Mathew Rosenblum

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Mathew Rosenblum
Rosenblum, at a rehearsal.
Born (1954-03-19) March 19, 1954 (age 70)[1]
NationalityAmerican
EducationNew England Conservatory of Music (MM, 1979)
Alma materPrinceton University (PhD, 1992)
Occupation(s)Composer, professor, presenter
Years active1978–present

Mathew Rosenblum (born March 19, 1954) is an American composer[1][2] whose works have been commissioned, recorded and performed by musical groups such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,[3] the Boston Modern Orchestra Project,[4] the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra,[5] the American Composers Orchestra,[6] Opera Theater of Pittsburgh,[7] FLUX Quartet,[8] the New York New Music Ensemble,[9] the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet,[10] the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble,[11] and Newband[12] among other ensembles, in venues throughout North America, Europe and Asia including the Andy Warhol Museum,[13] Leipzig's Gewandhaus, the Tonhalle Düsseldorf,[2] Thailand's Prince Mahidol Hall,[5] as well as Merkin Hall,[14] the Guggenheim Museum, the Miller Theatre,[15] The Kitchen,[2] Carnegie Recital Hall,[16] and Symphony Space[17] in New York City. Rosenblum's music has been recorded on such labels as Mode Records,[12] New World Records,[18] Albany Records,[19] Capstone Records,[20] Opus One Records,[21] New Focus Recordings,[8] and the Composers Recordings Inc. label,[22] and has been published by Edition Peters, of Leipzig, London, and New York.[23]

Early life[edit]

Rosenblum was born in Flushing, Queens and began playing the saxophone at age eight.[24][25] He attended the High School of Music and Art ("Music & Art") as an instrumentalist, where his interest turned to free jazz.[26][25] At Music & Art, he met jazz performers Anthony Coleman and David Krakauer, and performed with them from 1970-73 at venues throughout New York City.[27][25] In college, Rosenblum studied music composition at Boston's New England Conservatory of Music ("NEC") (B.M. 1977, M.M. 1979) and Princeton University (MFA 1981, PhD 1992)[28][1] with composers Milton Babbitt, Donald Martino, Paul Lansky, Jaki Byard, and Malcolm Peyton,[29][27][25] while also working privately with composer Burr Van Nostrand.[26] During and after his time at NEC and Princeton, Rosenblum's work was also closely associated with composers Lee Hyla,[30][9] Ezra Sims,[31] Dean Drummond[32] and Eric Moe.[33]

Career[edit]

Rosenblum joined the Department of Music of the University of Pittsburgh in 1991,[1] where he has been a Professor of Music Composition and Theory, Chair of the Department of Music, and codirector of both the "Music on the Edge" new music series[34] as well as the biannual "Beyond: Microtonal Music Festival" (copresented by the Andy Warhol Museum).[35] Among the awards he has received in over four decades as a composer include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Music Fellowship Grant,[15] two Fromm Foundation Commissions,[36] a Barlow Endowment Commission,[37] several MacDowell Colony[38] and Yaddo Residency Fellowships,[39] and multiple "Featured Composer" and "Composer in Residence" honors at music festivals and colleges in the United States and Asia.[34][28]

Music[edit]

The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians has described Rosenblum as "a leading voice in American microtonal music [who] attempts a synthesis of elements from classical, jazz, rock and world music in his work".[1] New York's WQXR-FM has cited "Rosenblum's customary 21-note-per-octave microtonal scale, combining the 12 notes of the piano with [the] intervals that fall somewhere between the keys",[40] while The New York Times has called Rosenblum a composer who "mix[es] surreal microtonal scales [and] seductive melodies".[4] A 2018 review in Stereophile Magazine described Rosenblum as a composer who "blends percussion, acoustic instruments, electronics, voice, and microtonal elements in visceral, moving ways."[11] Many of Rosenblum’s compositions have employed a similar "integration of diverse compositional elements".[8] Rosenblum himself has cited his "long-standing love for Javanese music... and the music of LaMonte Young" as central influences on his work.[29]

Honors and awards[edit]

Selected works[edit]

