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Calling Out: New Music for Reed Trio
Lori Wakley Shepherd, clarinet | Erika Qureshi, oboe | Robyn Watson, bassoon
51st Conference of the
International Double Reed Society
Boulder, CO
July 29, 2022 | 3:00pm
IMIG E160
Program
Blightsworth's School for Gifted Waterfowl
Sequoia Trees
Margaret P. Fay (b. 1983)
Dario Duarte (b. 1986)
Melissa Sky-Eagle, piano
Isolation
Beagles and Little Folks Suite
inspired by the works of Charles M. Schultz
Lynn Blake John (b. 1948)
Dario Argentesi (b. 1985)
1. Sopwith Camel
2. Woodstock
3. Pianist VS Psychiatrist
4. The Round-Headed Kid
5. Security Blanket
6. Life in the Cactus
7. Finale, Presto
Program Notes
This piece was inspired by the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. In Rowling's fantastical series, Hogwarts is a specialized boarding school for adolescents with innate magical abilities. The school is essentially unknown to the entire non-magical population of the world. If there can be an underground school for magical children, one can only assume that there might also be a secret school for gifted waterfowl. Like Hogwarts, Blightsworth's School for Gifted Waterfowl is steeped in tradition, school pride, and rigorous studies. In my composition, Blightsworth students waddle their way through a busy day of classes, launching into a patriotic performance of their school's song partway through.
Dr. Margaret P. Fay is a professional bassoonist, music theorist, and female composer who enjoys writing chamber music for ensembles that include at least one bassoon. In August 2022, she will be joining the faculty at Penn State University as Assistant Teaching Professor of Bassoon. Before that, she served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Bassoon and Music History at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, for two years.
website | purchase music (coming soon)
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The Sequoia trees are an incredible species that owns the title of largest living organism on the planet. They have been on our planet for over three millennia. They have the ability to generate large amounts of oxygen to our atmosphere. They are also the ones that absorb the greatest amount of carbon dioxide, making the air cleaner and healthier. Many experts argue that if more of these trees can be planted, they could be a quick solution to climate change. They usually grow much faster than other species and live for many years.
The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is a nature reserve located in California, USA, that deals with the care and preservation of this species.
This work represents a long walk in the park and aims to alert everyone to the negative effects of climate change.
Dario Duarte is a Latin American composer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in music from the Universidad Nacional de San Martin in Buenos Aires. He
has also studied piano at Alberto Ginastera Conservatory. His works were
premiered in USA, Italy, Hungary, Germany and Argentina. His compositions
include works for chamber music, solo instruments, opera and orchestra. He has
been invited as a speaker at different conferences on music.
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The themes of his works respond to the complex changes of the modern world: climate crisis, digitalization of the human experience. In addition, he has a commitment to Latin American musical genres that appear as a rhythmic constant in his work using music from different communities.
In 2021, he was awarded for his work Micro Suite for Viola solo by the Northern California Viola Society. He currently teaches at the School of Humanities at the Universidad Nacional de San Martin.
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Lynn Blake John, composer, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She studied composition with Peter Williams, professor of music at the University of Wales in Swansea, and studied music theory at the Guildhall in London. She played the flute, oboe, and bassoon and teaches piano and music composition. Her work is published by Cimarron Music Press, Potenza Music Publishing and TrevCo Music Publishing.
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This piece was inspired by the isolation and fear that most of us have experienced as we feel our way through this global pandemic known as COVID-19. The virus is lurking in the background as we try to get on with our lives.
Dario Argentesi (1985) studied piano and composition in Italy and Belgium under numerous composers, significantly with Academy Award winner Luis Bacalov (Accademia Chigiana, 2012) and Daniel Capelletti (Brussels Conservatory, 2011-2013). He's been teaching music overseas since 2014 (China, UAE, Portugal, Uzbekistan, Thailand), while his chamber music has been performed in festivals and conservatories around the globe. Although most of his work is released for free on IMSLP, he also publishes for Cimarron Music Press (USA).
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Beagles and Little Folks Suite (2020) is inspired by the works of Charles M. Schultz. Originally intended for piano (having Schumann's Papillon as a model), eventually written for reed trio - the instrumentation I believe better suits it. It's a gallery of characters and impressions, musically depicted with interwoven motifs: sometimes mingling in sympathy, sometimes in open conflict, until the dashing finale.