• Delray String Quartet Premieres and Records String Quartet No. 5 (“American”)

  

  Luo, Cotik, Fuchs, Fleischman and Jaffé
  The Delray String Quartet, which commissioned Kenneth Fuchs to compose his String Quartet No. 5 (“American”), gave the work its premiere performance on Sunday January 15 at The Colony Hotel and Cabaña Club in Delray Beach, Florida. Read a review here. The performance was repeated at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale on January 20 and Sunday January 22 at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Coconut Grove. The following day, the Delray String Quartet recorded the work, with the composer in attendance and the legendary Judith Sherman as producer. Naxos will release the recording, along with Trio21 performing the Fuchs Falling Trio and pianist Christopher O’Riley performing Falling Canons, both of which Sherman recorded last year. The commission for the quartet resulted from the Delray String Quartet’s performance of Fuchs’s String Quartet No. 4 in December 2010. The quartet members are Mei Mei Luo and Tomas Cotik, violins; Richard Fleischman, viola; Claudio Jaffé, cello. For more information about the Delray String Quartet, visit their website at www.delraystringquartet.com

• Spartanburg Philharmonic premieres Falling Man

  Kenneth Fuchs takes a bow with baritone James Maddalena and music director Sarah Ioannides following the world premiere of Falling Man by the Spartanburg Philharmonic on September 10, 2011. The work sets to music the prologue of Don DeLillo’s searing post-9/11 novel Falling Man, with a libretto by poet J.D. McClatchy. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal called the work “remarkable,” with “orchestral interjections of great beauty and power.”

  Falling Man is cast in the form of a dramatic scena for baritone voice and orchestra. The work’s principal melodic and harmonic elements are organized around a falling 12-tone theme, fragments of which emerge at the outset, first in the orchestra and then with the setting of the first line of text, “This was the world now, a time and space of falling ash and near night.”

• Trio21 premieres Falling Trio

  Trio21 — Jeffrey Biegel, piano, Kinga Augustyn, violin, and Robert deMaine, cello — commissioned Kenneth Fuchs to write Falling Trio for the opening concert of their 2011–12 season and performed the world premiere at Bargemusic in Brooklyn, New York, on September 18, 2011. The trio is based on the theme of Falling Man and was performed with lower Manhattan and the rising Freedom Tower as the backdrop. The group recorded the work the following day for inclusion on an upcoming disc of Fuchs’s chamber music to be released by Naxos. For more information about Trio21, visit their website at www.trio-21.com.

  The Falling Man theme is organized around a sequence of 12 different descending pitches and is developed as a set of seven fantasy variations, each a canon on successive ascending scalar pitches. Falling Trio also features a lyrical “reconciliation theme,” interpolated twice in the work, with which the instruments attempt to reconcile the work’s tonal and non-tonal musical language.

• London Symphony Orchestra records five works by Kenneth Fuchs

  The London Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of internationally known conductor JoAnn Falletta and featuring Michael Ludwig, concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Paul Silverthorne, principal violist of the LSO, recorded five works of Kenneth Fuchs, on August 18–19, 2011, at Abbey Road Studios, the legendary recording facility in London. The five works are:
  • Divinum Mysterium (Concerto for Viola and Orchestra)
  • American Rhapsody (Romance for Violin and Orchestra)
  • Atlantic Riband (for Orchestra)
  • Concerto Grosso (for String Quartet and String Orchestra)
  • Discover the Wild (for Orchestra)
  Grammy Award-winning producer Tim Handley and engineer Jonathan Allen were in charge of recording and production. Naxos, which has released two previous discs of works by Kenneth Fuchs, will release the recording on its "American Classics" label in August 2012.

• JoAnn Falletta rehearses Canticle to the Sun in Chile

  Music Director JoAnn Falletta and Principal Horn Jacek Muzyk, both of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform Canticle to the Sun (Concerto for Horn and Orchestra) with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile, Santiago, Teatro Universidad de Chile, July 8-9, 2011. Read a review excerpt here.

• Space Coast Symphony Orchestra performs United Artists

  

  Collins, Fuchs, and Biegel
  On June 25 and 26, at Merritt Island and Vero Beach, Florida, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra and conductor Aaron Collins performed Kenneth Fuchs’ United Artists. The program included concertos by Keith Emerson and Leroy Anderson performed by Jeffrey Biegel. Photo: Rod Ostoski

• Blog features Kenneth Fuchs's choral music

  Read the feature about Kenneth Fuchs's choral music on the Yelton Rhodes Music blog Choralicious!

