by Kile Smith | Feb 6, 2013 | Chamber Music, Early Music, New Compositions, new music
[First published 5 Feb 2013 in the Broad Street Review and reprinted with permission. Read Part 1 here.] I had created the title; the only thing left was to create the music. In describing the composing of Red-tail and Hummingbird, I’m tempted to warn, at every step,...
by Kile Smith | Jan 23, 2013 | Chamber Music, Early Music, New Compositions, new music
[First published 21 Jan 2013 in the Broad Street Review and reprinted with permission.] Careening diagonally across the top of my line of sight, a large bird swooped down and slammed into the holly branches not seven feet away from me, scattering sparrows and...
by Kile Smith | Jan 14, 2013 | Chamber Music, New Compositions, new music
Red-tail and Hummingbird, my new piece for Orchestra 2001 and Piffaro, The Renaissance Band, slammed into the double bar a few hours ago, and not a moment too soon. Both groups play the same piece on the same concert: early and modern instruments. The wailing finished...
by Kile Smith | Dec 4, 2012 | CDs, Choral music, church music, Early Music, new music
From Vespers, my Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern was performed this evening at Northwestern University, in a new version for two oboes, cello, and keyboard. Thank you, Donald Nally, the Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble and all of the musicians! The English...
by Kile Smith | Sep 27, 2012 | Chamber Music, Early Music, New Compositions, new music
My upcoming Orchestra 2001 commission, Red-tail and Hummingbird, has made the highlight reel of concerts Tom Purdom is anticipating in Philadelphia’s 2012-13 concert season, which he writes up in the Broad Street Review. I’m there with Hillary Hahn,...