  • Lament/Witches' Sabbath for clarinet and orchestra, written for David Krakauer and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (2017)[8]
  • Gymnopédies Nos. 3-7/Kiki Wearing Tasha for flute, clarinet, violin, and cello, commissioned by the Boston Microtonal Society (2017)[31]
  • Bì nàn suô for five players, commissioned by Music from China (2017)[17]
  • Portal, site-specific eight channel sound installation, commissioned by the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery (2015)[47]
  • Last Round (Ostatnia Runda) for string quartet and six percussionists, written for FLUX Quartet and Mantra Percussion (2015)[48]
  • Eliza Furnace for orchestra, commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (2013)[49]
  • Falling for soprano, ensemble, and electronics, commissioned by the Barlow Endowment (2013)[8]
  • Northern Flicker for solo percussion, written for Lisa Pegher (2012)[8][50]
  • Sharpshooter for orchestra (2012)[23]
  • Two Harmonies for viola, percussion, and piano, commissioned by Andrew Zientek (2011)[29]
  • Throat for clarinet and percussion, commissioned by Jean Kopperud for the Rated X Project (2010)[19]
  • Double Concerto for baritone saxophone, percussion, and orchestra commissioned by the Fromm Foundation (2010)[51]
  • The Big Rip for saxophone quartet and vocal ensemble, commissioned by the Niedersächsische Sparkassenstiftung for the Niedersächsische Musiktage (2009)
  • Yonah’s Dream for the Harry Partch Ensemble, commissioned by the Partch Institute (2008)[29]
  • RedDust Chamber Opera for soprano, mezzo soprano, baritone, chamber orchestra, surround-sound audio, and video, commissioned by Sequitur and Opera Theater of Pittsburgh (2007)[7]
  • Words/Echoes for solo percussion and pre-recorded audio, commissioned by Michael Lipsey (2005)[52]
  • Shadow Waltz for piano, commissioned by Eric Moe (2002)[53]
  • Under The Rainbow for flute and pre-recorded audio, commissioned by Patti Monson (2002)[54]
  • Möbius Loop for saxophone quartet and chamber orchestra, written for the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet (2000)[4][55]
  • 00Opinions for flute, clarinet, violin, piano/sampler, percussion, electric bass, and pre-recorded audio, commissioned by the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies (2000)[56]
  • Maggies for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, piano/sampler, commissioned by the Fromm Foundation (1997)
  • Nü kuan tzu for soprano, mezzo soprano, and ten players, commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts (1996)[22][57]
  • Ancient Eyes for flute, clarinet, cello, percussion, and two keyboards (one player) (1990)[57]
  • Circadian Rhythms for cello, percussion, and two keyboards (one player) (1989)
  • Continental Drift for horn, percussion, and two keyboards (one player) (1987)[58]
  • Le Jon Ra for two celli (1981)[51]
  • Cascades for solo violin (1977/1980)
  • Harp Quartet for alto flute/flute, bass clarinet/clarinet, viola, and harp (1978)[59]

