Bridge Records Management: Stephen Jaffe

	Washington Post features Stephen Jaffe: Click here for the article
“Jaffe’s language is comprehensive and allows him to use basic tonal or modal references, magically integrating them with a highly developed chromatic technique. The instrumental writing is brilliant and sonorous; the orchestrational textures are exquisite... My response to Jaffe’s music exceeds admiration. I simply love it.” -Yehudi Wyner, December 2003 "Jaffe’s Violin Concerto is a sensational piece that deserves the widest possible dissemination among music lovers." - David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com “A virtuoso piece with genuine intellectual aspirations, combining rapt lyricism with a sense of sonic adventure.” -Washington Post, January, 2004 (on Jaffe’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra) “...truly original writing that never overstepped conventional bounds, yet never sounded conventional either.” -New York Times
Upcoming concert: March 16, 2006; 7:30 PM Harris Theater, Chicago, IL Homage to the Breath Julia Bentley, mezzo-soprano Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble Stephen Burns, conductor Tickets: $20/10
The music of Stephen Jaffe has been performed throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia by organizations including the National Symphony (Washington, DC), the San Francisco Symphony, the New Jersey Symphony, the Oregon Bach Festival, and Spectrum Concerts Berlin. Jaffe's music has been described as direct and involving without ever being simplistic; emotionally complex but not convoluted. Writing about the composer's "Double Sonata" in the New York Times, Will Crutchfield remarked that the composer's harmonies were, "rich with consonant intervals, although they certainly did not sound like any particular music of the past." About Jaffe's "Violin Concerto" and "Oboe Concerto", composer Yehudi Wyner recently wrote that “Jaffe’s language allows him to use basic tonal or modal references, magically integrating them with a highly developed chromatic technique. The instrumental writing is brilliant and sonorous; the orchestrational textures are exquisite. My response to Jaffe’s music exceeds admiration. I simply love it.” Born in Washington, D.C., Stephen Jaffe studied composition at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to a Premiere Medaille from that institution, he has been the recipient of the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Prize, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Tanglewood, and the Guggenheim Foundation. His works have been commissioned by a variety of groups, including the Fromm and Naumburg Foundations, the Oregon Bach Festival, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Citing his "eloquent and original voice", in 1989 Brandeis University awarded him its Creative Arts Citation, and in 1991, Jaffe received a Kennedy Center Friedheim Award for his 32 minute First Quartet written for the Ciompi Quartet. He is Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans Professor of Music at Duke University, where he has taught since 1981. Recordings of Jaffe's music have been issued on the Bridge, Albany, Neuma and CRI labels. Writing about the recent recording of Jaffe's Violin Concerto, critic David Hurwitz raves: "it deserves to become a classic."
The Music of Stephen Jaffe Orchestra and Large Ensemble CONCERTO for CELLO AND ORCHESTRA (2002-3) in progress Commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, DC First performances: January, 2004 CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA (2000) 36' 3(Picc.), 2(E.H.), 2(B. Cl.) 2 2 - 4 2 2 0; Timp. 3Perc. Hp. Commissioned by Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Inc. Pno./Cel., Str., Solo Violin First performance: March 11,13, 2000. Nicholas Kitchen/Violin, Greensboro Symphony/Stuart Malina, cond. Recording: Odense Philharmonic, Gregory Fulkerson, violin, Donald Palma, cond. forthcoming on Bridge Records, Inc. SONGS OF TURNING (1996) 26' Soprano, Baritone Soli; SATB Chorus 1 1 3 1 - 1 0 0 0; Mba., Hp., Str., Commissioned by Oregon Bach Festival and the Fromm Foundation First performance: June 28, 1996, Oregon Bach Festival. James Maddalena/Baritone, Terry Rhodes/Soprano, Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Oregon Repertory Singers, conducted by Gilbert Seeley. AUTUMNAL (1986) for Orchestra 23' 2 (Picc.) 2(Eng.hn.) 2 (Bass Cl.) 2-4.2.2.1-Timp. 2 Perc.