"The Portals of St Bartholomew" is a site-specific composition for St Bartholomew's Church in NYC, with spatial separation, surrounding the audience/congregation. Recorded in concert at St Bart's by Jim Mustin on May 14, 2008. For men's chorus, women's chorus, children's chorus, six vocal soloists, two trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, six timpani (one player), two flutes, clarinet in B flat, and St Bart's 12,422 pipe Aeolian Skinner organ. Conducted by the composer, William Trafka, and Paolo Bordignon. The forces are distributed throughout the space in 16 different locations. The texts are engraved in various locations in the church. The composer imagines the building itself, singing to the listener. Inspired by an conception of Henry Brant.

The Portals of St Bartholomew

LIMBERLOST
Mvmt. 3 (of 6) from SPIRITS (1993)
- by Michael Schelle

SPIRITS is a work about infamous Hoosiers, commissioned by 
the Indiana State Orchestra Consortium (16 orchestras)

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Neal Gittleman, conductor

LIMBERLOST comes from the early 20th Century teen novel "The Girl of the Limberlost" by Ms. Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924) - an author way ahead of her time: a women's lib advocate, she wore pants (oh, the horror!) and smoked cigarettes.  Ms.Stratton-Porter's books were iconic "must read' literature for adventuresome young ladies, early in the 20th century - the books deal with beauty, hardship, fellowship, independence, empowerment, romance and dreams.  The music reflects early 20th Century yearning and nostalgia.
.


SPIRITS (1994):
JONESTOWN ECHO .. https://soundcloud.com/rimsky-1/michael-schelle-jonestown-echo
DETOUR TO NOWHERE .. https://soundcloud.com/rimsky-1/michael-schelle-detour-to
LIMBERLOST
ONE FOR THE GIPPER .. https://soundcloud.com/rimsky-1/michael-schelle-one-for-the
BEN BONHOMMES ROUGE .. https://soundcloud.com/rimsky-1/michael-schelle-ben-bonhommes
THE LAST RIDE .. https://soundcloud.com/rimsky-1/michael-schelle-the-last
.
Visit: www.schellemusic.com
.

Gene Stratton-Porter .. http://www.genestratton-porter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=2


LIMBERLOST, from "Spirits" (1993) for orchestra

Ray Hardman talks with Wesleyan University music professor Neely Bruce about the life of American composer Anthony Heinrich

Neely Bruce on composer Anthony P. Heinrich

Composition for viola and computer tape
Performed in Smith Music Hall
University of Illinois, 1996
Shirley Meyer Blankenship-Viola

On Stilts Among Ducks By Herbert Brun For Viola And Computer Tape

I composed my "Trois Vieilles Chansons Françaises" for soprano Camille King. Each is a tribute to my love of France and her music. In "Sur le point d'Avignon" the "belles dames" (lovely ladies), "soldats" (soldiers) and, finally "musiciens" (musicians) come out for a bow. This score is unpublished at present but available from the composer.

Plaisir d'amour

Recorded in concert. "This Is It!" No. 12, Sunday 19 February 2017. This composition was originally written for harpsichord solo, and was the final number in "A Book of Pieces for the Harpsichord" (1965-85), dedicated to Larry Palmer. This piece is inspired by the complex canons of Conlin Nancarrow. It is probably impossible for one person to play it. The version for two harpsichords, heard here, is the definitive version of the piece.

Canon (1985)

The sixth section of "The Portals of St Bartholomew." Recorded in concert by Jim Mustin on May 14, 2008, at St Bartholomew's Church NYC. For men's chorus, women's chorus, children's chorus, two trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, six timpani (one player), two flutes, clarinet in B flat, and St Bart's 12,422 pipe Aeolian Skinner organ.  Conducted by the composer, William Trafka, and Paolo Bordignon. The forces are distributed throughout the space in 16 different locations. The texts are engraved in various locations in the church. The composer imagines the building itself, singing to the listener.  Inspired by an conception of Henry Brant.

Portals #6: I am the Resurrection and the Life

The fifth section of "The Portals of St Bartholomew." Recorded in concert by Jim Mustin on May 14, 2008, at St Bartholomew's Church NYC. For men's chorus, women's chorus, children's chorus, two trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, six timpani (one player), two flutes, clarinet in B flat, and St Bart's 12,422 pipe Aeolian Skinner organ.  Conducted by the composer, William Trafka, and Paolo Bordignon. The forces are distributed throughout the space in 16 different locations. The texts are engraved in various locations in the church. The composer imagines the building itself, singing to the listener.  Inspired by an conception of Henry Brant.

