it's nothing new: musings from quarantine

Available for streaming and download here:
https://spencerwinell.bandcamp.com/album/its-nothing-new
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwdv3CaT8QE

hitherzither - for akkordzither and electronics
the owls are not what they seem - for soprano and piano
Dunsinore and Elsinane - for electronics
thitherzither - for akkordzither and electronics
The Death of Schoenberg - an operetta in two scenes

"the owls are not what they seem" features soprano Avery Richards, text by Spencer Winell
Text for "Dunsinore and Elsinane" by William Shakespeare

All pieces composed by Spencer Winell
Production, editing, mixing and mastering by Spencer Winell & Tina Tallon

The Death of Schoenberg Players: 

Sarah Mair as The Mystic
Alena Feldman as Arnold Schoenberg
Stephanie Rivero as Gertrud Schoenberg
Emerald Brooke Barbour as The Doctor

Nuala Imrie - Flute
Alexis Mitchell - Oboe
Tim Hanley - Clarinet
Steph Tamas - Saxophones
Nathaniel Edison - Bassoon

Sean McClendon - Horn 1
Jack Krugman - Horn 2
Justin Taveras - Trumpet
Kris Leslie - Trombone
Kamilla Bendersky - Piano

Violin I:
Brian Stuligross
Malachi Provenzano*
Violin II:
Peyton Cook*
Gioia Gedicks
Viola:
Rebecca Miller
Cello:
Enrique Hernandez de Tejada III*
Aodán Collins*
Bass:
Gillian Dana
Jacob Slater

Click tracks and parts for "The Death of Schoenberg" prepared by Liria Music Prep

Libretto, music, percussion, additional strings by Spencer Winell

Special thanks to Tina Tallon, Curtis Hughes, Marc McAneny, Shelbie Rassler, Felipe Lara, Tian Hui Ng, David Sanford, Salvatore Macchia, and Mike Williams without whom this recital would not have been possible. 

*recorded two tracks to fill out the sections because they're stellar

The Death Of Schoenberg

"S O U S E" for solo cello by Spencer Winell
Performed by Felix Fan of the FLUX Quartet at soundSCAPE Festival 2021

download

S O U S E

"It is too soon to know" by Spencer Winell for guitar and electronics

It Is Too Soon To Know

Text excerpted from Gnostic Gospels. This piece documents the composer's personal re-evaluation of Christian mysticism - from viewing all Christianity as an ideology inextricably linked with American Fascism to seeing the varied strata and even finding the foundations of Universalist Liberation Theology. Performed by Avery Richards, Chloe Gardner, Brian Stuligross, Claire Bostick, & Daniel Nerger.

A Reading From The Gospel Of Thomas

Inspired by the films and YouTube uploads of David Lynch. Performed by Avery Richards and Daniel Nerger.

the owls are not what they seem

Text excerpted from the poem of the same name by Sylvia Plath. Performed by Spencer Winell and Daniel Nerger.

Lady Lazarus

The inaugural concert of Boston's brand new Pierrot ensemble - Der Gestanke - featuring vocalist Rose Hegele, flautist Hannah Elizabeth Tobias, clarinetist Walter Yee, violinist Brian Stuligross, cellist Athos Maelstrom, percussionist Wes Fowler, pianist Daniel Nerger, conducted by Justin Taveras. Featuring world premieres by Spencer Winell & Nicholas Borgia-Tran, as well as Arnold Schönberg's Pierrot Lunaire

Read Julie Ingelfinger's review for Boston Musical Intelligencer here: https://www.classical-scene.com/2023/07/17/new-pierrot-ensemble-belies-its-name/?fbclid=IwAR1A7gN-BxUAOIqh2KU55L1RO0NyVwV8JimRloOzUpPyKspFFLW-xgqHYhM

Digital Programs found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XduPg2myIJQQX6Tapg2cgJ9WjS1YlifC/view?fbclid=IwAR0knDNuVsDa72rHvspimRbWs0ebTUG4eVJxpQ2K7-D6PK5mRHBmFo3d3ZM

reaching towards, reaching from - The general progression of the piece is betrayed by its title in that the music is constantly reaching both towards and from A4, eventually becoming totally consumed by it. The form consists of the strophe, which is expository; the antistrophe, which is reactionary; and the epode, which acts to summarize and juxtapose the two. Each are imbued with non-linear presentations of the particular materials.

reaching towards, reaching from

The inaugural concert of Boston's brand new Pierrot ensemble - Der Gestanke - featuring vocalist Rose Hegele, flautist Hannah Elizabeth Tobias, clarinetist Walter Yee, violinist Brian Stuligross, cellist Athos Maelstrom, percussionist Wes Fowler, pianist Daniel Nerger, conducted by Justin Taveras. Featuring world premieres by Spencer Winell & Nicholas Borgia-Tran, as well as Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire

Read Julie Ingelfinger's review for Boston Musical Intelligencer here: https://www.classical-scene.com/2023/07/17/new-pierrot-ensemble-belies-its-name/?fbclid=IwAR1A7gN-BxUAOIqh2KU55L1RO0NyVwV8JimRloOzUpPyKspFFLW-xgqHYhM

Digital Programs found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XduPg2myIJQQX6Tapg2cgJ9WjS1YlifC/view?fbclid=IwAR0knDNuVsDa72rHvspimRbWs0ebTUG4eVJxpQ2K7-D6PK5mRHBmFo3d3ZM

A collage of expressions of madness throughout poetry, music, literature, and theater, presented as a path with dangerous curves. This piece was written during the first half of 2023, in which over 540 anti-Queer bills were introduced in state legislatures across the US, and, as such, is an expression of personal as well as political rage.

blood...all over my hands

Boston's Der Gestanke plays Joan Tower's "Petroushskates" and Arnold Schönberg's "Pierrot Lunaire" at First Parish Church United in Westford, MA

Digital Programs found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e8n4jc6qT0xY2d3dTBXbQLxBF8g79WUj/view?usp=sharing

Featuring:
Hannah Elizabeth Tobias - flutes
Walter Yee - clarinets
Brian Stuligross - violin, viola
Enrique Hernandez de Tejada III - cello
Spencer Winell - voice
Daniel Nerger - piano
Rose Hegele - conductor

Petroushskates - Joan Tower

This piece operates in extremities. As such, it was named for the historic Parisian theater, Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol (The Theater of the Great Puppet) - known more commonly as Grand Guignol - previously located in the Pigalle district from 1897 until its closing in 1962. The theater specialized in naturalistic horror shows, and today the term is used to describe graphic, amoral horror entertainment. The piece is a love letter to several works that fall under the umbrella term. Written for and premiered by the illustrious JACK Quartet on February 8th, 2024 at Griswold Hall, Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Petroushskates - Joan Tower

Der Gestanke

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