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]

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

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