Portals #5: Polytonal Event

The fourth section of "The Portals of St Bartholomew." Recorded in concert by Jim Mustin on May 14, 2008, at St Bartholomew's Church NYC. For men's chorus, women's chorus, children's chorus, two trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, six timpani (one player), two flutes, clarinet in B flat, and St Bart's 12,422 pipe Aeolian Skinner organ.  Conducted by the composer, William Trafka, and Paolo Bordignon. The forces are distributed throughout the space in 16 different locations. The texts are engraved in various locations in the church. The composer imagines the building itself, singing to the listener.  Inspired by an conception of Henry Brant.

Portals #4: More Unisons

The third section of "The Portals of St Bartholomew." Recorded in concert by Jim Mustin on May 14, 2008, at St Bartholomew's Church NYC. For men's chorus, women's chorus, children's chorus, two trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, six timpani (one player), two flutes, clarinet in B flat, and St Bart's 12,422 pipe Aeolian Skinner organ.  Conducted by the composer, William Trafka, and Paolo Bordignon. The forces are distributed throughout the space in 16 different locations. The texts are engraved in various locations in the church. The composer imagines the building itself, singing to the listener.  Inspired by an conception of Henry Brant.

Portals #3: The Singing Pulpit

The second section of "The Portals of St Bartholomew." Recorded in concert by Jim Mustin on May 14, 2008, at St Bartholomew's Church NYC. For men's chorus, women's chorus, children's chorus, two trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, six timpani (one player), two flutes, clarinet in B flat, and St Bart's 12,422 pipe Aeolian Skinner organ.  Conducted by the composer, William Trafka, and Paolo Bordignon. The forces are distributed throughout the space in 16 different locations. The texts are engraved in various locations in the church. The composer imagines the building itself, singing to the listener.  Inspired by an conception of Henry Brant.

Portals #2: Psalm 150

The first section of "The Portals of St Bartholomew." Recorded in concert by Jim Mustin on May 14, 2008, at St Bartholomew's Church NYC. For men's chorus, women's chorus, children's chorus, two trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, six timpani (one player), two flutes, clarinet in B flat, and St Bart's 12,422 pipe Aeolian Skinner organ.  Conducted by the composer, William Trafka, and Paolo Bordignon. The forces are distributed throughout the space in 16 different locations. The texts are engraved in various locations in the church. The composer imagines the building itself, singing to the listener.  Inspired by an conception of Henry Brant.

Portals #1: Intrada

Composer: Neely Bruce
"Arkansas" -- from The Sacred Guitar; based on a tune from The Sacred Harp, by S. P. Barnett, #271 top.
Performed by Thomas Schuttenhelm on a 1976 American Telecaster

Arkansas: based on a tune by S. P. Barnett, #271 (from the Sacred Harp)

This is a set of ten short pieces, separated by brief pauses. They were written down with pencil and paper, but in a totally spontaneous manner, as one would improvise at the keyboard. This is the first piece of mine that my teacher Herbert Brün liked. (He liked only a few pieces on mine...)The complete piano works of Neely Bruce. "This Is it!" #15. July 15, 2018.

Improvisations One (1967)

Circular 14 (2013-2017)is an oratorio for eight solo voices, two choruses, and large orchestra. It tells the story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes. In 1940 this Portuguese diplomat, in direct defiance of the orders of his president, issued an estimated 30,000 illegal visas that allowed refugees in occupied France to escape to Portugal. His actions saved countless lives, but infuriated Salazar, who punished him severely. For more information about Sousa Mendes and this composition go to http://sousamendesfoundation.org

Circular 14 #20: Finale

I like to amuse myself once in awhile and write something uncomplicated. Here's a simple modal fugue for an intermediate piano student.

Pieces For The Young - Fugue

Penumbra for String Quartet.  Performed here by the sadly now defunct Cordova Quartet.

Penumbra for String Quartet

I am a composer/performer. Today I begin to upload a lifetime of recordings! Be patient. A lot more to come...

Portals #6: I am the Resurrection and the Life

neelybrucemusic

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