Fleisher Collection | Kile Smith • composer

Fleisher Discoveries: Copland’s Unusual First Symphony

by Kile Smith | Jul 1, 2022 | American music, Fleisher Collection, Fleisher Discoveries, Podcast

Aaron Copland became the leading voice of his generation, led there by Damrosch, Koussevitzky, and a composition teacher who happened to play the organ, Nadia Boulanger. Aaron Copland (1900–1990). Symphony for Organ and Orchestra (1924) Listen on SoundCloud Listen on...

Fleisher Discoveries: Gutchë and Bloch: Industrialization and a Beach in Oregon

by Kile Smith | Jun 1, 2022 | Classical music, Fleisher Collection, Fleisher Discoveries, Podcast

Bloch would take the path down from his cottage to Agate Beach, and there he would write out the expositions to all 48 fugues in Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, from memory. Gene Gutchë (1907–2000). Epimetheus USA (1968) Ernest Bloch (1880–1959). Suite modale (1956)...

Fleisher Discoveries: Igor Markevitch, Ukraine, and Icarus

by Kile Smith | Apr 1, 2022 | Classical music, Fleisher Collection, Fleisher Discoveries, Orchestral Music

This was the last completely original piece of music he would ever write. He was 31 years old and he told people that he was Icarus. Igor Markevitch (1912–1983). Icare (1932–43) Listen on SoundCloud Listen on Spotify Hi everyone, I’m Kile Smith, and welcome to...

Fleisher Discoveries: Easley Blackwood’s First Symphony

by Kile Smith | Mar 1, 2022 | Fleisher Collection, Fleisher Discoveries, Podcast

Blackwood thought to himself, “‘Uh-oh… he’s right! That is exactly the process I use.’ I never wrote another piece like that again. If someone can spot that just listening to it, then it’s too obvious.” Easley Blackwood (b.1933). Symphony No. 1 (1955) Listen on...

Fleisher Discoveries: Richard Yardumian’s Passacaglia

by Kile Smith | Feb 1, 2022 | American music, Classical music, Fleisher Collection, Fleisher Discoveries, Podcast

A passacaglia is an ever-unfolding imagining of a single theme, over and over, like the living of a life. Richard Yardumian (1917–1985). Passacaglia, Recitatives and Fugue for Piano and Orchestra (1957) Listen on SoundCloud Listen on Spotify Hi everybody, I’m Kile...

Fleisher Discoveries: George Rochberg—That Beauty Is Not Dead

by Kile Smith | Dec 31, 2021 | American music, Fleisher Collection, Fleisher Discoveries, Orchestral Music, Podcast

It’s debatable how much power 12-tone music held over classical music in the 20th century, but power it certainly had. Then an inside man dropped a bombshell. A look at George Rochberg. George Rochberg (1918–2005). Symphony No. 1 (1949–57) Listen on SoundCloud Listen...

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At a glance

May. Kile Smith and April Showers, paper by Anthony Zogaib, History of Western Music, Case Western Reserve University

12 May. I Want to Write a Book of Praise from The Arc in the Sky. Chor Leoni and The Leonids, Erick Lichte. Vancouver, BC, Canada

12 May. The Consolation of Apollo. Westminster Choir College, James Jordan

13 May. “I Want to Write a Book of Praise” from The Arc in the Sky. Chor Leoni and The Leonids, Erick Lichte. Vancouver, BC, Canada

14 May. You Are Most Welcome. Nexus Vocal Ensemble, Lennie Cottrell, Portland OR

22 May. New arrangements for treble voices and harp of Psalm 113 from Vespers, and Monstra te essem matrem from Ave Maris Stella. iSing Girlchoir, Jennah Delp. Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph San Jose CA, 4:00

28 May. Sometimes It Happens So. Presentation by Nell Flanders and Kile Smith, Bryn Mawr College

5 Jun. Grandmother’s Garden. Gleeksman-Kohn Children’s Choir, Settlement Music School, Rae Ann Anderson. First United Methodist, Germantown, Philadelphia

11 Jun. A Child’s Afternoon. Anna Meyer, flute, Erik Meyer, organ. The 10th Annual Kimmel Center Organ Day, American Guild of Organists—Philadelphia Chapter

29 Jun. Where Flames a Word. Classical Discoveries, Marvin Rosen, WPRB

1 Jul. Alleluia. Serenades Choral, David Hayes, Noto, Chiesa di Santa Chiara, Italy

2 Jul. Alleluia. Serenades Choral, David Hayes, Siracusa, Chiesa di San Filippo Apostolo, Italy

3 Jul. The Dawn’s Early Light. Modern Notebook, Tyler Kline, WUSF, Tampa FL

3 Jul. Alleluia. Serenades Choral, David Hayes, Ragusa Ibla, Duomo San Giorgio, Italy

Recent CDs

The Bremen Town Musicians. English Symphony Orchestra, Gemma Whelan, narrator, Kenneth Woods, conductor. Fiddles, Forests, and Fowl Fables.

The Arc in the Sky. The Crossing. 2020 Grammy nomination, Best Choral Performance

Canticle and Alleluia. Vocal Arts Ensemble. 2020 Grammy, Classical Producer of the Year, Blanton Alspaugh

In This Blue Room, other songs. Lyric Fest

A Child’s Afternoon. Fantasmagoria. Anna K. Meyer, flute, & Erik Meyer, organ

The Nobility of Women. Mélomanie

The Stars Shine, from The Consolation of Apollo. The Same Stream

Vespers. Piffaro, the Renaissance Band, and The Crossing

Where Flames a Word. The Crossing

Where Flames a Word. Voces Tallinn. 2020 Estonian Recording of the Year

Where Flames a Word. Khorikos

Where Flames a Word. Chicago Chamber Choir

Selected publications

The Star-Spangled Banner. SATB, piano, opt. cello, 5’30”. Hal Leonard

Alleluia. SATB, 6′. Hal Leonard

The Consolation of Apollo. SATB, perc, 35′. MusicSpoke

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. SATB, bells, 3′. Hal Leonard

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. SATB, org, 3′. Concordia.