-Pno./Cel.-Harp-Strings Commissioned by New Hampshire Symphony. First performance: November 14, 1986. New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, James Bolle, conductor, Manchester, New Hampshire. THE RHYTHM OF THE RUNNING PLOUGH (1985-88) 14' alto flute (doubles on picc. flute) vln. vc. perc. Commissioned by New York Music Ensemble. First performance: March 1, 1987. New York Music Ensemble, Robert Black, conductor, Merkin Hall, New York. Recording: Prism Orchestra, Robert Black, conductor (BRIDGE 9047) FOUR IMAGES (1983 rev. 1987) for Orchestra 21' (I. Intrada II. Tempests III. Afterimage IV. Melodies)\3 (Alto & Picc.).3 (Eng.hn.).2.Blc.3(Cbsn.)-4.3(Picc.).2.1.-4 Perc.-Pno./Cel.2 Hp.-Strings First complete performance: March 17-20, 1988. New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Hugh Wolff, conductor. THREE IMAGES (1979) for Chorus with Chamber Orchestra 15' (I. Out at Sea II. Cancion del Naranjo Seco III. Look Down Fair Moon) SATB Chorus and Soloists, Narrator, 3 Trombones, Piano, 2 Perc., Strings (4.0.4.2.1) Commissioned by Moravian College Chior. First performance: December 7, 1979. Swarthmore College Choir & Chamber Orchestra, composer conducting, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. THREE YIDDISH SONGS (1978/87) 23' soprano horn vln. vc. And piano First performance: April 1987. Gindi Auditorium, Los Angeles REGA-REGA (1974) for Jazz Ensemble 16-20' Soprano Sax, Trumpet, Trombone and Amp. Violin Soli, 4 Sax (AATB), 4 Tpt., 3 Trb., Tuba Bass, Elec. Pno., Amplified Piano, 2 Perc. First performance: 1974. University of Pennsylvania Jass Ensemble, Claude White, conductor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vocal and Chamber Music DESIGNS (2001) 14' Flute, guitar, percussion Commissioned by Christine Gustavson and the East Carolina University School of Music. First performance: National Arts Center of Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan, June 2, 2002 HOMAGE TO THE BREATH Instrumental and Vocal Meditations for Mezzo-soprano and Ten Instruments (2001) with a text by Thich Nhat Hanh 24' Fl.(Picc.) Ob.(Harmonica) Cl.(Bb and A), Hn. Perc. Pno. Vln. Vla. Vcl. Cb. Mezzo-sop.(in last mvt. only) Commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition in honor of the 25th anniversary of the 20th Century Consort First performance: November 10, 2001. 20th Century Consort, Christopher Kendall, conductor; Milagro Vargas, mezzo-soprano. Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC CRAZY QUILT (2001) 4½' Flute, Oboe, Cello First performance: August 15, 2001. Commissioned by: Chamber Music Conference of the East, Bennington, VT. OFFERING (1997) 16' Flute, Viola, Harp Commissioned jointly by Mallarmé Chamber Players (NC), and Aureole (New York), with partial funding from the NC Arts Council First performance: May 3, 1997 Mallarmé Chamber Players, Durham, NC Recorded by: Mallarmé Chamber Players, awaiting release SPINOFF (1997) 2' Guitar solo First performance: Nov. 18, 1997 David Starobin, Nottingham Festival, U.K. Recorded on Bridge 9084 "Newdance: 18 dances for guitar" CHAMBER CONCERTO "SINGING FIGURES" FOR SOLO OBOE & CHAMBER ENSEMBLE (1994) ca. 22' Oboe Solo, Two Keyboard Players (Hpscd. Pno. Cel.), Vln. Vla. Vcl. Commissioned by St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, NYC First performance: April 10, 1996. Melanie Feld/Solo Oboe, St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble/Composer conducting Recording: Speculum Musicae, Steve Taylor, oboe, Donald Palma, cond. forthcoming on Bridge Records, Inc. PEDAL POINT (1989, revised and expanded 1993) Cycle of 4 songs on poems by Mary Oliver, Robert Francis 20' Baritone, 3Va., 4Vc., Hp., Timp. First performance: May 25, 1994 at Duke University Summer Festival of Music Peter Becker/Baritone, Duke U. Ensemble/Tonu Kalam, cond. THE REASSURANCE (1995) 5' Soprano, piano Contribution to: Aids Quilt Songbook Art Song for AIDS: The Care Fund Concert First performance: Nov. 10, 1996, Terry Rhodes/Soprano, Composer/Piano, Page Auditorium, Duke University SONGS OF TURNING (1996) 26' Soprano, Baritone Soli; SATB Chorus. Piano reduction available upon request. 