by Kile Smith | Mar 27, 2013 | Brass Music, Chamber Music, New Compositions, new music
Thanks to the fine brass players of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra for including Red-tail and Hummingbird in their Chamber Series concert last night at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington. This was the premiere of one of the new versions for all-brass sextet: 2 trumpets,...
by Kile Smith | Feb 20, 2013 | Chamber Music, Early Music, New Compositions, new music
[First published 19 Feb 2013 in the Broad Street Review and reprinted with permission. This is the last of the 4-part series; read Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.] I compose almost exclusively in modes. I mention this shoptalk only to hint at...
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 | 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,...
