Commissioned by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for their 40th anniversary, Gabriel’s Guide to the 48 States is a tribute to the New Deal’s W.P.A. project. Compiled from text in the American Guide series, a collection of guidebooks that were commissioned to provide employment for writers during the depression, they provide a fascinating picture of America by some of its best writers. Scored for baritone and chamber orchestra (Flute/Piccolo, Oboe/English Horn, 2 Clarinets/Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion, Electric Guitar/Banjo Strings) the work is 45 minutes long. The text is compiled from the American Guide Series and the Sacred Harp hymn “Marlborough.” The world premiere performance was given at Dartmouth College on April 19, 2013. Orpheus will give the New York premiere on April 27 2013 at Carnegie Hall.
Famed Metropolitan Opera mezzo Isabel Leonard will give the world premiere of Glen Roven’s “Wild Nights” from his song collection,
On March 21st, at eight p.m., composer and cellist Paul Brantley will be joined by mezzo-soprano, Janna Baty; flutist, Marya Martin; and pianist, Pedja Muzijevic, in a program of vocal and chamber pieces by Brantley, Mozart and Ravel.
The program will include Mozart’s Violin Sonata in e minor — here in Brantley’s adaptation for cello and piano; Ravel’s Chansons madécasses performed by the entire ensemble; and as a companion piece the premiere of Brantley’s Sigewif — which sets an 9th century Anglo Saxon “Charm: for a swarm of bees” (in the original Anglo Saxon), as well as “Brünhilde’s Peroration”, a setting of Wagner’s unused ‘Schopenhauer ending’ to the Ring Cycle — both about archetypal “warrior women”. The program will close with Brantley’s Swevens Sonata for flute and piano, which was commissioned and premiered by Marya Martin at the Bridgehampton Festival this past summer.
Fresh from her title role in John Adam’s The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the wonderful mezzo-soprano 
David Bruce has been appointed Associate Composer to the San Diego Symphony for the 2013/14 season. He will be writing three pieces for them, including a new work for the orchestra’s Carnegie Hall debut in October 2013, and a new violin concerto for autumn 2014 (with an amazing soloist, details are hush-hush, unfortunately). To kick off the association Bruce will be writing a chamber piece for mandonlist Avi Avital and we’ll be premiering the new work in May this year (
