world premiere
San Francisco Contemporary Music Players
Eric Dudley, conductor
Recorded June 12, 2024
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Craig Peaslee - "Her Dress Waves"

A juxtaposition of two presidential addresses, each speaking to/about the media and basically stating that the press needs to be (more) responsible in regards to what they release. However, one orator speaks in a rather eloquent fashion (basically saying, "I can't force you to do as I wish, but I can ask you") and directly to the news media, whereas the other speaks in a very basic and uncouth manner pandering to his base.

Combined with string quartet and other broadcasts, the piece creates an atmosphere as though the listener is periodically switching between several radio stations during an evening of listening. 

Throughout the piece the strings utilize augmented and diminished chords, arpeggios, and runs while also emphatically stating the following message:  
- .-. ..- -- .--. / .. ... / - .... . / . -. . -- -.-- / --- ..-. / - .... . / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . .-.-.-

MIA: Media Informs America

A complete version of John Williams' The Imperial March in a Major Key!

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9MShtCg4fk

Vader's Redemption: The Imperial March in a Major Key

SCHULLER - SEVEN STUDIES 3 - LITTLE BLUE DEVIL - BSO - LEINSDORF

Charles Wetherbee, violin
Vladimir Lande, conductor
St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra
courtesy of "Naxos American Classics"

Violin Concerto I - Prologue Improvisation

For best results, listen to while wearing headphones.

A 2021 American Prize finalist for Chamber Music Composition and recipient of a Special Judges’ Citation for Social Relevance and Musical Quality, "The Death of a Nation" utilizes pre-recorded (fixed) media with a live string quartet that interacts with and adds commentary to the recording.

The entire pre-recorded media comes from an individual, we will call "The Orange Oaf," who often rambles incoherently due to a constant stream of thoughts needing to immediately escape his mouth, causing many nonsensical tangents and interjections into his speech as though one individual were occupying eight seats and having a solo round table discussion.

The composer of "The Death of a Nation" edited a speech so that the 'on script Orange Oaf' had his overarching speech while the interjections and tangents were channeled through several other speakers and "The Orange Oaf" could indeed speak the way he apparently thinks.

Conceptually, the listener should be perceiving audio coming from all around (as though the listener were a small item on the table hosting the eight Orange Oafs as they hold their discussion).


"A highly effective work for string quartet and recorded elements (primarily carefully edited speeches by President Trump), that, regardless of one's political leanings, is highly entertaining and, on another level, quite troubling. (The audio track brilliantly utilizes overlapping and repetition to make its points.) The string quartet writing is skilled and diverse, commenting on or contrasting the spoken word in provocative ways, including with the use of familiar patriotic tunes. Exceptionally listenable and just about the right length. Certainly generates thought and, in some cases (one imagines) action. Unique ... at the very least." - David Katz, The American Prize

The Death Of A Nation

Winner of the 2021 Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Composition Competition, "Second City Strut" is an exploration in the hybridization of jazz with that of Western Art music. Constructed from a section of non-literal counterpoint in constant similar rhythmic motion, the incidental harmonies create a layer upon which other melodies, chords, and harmonies are presented - and continually interrupted by spastic flurries of sound.

"a strong and unique work" - Michael Harrison, Composer and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient

"Second city strut is truly a nightmare. But I love it." - Noah J. Nethery, Florida State University

"The sad thing is, I like it!" - Dennis J. Meacham, Northern Illinois University

"A jazz infused work for orchestra that is uncompromising, serious, evidencing exceptional skill in its use of the ensemble and in its understanding of style and instrumental effect. A remarkable melding of modern techniques of orchestral composition with familiar jazz licks, it sounds like little else I know. Deserving of many performances, although it is not easy, except, as a listener, to grasp and appreciate." - David Katz, The American Prize

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*Personnel

Piccolo & Flutes - Sarah Holmes
Oboes - Jenny Charles
Horns (1 & 2) - Mark Robinson
Horns (3 & 4) - Kate Swope
Trumpets - Derek Detzler
Trombones - Jenny Young
Tuba - Dennis Meacham

Clarinets, Bassoons, Percussion, Timpani, Vibraphone, Piano, Harp, and Strings - Vienna Symphonic Library 

*All recorded parts were doubled (and in some locations overtaken) by the Vienna Symphonic Library

Recording Engineers - Tom Hapeman & Mark Robinson
Producer, Editor, MIDI Sequencer, Mixer, Talent Scout - Craig Peaslee

Second City Strut

Winner of the 2022 American Prize in Music Composition - Instrumental Chamber Music (Fragile for Brass Quintet), Winner of the 2021 Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Composition Competition (Second City Strut), twice the recipient of the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network's Music Award (2013 & 2016), and winner of Time Magazine's 2006 Person of the Year, Craig Peaslee's music has been described as bold, brash and unapologetic. Coming to the contemporary composing scene as a jazz performer and arranger, Craig’s compositions have a strong foundation in jazz music and continually find him searching for new ways to incorporate jazz into works for the classical concert music stage, as well as classical elements into jazz pieces. 

His works can be traditional, multi-faceted, dissonant, genre-bending and have been known to directly confront social and political issues in order to bring attention to such topics as well as get listeners to critically think and discuss the challenges facing the world we live in.  Craig's recent compositions include the four movement suite for brass quintet Fragile (2021), Second City Strut (2019) for orchestra, and The Death of a Nation (2018) for string quartet and prerecorded media.
 
Recent performances of his works and arrangements have been by the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, Frost School of Music's Concert Jazz Band, Julius Quartet, Northern Illinois University Graduate Brass Quintet, Boston's Arcadian Winds, the Flight 584 Big Band from Los Angeles, Extra Crispy Brass Band and The Brew City Big Band of Milwaukee, and The Moonlighter's Orchestra. He was included on a recent compilation album Windswept (Navona Records) featuring the Arcadian Winds woodwind quintet.
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As a disabled veteran, Craig enjoys working with veterans organizations to bring music to veterans and exposing veterans to music outside the realm of what can easily be found on commercial radio stations, in movies, and television shows.
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Having been raised in a rural village, Craig is impassioned about being able to present new music to smaller communities and areas that do not normally get the opportunity to attend presentations of new and contemporary music. For these reasons, Craig enjoys writing music that is accessible while also sounding new and invigorating.

MIA: Media Informs America

Craig Peaslee

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