Jonathan Russell (composer) explained

Genre:Classical
Occupation:Composer
Website:http://jonrussellmusic.com

Jonathan Russell (born 1979) is an American composer of classical music, clarinetist, and bass clarinetist. Russell was the founder of the Switchboard Music Festival, which will hold its 10th anniversary in the summer of 2018.[1] [2] His primary teachers have included Paul Lansky, Barbara White, Steve Mackey, Elinor Armer, and Eric Ewazen.

Career

Composer

Russell has been commissioned by, worked with, and written for ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, Prism Quartet, Symphony Number One, Empyrian Ensemble, Wild Rumpus, Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, and the JACK Quartet.[3] [4]

The Imani Winds has a long-term relationship with Mr. Russell through the wind quintets Legacy Commissioning Project, which has led to three large scale arrangements of orchestral works for woodwind quintet.[5]

Clarinet and bass clarinet

Soloist

A frequent composer for various clarinets, Russell frequently solos as a bass clarinetist, performing his own and other works. Among his own works, he premiered his Sonata for Bass Clarinet and Piano with pianist Kate Campbell which Campbell herself commissioned.[6] Mr. Russell's performance of Debussy's Premiere Rhapsody was noted for giving, “increasing energy, leading to a smashingly tangy conclusion from a lurking opening. Russell is a real virtuoso with true command over his instrument’s range of expression…”[7]

Sqwonk

Along with his partner Jeff Anderle, the bass clarinet duo Sqwonk performed in the San Francisco area.[8] The ensemble has self-released several albums of original music for bass clarinet duo as well as works for small ensemble.[9]

Edmund Welles

See main article: article and Edmund Welles. Sqwonk members Anderle and Russell join with Cornelius Boots and Aaron Novik to form quartet Edmund Welles: The Bass Clarinet Quartet which themselves also have their own discography.[10]

List of works

Original works

Arrangements

Notes and References

  1. Web site: San Francisco's Switchboard Music Festival Featuring Kronos Quartet, June 10. Amoeblog. en-us. 2018-02-03.
  2. News: Tyondai Braxton (ex-Battles) leads Saturday's Switchboard Music Festival - The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. Van Houten. Ben. 2016-06-16. The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. 2018-02-03. en-US. 2018-02-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203125026/http://thebaybridged.com/2016/06/16/tyondai-braxton-ex-battles-leads-saturdays-switchboard-music-festival/. dead.
  3. News: Classical & Opera Listings for May 22–28. 2015-05-21. The New York Times. 2018-02-03. en-US. 0362-4331.
  4. News: Events in New Jersey for April 13-19, 2014. 2014-04-10. The New York Times. 2018-02-03. en-US. 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Legacy Commissioning Project. Imani Winds. en-US. 2018-02-03.
  6. Web site: Sonata for Bass Clarinet and Piano Jonathan Russell. jonrussellmusic.com. en-US. 2018-02-03.
  7. News: Oeninsula Symphony Rises to Musical Challenge. Bratman. David. March 28, 2014. The San Mateo Daily Journal. 2018-02-03. 2015-09-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20150920163939/http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/arts/2014-03-28/peninsula-symphony-rises-to-musical-challenge/1776425120491.html. dead.
  8. Web site: The Rehearsal Studio: Jonathan Russell Provides Engaging Music for the Latest Garret + Moulton Premiere. Smoliar. Stephen. 2016-07-29. The Rehearsal Studio. 2018-02-03.
  9. News: Sounds Heard: Sqwonk—Black. 2010-07-13. NewMusicBox. 2018-02-03. en.
  10. Web site: Edmund Welles: the bass clarinet quartet. Chamber Music America. 26 April 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195712/http://www.chamber-music.org/pdf/encore/Boots.pdf. dead.
  11. News: String Quartet Smackdown! In Austin. Sigler. Andrew. 2012-11-28. NewMusicBox. 2018-02-03. en.
  12. Web site: Princeton University Orchestra Unveils 2014-15 Ensemble in Concerto Performance Town Topics. Plum. Nancy. www.towntopics.com. en-US. 2018-02-03.
  13. News: A Taste of San Francisco's Switchboard Music Festival. WQXR. 2018-02-03. en.
  14. Web site: Wild Rumpus. wildrumpusmusic.org. 2018-02-03.
  15. Web site: Composition Jonathan Russell. jonrussellmusic.com. en-US. 2018-02-03.
  16. News: Switchboard Music Festival 2012 at Brava Theater. Walsh. Kelsey. 2012-04-12. I CARE IF YOU LISTEN. 2018-02-03. en-US.
  17. News: Living Earth Show: A Striking Vision. Cmiel. Scott. San Francisco Classical Voice. 2018-02-03. en.
  18. News: Review: Redshift at the Gershwin Hotel. Gilman. Seth. New York Music Culture Examiner. en-US.
  19. News: Musical Marathon. Moalem. Beeri. San Francisco Classical Voice. 2018-02-03. en.
  20. News: Dialing it up at the Switchboard Music Festival. Cmiel. Matthew. 2011-04-08. NewMusicBox. 2018-02-03. en.
  21. Web site: Boston Classical Review » Blog Archive » Boston New Music Initiative serves up a bracing array of works. Keebaugh. Aaron. bostonclassicalreview.com. en-US. 2018-02-03.
  22. News: Classical review: Imani Winds at Kaul Auditorium. McQuillen. James. July 3, 2013. The Oregonian. 2018-02-03. en-US.
  23. News: Imani Winds @ Emma Willard School. Dalton. Joseph. 2012-03-25. Arts Talk. 2018-02-03. en-US.
  24. News: Imani Winds triumph in New Orleans, tapping jazz and classical styles with soul and savvy. Waddington. Chris. 2013-03-09. Times Picayune. 2018-02-03. en-US.

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