• Christopher O’Riley premières Falling Canons

  Christopher O'Riley, one of the leading pianists of his generation and host of NPR's From the Top, gave the première performance of Kenneth Fuchs's Falling Canons for piano at the Caramoor Festival on July 30, 2010, in Katonah, New York. He continued to perform them in concerts during the 2010—2011 season. The seven canons are based on the theme from Fuchs's extended work for baritone voice and orchestra Falling Man. Hear three preview performances O'Riley gave on From the Top broadcasts:
  

  Falling Canon No. 1
  

  Falling Canon No. 2
  

  Falling Canon No. 3

• Saxophone Concerto Commission

  Ryan Janus, principal saxophonist of the United States Air Force Academy Band (Colorado Springs), has organized a consortium to commission Kenneth Fuchs to compose a saxophone concerto. Fuchs is composing both a band and orchestral version of the concerto. For more information about the project, visit Ryan Janus's website at www.ryanjanus.com/commissions.html

• Air Force Academy Band Records United Artists

  The U.S. Air Force Academy Band (Colorado Springs, Colorado), has released Windscapes, a disc that includes Kenneth Fuchs’s United Artists. Lt. Col. Larry H. Lang, commander and conductor, commissioned the band transcription from the original work for orchestra. Score and parts available here. Hear an excerpt from United Artists:
  

  United Artists (for Band)

• Hal Leonard publishes United Artists and Discover the Wild for wind ensemble

  Hal Leonard Corporation has published Discover the Wild (Overture for Band) as part of its Concert Band Series. The company, America’s largest seller of band music, describes the piece: “this powerful work opens with the horn section stating the main theme … A beautiful and lyrical middle theme creates a mesmerizing and calming effect before the opening theme and faster pace makes a return for the dramatic finish. Concisely scored with an intriguing variety of textures, this is an impressive work for contest or festival. Dur: 4:40." Score and parts available here. Discover the Wild is Fuchs’s second addition to the Hal Leonard Concert Band Series. The first, United Artists, was published in 2009: “From the striking opening chords to the blazing woodwind passages and dynamic brass and percussion writing, you are in for a special treat with this powerful concert opener by acclaimed composer Kenneth Fuchs. Commissioned by the USAF Academy Band, Colorado Springs, CO, this is certain to become an important addition to the repertoire for winds. Dur: 5:30." Score and parts available here.

• Second Fuchs CD with the London Symphony Orchestra

  Naxos released a new disc of orchestral and chamber works by Kenneth Fuchs recorded by conductor JoAnn Falletta leading the LSO. A conductor visiting London reported, "The orchestra started raving about your music the moment I got here! And don’t forget: that praise is coming from the musicians." The disc is available for sampl­ing and down­loading at Amazon, Naxos and iTunes, and available for pur­chase as a CD at Amazon. Repertoire includes
  • United Artists (for Orchestra)
  • Canticle to the Sun (Concerto for Horn and Orchestra), composed especially for principal Timothy Jones
  • Autumn Rhythm (Idyll for Woodwind Quintet After a Painting by Jackson Pollock)
  • Fire, Ice, and Summer Bronze (After Two Works on Paper by Helen Frankenthaler), for brass quintet
  • Quiet in the Land (American Idyll), for flute, clarinet, English horn, viola, and cello.
  See photos from the recording sessions here.   Falletta photo: Jim Bush

• Kenneth Fuchs tracks available on iTunes

  Three albums of music by Kenneth Fuchs — Canticle to the Sun and An American Place, both recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, and String Quartets 2, 3, 4, recorded by the American String Quartet — are available for sampling and downloading from iTunes. Also available is Christina’s World, recorded by the University of Miami Wind Ensemble. See links here.
  Left: 2005 Grammy^®Award nominee, "Best Instrumental soloist with Orchestra" (Thomas Stacy, English horn, and JoAnn Falletta, conductor, for Eventide) and "Producer of the Year, Classical" (Michael Fine)

• Air Force Band of Liberty records On Silver Wings

  The U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty (Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts), has released On Silver Wings, a disc that includes Kenneth Fuchs’s piece of the same title. Lt. Col. Larry H. Lang, commander and conductor, commissioned three of the nine works, including On Silver Wings. The CD is sent primarily to the military, libraries, schools, and universities. To request a copy, write to
  SSgt Jason Millot
  NCOIC Media
  USAF Band of Liberty
  25 Chennault St.
  HAFB MA, 01731
  Five tracks are available online in MP3 format. Hear an excerpt from On Silver Wings, by Kenneth Fuchs:
  

  On Silver Wings

Performances

• United Artists (for Orchestra)

  Space Coast Symphony Orchestra
  Aaron Collins, conductor
  
  • Saturday, June 25, 2011, 7 p.m.
    First Baptist Church
    Merritt Island, Florida
  • Sunday, June 26, 2011, 3 p.m.
    Community Church
    Vero Beach, Florida