1 1 3 1 - 1 0 0 0; Mba., Hp., Str., Commissioned by Oregon Bach Festival and the Fromm Foundation First performance: June 28, 1996, Oregon Bach Festival. James Maddalena/Baritone, Terry Rhodes/Soprano, Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Oregon Repertory Singers, conducted by Gilbert Seeley. TRIPTYCH (1993) 22' Piano, wind quintet Commissioned by the Raleigh Chamber Music Guild in honor of their 50th Anniversary. Funding Assistance provided by the North Carolina Arts Council. First performance: Jan. 10, 1993, Hexagon, Stewart Theater, Raleigh, NC FIRST QUARTET (1991) 33' String quartet Commissioned by The Ciompi Quartet. First performance: April 20, 1991. Ciompi Quartet, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. FORT JUNIPER SONGS (1989) 18' Seven poems of Robert Francis for soprano, mezzo-soprano and piano Commissioned by Terry Rhodes and Ellen Williams. First performance: March 24, 1990. Terry Rhodes, soprano, Ellen Williams, mezzo, Michael Zenge, piano, Weill Recital Hall, New York. Recording: Terry Rhodes, soprano, Ellen Williams, mezzo-soprano, composer, piano; To Sun, To Feast & To Converse: American Vocal Duet Music (Albany, Troy CD 172) FOUR SONGS WITH ENSEMBLE (1988) 21' mezzo-soprano, alto fl. (&fl.), vla., vc., piano Commissioned by An Appalachian Summer and the North Carolina Arts Council for the Broyhill Ensemble. First performance: July 24, 1988. Broyhill Ensemble, Katherine Ciesinski, mezzo-soprano. Recording: Speculum Musicae, D’Anna Fortunato, mezzo-soprano, W. Purvis, conductor (BRIDGE 9047) THREE FIGURES AND A GROUND (1988) 18' Flute and piano Commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts Consortium Commission. First performance: March 21, 1988. Patricia Spencer, flute, David Oei, piano, Merkin Concert Hall, New York. Recording: Patricia Spencer, flute and Linda Hall, piano; The Now and Present Flute (Neuma 450-88) THE RHYTHM OF THE RUNNING PLOUGH (1985-88) 14' Chamber orchestra 1 (Alto Fl. & Picc.).1.1.1-1.0.0.0-2 Perc.-Harp-Strings (minimum 4.3.2.2.1) First performance: December 14, 1988. Prism Orchestra, Robert Black, conductor, Merkin Hall, New York. A NONESUCH SERENADE (1984) 16' fl. cl. vln. vc. piano Commissioned by Nonesuch Commission Award. First performance: May 1, 1984. Da Capo Chamber Players, Carnegie Recital Hall, New York. ARCH (1981) 24' fl. (picc.), cl., bass cl. Vln., cb., celesta, piano Commissioned by N.E.A Composer Fellowship First performance: May 25, 1981. American Academy in Rome. BALLADE: Quartet from Arch (1981) 12' vln., clar., vc., piano First performance: April 16, 1983. Winston-Salem, North Carolina PARTITA (1980) for Cello, Piano and Percussion 13' Commissioned by Da Capo Chamber Players. First performance: November 24, 1980. Da Capo Chamber Players, Carnegie Hall, New York. CENTERING (1978) for Two Violins 7' First performance: August 5, 1978. Composers Conference, Quan & Macomber, vlns., Vermont. Recording: CRI 513 Published by Mobart Music, Inc. THREE YIDDISH SONGS (1975/77) 23' Mezzo-Soprano and Orchestra or Chamber Orchestra (I. Cradle Song II. Unter dayne vayse shtern III. Shtiler, Shtiler) Mezzo-Soprano solo-2 (Picc.).0.2 (Bass Cl.).1-2.1.1.0-2 Perc.-Harp-Pno./Cel.-Strings First performance: April 24, 1977. Pennsylvania Composers Guild, Found, soprano; composer conducting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FOUR NOCTURNES (1975) 21' vln. vla. vc. cl. harp and 2 perc. First performance: October 24, 1976. Penn Composers Guild. Published by MMB, Inc. Piano Music DOUBLE SONATAS (1989) 22' Two pianos First performance: June 26, 1989. Barry Snyder & Anton Nel, Alice Tully Hall, New York City. Recording: Anton Nel and Barry Snyder, piano, BRIDGE 9047 IMPROMPTU (1987) 4' Piano solo Commissioned by Mrs. Gene Rochberg First performance: James Primosch, piano, Free Library of Philadelphia, November 12, 1989 Recording: Patricia Goodson, Piano on Strange Attractors: New American Music for Piano (Albany Records, Troy CD 231) COMMENTARY about Concerto for Violin "..his concerto