Discography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Gillespie, Don C. (January 20, 2001). "Rosenblum, Mathew". Oxford Music Online. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Fellows, Mathew Rosenblum". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation US & Canada Competition. January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  3. ^ a b DeFrancesco, Joyce (October 1, 2013). "Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Puts Pittsburgh in the Spotlight with Composers of the Year". Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra BLOGS. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Smith, Steve (January 22, 2014). "Classical Playlist: Raschèr Saxophone Quartet". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "TICF 2015 Concert". Mahidol University College of Music website. November 1, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "Composers Performed". American Composers Orchestra website. March 11, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Hopper, Justin (January 8, 2007). "Off the Wall ...and Into Packed Theaters". Carnegie Museums website. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Lippel, Dan (November 9, 2018). "Lament/Witches' Sabbath". New Focus Recordings Catalogue Liner Notes. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Allen, David (May 19, 2015). "Review: New York New Music Ensemble Plays a Tribute". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Mathew Rosenblum: Möbius Loop". Boston Modern Orchestra Project website. October 1, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Serinus, Jason Victor (November 9, 2018). "A Modern Witches' Sabbath". Stereophile Magazine. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Newband Plays Microtonal Works, Volume 2". Mode Records Catalog website. July 1, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  13. ^ Vranish, Jane (May 21, 2007). "Opera Review: 'RedDust' shows flashes of brilliance". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  14. ^ Tommasini, Anthony (March 1, 2001). "Music Review; Seasons of Squawks on the Crows' Calendar". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Mathew Rosenblum, Complete Biography". Edition Peters, Composers. May 1, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  16. ^ "Harp Quartet (1978)". Mathew Rosenblum website. January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Music From China "Premiere Works XXV"". Asian American Arts Alliance website. November 4, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  18. ^ "Circadian Rhythms". New World Records Catalog website. September 5, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Extreme Measures II". Albany Records Catalog website. August 4, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  20. ^ "So Long, Thanks". Capstone Records Catalog website. March 1, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  21. ^ "Tone Over Tone". AllMusic New Releases. January 5, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  22. ^ a b c "Ancient Eyes". New World Records Catalog website. February 3, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Composers page". Edition Peters Catalogue. October 1, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  24. ^ Gill, Cindy (May 1, 2007). "On The Edge". Pitt Magazine online. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  25. ^ a b c d Druckenbrod, Andrew (May 13, 2007). "Scale makes music of Rosenblum distinctive". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  26. ^ a b Mulkerin, Andy (January 8, 2014). "Music Features, Pitt's Mathew Rosenblum works between the notes on the scale". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  27. ^ a b Theiner, Manny (May 17, 2007). "Matthew Rosenblum's avant-opera RedDust debuts". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  28. ^ a b Pfeifer, Ellen (April 12, 2013). "NEC Composers Win Guggenheims". New England Conservatory News. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  29. ^ a b c d e Moe, Eric (December 1, 2012). "The Not-So-Dark Energy of Mathew Rosenblum" (PDF). New World Records liner notes, p. 2. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  30. ^ Rosenblum, Mathew (June 12, 2014). "Ciao Manhattan: A Remembrance of Lee Hyla (1952-2014)". NewMusicBox website. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  31. ^ a b Wiese, Ian (April 25, 2017). ""Ezra's Path": Two Years in the Making". The Boston Music Intelligencer. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  32. ^ "In Memoriam: Dean Drummond (1949-2013)". Montclair State University News. April 17, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  33. ^ "Music on the Edge". U. of Pittsburgh Department of Music Performance and Lecture Series, Guest Artist Series. December 20, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  34. ^ a b c d e f "Department of Music, People". University of Pittsburgh, Department of Music. December 20, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  35. ^ Reynolds, Jeremy (January 4, 2018). "Cultural intersections and superstition to feature in the Beyond: Microtonal Music Festival". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  36. ^ a b "Mathew Rosenblum". Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Fromm Music Foundation Prize Archives. February 3, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  37. ^ a b "Mathew Rosenblum's General Commission "Falling"". Barlow Endowment at Brigham Young University website. June 15, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  38. ^ a b "Index of MacDowell Fellows, Composers". MacDowell, Freedom to Create, website. November 2, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  39. ^ a b "Yaddo, Composers". Corporation of Yaddo, Yaddo website. October 15, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  40. ^ Johnson, Daniel Stephen (December 16, 2013). "The Mind-Bending, Ear-Opening Music of Mathew Rosenblum". WQXR: New York Public Radio website. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  41. ^ "2017 Faculty". New Music on the Point website. September 30, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  42. ^ RinNicHa, Da (June 30, 2015). "TPO Thailand International Compostition Festival Gala Concert". Musical America Worldwide Press Release. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  43. ^ "Mathew Rosenblum visits Buffalo to present lecture and masterclass". University at Buffalo Edge of the Center. November 8, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  44. ^ "2004 Grants, Arts & Culture - Creative Heights" (PDF). The Heinz Endowments website. December 31, 2004. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  45. ^ MacBlane, Amanda (June 12, 2003). "17 Works Get a Jump Start From Meet the Composer". NewMusicBox Website. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  46. ^ "BMI Student Composer Award Winners". Broadcast Music Inc., BMI website. December 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  47. ^ Chartier, Isabelle (August 31, 2015). "Portal". University of Pittsburgh, University Art Gallery website. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  48. ^ Kosman, Joshua (November 21, 2018). "Album review: Klezmer-Berlioz mashup crowns a fine new-music release". San Francisco Chronicle, Datebook section. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  49. ^ Dicks, Roy C. (October 6, 2014). "New Music Fuels Carolina Concerts By Pittsburgh SO". Classical Voice North America website. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  50. ^ Allen, David (November 25, 2015). "Review: Music on the Edge Makes Its New York Debut". New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  51. ^ a b "Mathew Rosenblum Works". Edition Peters website, Composers, Works. January 31, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  52. ^ "Calabrese Brothers Music, Percussion, Solo Hand Drum". Calabrese Brothers Music LLC catalog website. July 1, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  53. ^ a b "Eric Moe, Piano, New Waltzes for Piano". Albany Records web catalog. December 31, 2002. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  54. ^ "High Art album page". Albany Records online catalog. July 1, 2002. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  55. ^ Eichler, Jeremy (January 22, 2007). "A Boston connection with style". The Boston Globe website. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  56. ^ "00Opinions, Mathew Rosenblum". Sheerpluck, Database of Contemporary Guitar Music website. July 31, 2000. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  57. ^ a b Mook, Ted (May 1, 2007). "Mathew Rosenblum Ancient Eyes, liner notes" (PDF). New World Records catalog website. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  58. ^ "Mathew Rosenblum, Artist page, Compositions". AllMusic artist listing. September 1, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  59. ^ "Mathew Rosenblum". New Music USA Online Library. January 10, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  60. ^ "So Long, Thanks... Overview". AllMusic album listing. January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  61. ^ Sanderson, Blair (January 1, 2015). "The NewBand Play Microtonal Works". AllMusic album reviews. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  62. ^ "Extreme Measures II Overview page". AllMusic album listing. September 1, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  63. ^ "High Art: Chamber Music for Solo Flute, selection page". AllMusic performance listing. September 1, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  64. ^ "Tone Over Tone - Microtonal Keyboard Works". AllMusic.com website, Overview. January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  65. ^ "Aldrich/Fromm/Martin/Rosenblum". Discogs website. September 20, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  66. ^ "Hard Line (H2 Quartet)". Blue Griffin CD Catalog website. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  67. ^ "Hard Line Overview page". AllMusic album listing. January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.

External links[edit]