• Canticle to the Sun (Concerto for Horn and Orchestra)

  Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile
  JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  Jacek Muzyk, principal horn, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
  July 8-9, 2011
  Santiago, Chile

• Eventide (Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra)

  Thomas Stacy, English horn (New York Philharmonic, 1972–2010)
  Teddy Niedermaier, piano
  August 2, 2011, 8 p.m.
  Hidden Valley Music Seminar
  88 West Carmel Valley Road
  Carmel Valley, California

• United Artists (for Orchestra)

  Wheeling Symphony Orchestra
  André Raphel, conductor
  
  • Sunday, September 4, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
    Anne Kuchinka Amphitheater at Oglebay Park
    Wheeling, West Virginia
  • Monday, September 5, 2011, 7 p.m.
    Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater at Riverfront Park
    Morgantown, West Virgina

• Falling Man (for Baritone Voice and Orchestra,
  text by Don DeLillo, adapted by J. D. McClatchy) — world première

  Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra
  Sarah Ioannides, conductor
  James Maddalena, baritone
  September 10, 2011
  Twichell Auditorium at Converse College
  580 East Main Street
  Spartanburg, South Carolina

• Eventide (Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra)

  Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra
  Tara Simoncic, conductor
  Gregory Shook, English horn
  September 17, 2011, 8 p.m.
  Shepherd University Frank Arts Center
  Shepherdstown, West Virginia

• Falling Trio (for Piano, Violin and Violoncello) — world première

  Trio21
  (Jeffrey Biegel, piano; Kinga Augustyn, violin; Robert deMaine, violoncello)
  September 18, 2011, 3 p.m.
  Bargemusic
  2 Old Fulton Street
  Brooklyn, New York
  Program
  W.A. Mozart: Piano Trio No. 2 in G Major, K. 496
  Kenneth Fuchs: Falling Trio (2011)
  Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Opus 87

• Falling Man (for Baritone Voice and Orchestra,
  text by Don DeLillo, adapted by J. D. McClatchy)

  Salt Lake Symphony
  Robert Baldwin, conductor
  Michael Chipman, baritone
  October 8, 2011
  Libby Gardner Concert Hall
  1375 East President's Circle
  University of Utah, Salt Lake City

• Christina’s World (Idyll for Winds, Brass, and Percussion After a Painting by Andrew Wyeth)

  University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble
  Jeffrey Renshaw, conductor
  October 13, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
  von der Mehden Recital Hall
  University of Connecticut, Storrs

• String Quartet No. 5 (“American”) — world première

  Delray String Quartet
  (Mei Mei Luo and Tomas Cotik, violins; Richard Fleischman, viola; Claudio Jaffé, cello)
  • The Colony Hotel and Cabaña Club
    Delray Beach, Florida
    Sunday, January 15, 2012, 4 p.m.
    Read a review here.
  • All Saints Episcopal Church
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    Friday, January 20, 2012, 8 p.m.
  • Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church
    Coconut Grove, Florida
    Sunday, January 22, 2012, 4 p.m.

• Discover the Wild (for Orchestra)

  Space Coast Symphony Orchestra
  Aaron Collins, conductor
  • Friday, February 24, 2012, 7 p.m.
    Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Auditorium
    Melbourne, Florida
  • Saturday, February 25, 2012, 7 p.m.
    Trinity Episcopal Church
    Vero Beach, Florida

• United Artists (for Band)

  University of Central Missouri Wind Ensemble
  Robert Satterwhite, conductor
  Friday, March 2, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
  Hendricks Hall
  Warrensburg, Missouri

• Out of the Dark (After Three Paintings by Helen Frankenthaler)

  Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston
  Kevin Rhodes, conductor
  April 29, 2012, 3 p.m.
  The Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts
  539 Tremont Street
  Boston, Massachusetts

• Canticle to the Sun (Concerto for Horn and Orchestra)

  Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra
  Victor Yampolsky, conductor
  Gail Williams, principal horn, Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra
  May 12, 2012
  Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University
  Evanston, Illinois

• Atlantic Riband (for Orchestra) — East Coast première

  This will be a gala collaboration by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the S.S. United States Conservancy and The Mariners’ Museum. The event honors the 60th anniversary of the record-breaking maiden voyage of the S.S. United States (July 3–7, 1952), on which the ship captured the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing, a record equaled by no other passenger ship. The S.S. United States was built in Newport News, Virginia (1950–1952).
  Virginia Symphony Orchestra
  JoAnn Falletta, conductor
  September 7, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
  Ferguson Center for the Arts
  Newport News, Virginia

• Atlantic Riband (for Orchestra)

  Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra
  Toshi Shimada, conductor
  October 20, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
  Garde Arts Center
  New London, Connecticut