31 composers awarded $300,000 in grants for new music

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Composers Steve Reich, Meredith Monk (pictured), Steven Stucky and Nico Muhly are among the recipients of the latest round of grants from Meet the Composer, which announced today that it is handing out $300,000 for new commissions.

MTC, which is one of the nation’s largest commissioning bodies, said that this year’s field of applicants was nearly three times the usual number. The grant money goes to the composers who have received commissions from either a musical organization or an individual musician.

Two of the commissions have strong L.A. ties. Monk’s piece, a 20-minute work for chamber chorus and orchestra, is being co-commissioned by the L.A. Master Chorale and the Grand Center of St. Louis. The as-yet untitled work will be performed by the L.A. Master Chorale at Walt Disney Concert Hall on April 11, 2010.

Stucky’s composition, a 25-minute work for solo piano, is commissioned by the Hollywood-based Piano Spheres, a new music group consisting of five pianists. Stucky served as the L.A. Philharmonic’s Composer in Residence for close to 20 years. His current title with the orchestra is Consulting Composer for New Music.

Also among this year’s grant recipients is Stew, the rock musician who won a Tony in 2008 for the Broadway production of ‘Passing Strange.’ His new 70-minute song cycle for a small rock ensemble (featuring text and video) is being commissioned by St. Anne’s Warehouse in Brooklyn.

Keep reading for the full list of the MTC’s grant winners for Commissioning Music/USA.

Composer: John Luther Adams
Commissioner: Stephen Drury (piano)
Work: for piano and pre-recorded sounds (40’)

Composer: Martin Bresnick
Commissioner: Double Entendre Music Ensemble
Work: for oboe, violin, viola and cello (12’)

Composer: Margaret Brouwer
Commissioner: Cleveland Women’s Orchestra
Work: overture for orchestra (5’-7’)

Composer: Mario Davidovsky
Commissioner: Jean Kopperud (clarinet)
Work: for clarinet and percussion (12’)

Composer: Nathan Davis
Commissioner: TimeTable Percussion
Work: for three percussionists and electronics (12’)

Composer: R. Luke DuBois
Commissioner: New Radio and Performing Arts
Work: for violin and electronics (45’)

Composer: Gabriela Lena Frank
Commissioner: Chiara String Quartet
Work: string quartet (20’)

Composer: Yotam Haber
Commissioner: The Knights
Work: for string orchestra, percussion, voice and electronics (25’)

Composer: John Harbison
Commissioner: Pro Arte Quartet
Work: string quartet (20’-25’)

Composer: Joel Harrison
Commissioner: Connection Works
Work: for large jazz ensemble (25’)

Composer: Edward “Ted” Hearne
Commissioner: Albany Symphony Orchestra
Work: for orchestra (6’)

Composer: Pierre Jalbert
Commissioner: Copland House
Work: for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (12’-16’)

Composer: Scott Johnson
Commissioner: Manhattan Sinfonietta
Work: for chamber orchestra and electronics (35’)

Composer: David Lang
Commissioner: International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
Work: for soprano, tenor, mixed ensemble and video (75’)

Composer: Lei Lang
Commissioner: Montclair State University
Work: for string quartet and pipa (15’-20’)

Composer: Meredith Monk
Commissioner: Grand Center, Inc. (Saint Louis) and Los Angeles Master Chorale
Work: for chamber chorus and orchestra (20’)

Composer: Nico Muhly
Commissioner: Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Work: for children’s chorus and string quartet (18’-20’)

Composer: Zeena Parkins
Commissioner: C B D Music
Work: for string quartet, piano, harp, glass instruments, trombone, voice and electronics (20’)

Composer: James Primrosch
Commissioner: Albany Symphony Orchestra
Work: for orchestra (18’)

Composer: Steve Reich
Commissioner: Signal
Work: for 20 players (25’)

Composer: Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez
Commissioner: Colorado String Quartet
Work: for string quartet and shakuhachi (15’-20’)

Composer: Stew
Commissioner: St. Ann’s Warehouse
Work: song cycle for small rock ensemble with text and video (70’)

Composer: Steven Stucky
Commissioner: Piano Spheres
Work: for solo piano (25’)

Composer: John Supko
Commissioner: Meehan/Perkins Duo
Work: for two percussionists and electronics (15’)

Composer: Jerod Tate
Commissioner: South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
Work: for baritone and orchestra (25’)

Composer: Chinary Ung
Commissioner: Zeitgeist
Work: for two percussionists, piano, and clarinet (20’)

Composer: Yiorgos Vassilandonakis
Commissioner: Jean Kopperud (clarinet)
Work: for clarinet and percussion (12’)

Composer: Daniel Wohl
Commissioner: Diapason Gallery for Sound and Intermedia
Work: for clarinet, piano, violin, and percussion (20’-30’)

Composer: Julia Wolfe
Commissioner: ETHEL
Work: for string quartet and voice (35’-40’)

Composer: Yehudi Wyner
Commissioner: Chamber Music San Francisco
Work: for clarinet, cello, and piano (12’-15’)

Composer: Evan Ziporyn
Commissioner: Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Work: concerto for tabla and chamber orchestra (30’)

-- David Ng