twentieth Century – CD9106 (Grace, the double marimba concerto, is on this CD)
· Opere Della Musica Povera – Works of a Poor Music – CD 2484
· String Quartet No. 2: Becephalus; Wir weben, wir weben – LP6728
· Music for Strings – CD2484

Also on:
· Conspirare: Chamber Music for Solo Flute – Patti Monson – CD4186
· Trio – The Monticello Trio – CD932
· Long Distance – Seth Josel (Bag O’ Tells – solo mandalin!) – CD2592
· The New York Woodwind Quintet – CD1117

Video Recording: Cadillac Desert – Jon Else – AV-V4267 (original music, Martin Bresnick)