sets modern musical accents against some passages which would not have been out of place in the Romantic era..Jaffe..is rehashing nothing. His music speaks in a voice clearly of the present, yet juxtaposed against earlier musical traditions." -Abe Jones, Greensboro News & Record "..the first movement is full of variety and very appealing.. some sections are jazzy, others dream-like..there are lots of virtuoso passages for the solo instrument, many of which are answered with richly scored orchestral bits..the work of a master orchestrator and a master composer, too." -John W. Lambert, Spectator on Line about First Quartet "This work of irreproachable workmanship utilizes a grand profusion of thematic ideas. The indications ‘Bold’, ‘Sportive’, ‘Breathing’, or ‘Rapid’ give care to affirm the unusual clarity of a work to get to know." –Mallett, Le Monde de la Musique about THE RHYTHM OF THE RUNNING PLOUGH: "...a gentle work of warm expressiveness. The writing is free, eminently musical and unselfconscious." -Robert Commanday, San Francisco Chronicle about THREE FIGURES AND A GROUND: "...truly original writing that never over-stepped conventional bounds, yet never sounded conventional, either." -John Rockwell, New York Times about DOUBLE SONATA: "...had that special undefinable quality that makes a listener eager to hear a piece again." -Will Crutchfield, New York Times "..its slow movement is a tribute to the composers Morton Feldman and Vincent Persichetti, and yoked together something of Feldman’s ruminative style and Persichetti’s trenchant harmonizations. The outer movements were brisk, rich in detail, and cast in a prickly, compelling chromaticism." -Allen Kozzin, New York Times "...a large ambitious work in four movements, full of bristling energy: jaunty, faintly jazzy rhythms, myriad virtuosic challenges for the players, and a bracing, hyperactive kaleidoscopic jangle." -Tim Page, Newsday "...a work really imagined for what two pianos and two pianists can do...the whole piece is chock full of ideas and uncommonly assured in activating those ideas... the performance was a knockout." -Richard Dyer, Boston Globe about SONGS OF TURNING: "...Jaffe said his intent was "crossing sacred and secular boundaries." His use of text from such sources as Ann Landers, Denise Levertov, and the Book of Jeremiah underscored this ecumenical flavor...His setting of Mary Oliver’s ‘The Buddha’s Last Instruction’ is a jewel all by itself, and the closing ‘Transformations’ with its exquisite choral segment of poetry by Denise Levertov, truly lifted the heart." -Karen Kammerer, Oregon Register-Guard "...Stephen Jaffe’s works can thunder but also dazzle with their precise attention to poetic texts being beautifully sung." -Andrew Bartlett, Eugene Weekly about TRIPTYCH: "...the second movement captured the various colors of light, not just with the special instrumental effects, but also with Hexagon’s ability with color. Six instruments combined to produce what seemed like six hundred textures with various timbres and effects." -Donald Callen Freed, Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Neb.) about FOUR IMAGES FOR ORCHESTRA: "...a stunning contemporary work, colorfully orchestrated, intense and interesting." -Joseph Szostak, The Register (Bordentown, NJ) "...the divided orchestra proposes a distinctive sonorous atmosphere as the basis for the growth of each of the four pieces." -Daniel Webster, Philadelphia Inquirer about FORT JUNIPER SONGS: "..skillful settings of the alternatively playful and poignantly metaphoric poetry of Robert Francis." -Courtenay V Cauble, New Haven Register about PEDAL POINT: "...the music is magnificent. Jaffe seems to have a special gift for setting poetry, so I hope he does lots of songs and song cycles in the years to come." -John Lambert, The Spectator (Raleigh, NC) about FOUR NOCTURNES: "...an excellent and evocative work in which Jaffe wielded a mastery over the kinetic, movement and relationships among the instuments." Steven Black, Market Square, Pittsburg Merion Music, Inc. Theodore Presser Company 588 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406 tel: (610) 525-3636 fax: (610) 527-7841 presser@presser.com www.presser.com