photo by T.R.Beery

Nebojsa S. Macura was born in 1982 in Belgrade, Serbia, and immigrated to the United States in 1990. He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA), University of British Columbia (MM), and University of Wisconsin-Madison (BM). His composition teachers include Joel Hoffman, Ellen Harrison, Stephen Chatman, Dorothy Chang, Stephen Dembski, Laura Schwendinger, and Scott Gendel.

Ensembles that have performed Dr. Macura's compositions include the University of South Carolina Symphonic Winds, CCM Chamber Players, California State University-Bakersfield Concert Band, Quad City Wind Ensemble, Xavier University Symphonic Winds, University of Iowa Chamber Orchestra, and Turning Point Ensemble. His music has been featured at the SCI National Conference, Sonic Boom Festival, Midwest Composers Symposium, CBDNA Southern Division Conference, Midwest Graduate Music Consortium, New Dischord Festival, and MusicX. In addition, he has participated in workshops by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Standing Wave Ensemble, and Borealis String Quartet.

contact: nebmac(at)gmail.com

Recent and Upcoming Performances

April 30, 2014 7:30pm
Tableaux d'hiver
CCSU Wind Ensemble
Lauren Heller, conductor
Welte Auditorium
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT

April 18, 2014 8:30pm
Rondo Alla Balcanica
Heather Shelton, Eb clarinet
Damien Hicks, tenor saxophone
Margaret Comstock Concert Hall
Louisville, KY

February 14, 2014 7:30pm
Summer Night
Nazareth College Wind Symphony
Jared Chase, conductor
Nazareth College
Rochester, NY

February 7, 2014
Chochek Rhapsody
University of Victoria Wind Ensemble
Eugene Dowling, conductor
Farquhar Auditorium
University of Victoria
Victoria, Canada

October 25, 2013
Rondo Alla Balcanica
Awea Duo
Ball State University
Muncie, IN

October 24, 2013
Rondo Alla Balcanica
Awea Duo
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY

October 23, 2013
Rondo Alla Balcanica
Awea Duo
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY

October 22, 2013
Rondo Alla Balcanica
Awea Duo
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

October 21, 2013 8:00pm
Rondo Alla Balcanica
Awea Duo
Marshall University
Huntington, WV

October 20, 2013 5:00pm
Rondo Alla Balcanica
Awea Duo
Morehead State University
Morehead, KY

September 29, 2013 7:30pm
Echoes of Rascia
University of Louisville Wind Ensemble
Frederick Speck, conductor
Margaret Comstock Concert Hall
Louisville, KY

September 10, 2013 8:00pm
Six-Year Interlude
Suzanne Snizek, flute
Joanna Hood, viola
Michelle Mares, piano
Phillip T. Young Recital Hall
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC (Canada)

Selected Works

[see "Compositions" below for audio and score samples]

more audio samples available here

Tableaux d'hiver (2013) 11'
wind ensemble
commissioned by the 2013-2014
Central Connecticut State University Wind Ensemble,
Lauren Heller, conductor

Rondo Alla Balcanica (2013) 7'
version 1: flute, alto saxophone
version 2: Eb clarinet, tenor saxophone
composed for the Awea Duo

Family Letters (2012) 9'
horn, violin

In the Early Dawn (2012) 1'
oud
composed for Marina Toshich and
the Fifteen Minutes of Fame project

Summer Night (2012) 8'
wind ensemble

Two-Headed Oro (2012) 1'
clarinet
composed for Bruce Curlette and
the Fifteen Minutes of Fame project

Scampering Creatures (2011) 1'
violin, cello

Diptych (2011) 6'
flute, oboe, clarinet

Six-Year Interlude (2011) 8'
version 1: flute, viola, harp (or piano)
version 2: flute, alto flute, bass flute, piano

Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble (2011) 27'
piano, wind ensemble

Chochek Rhapsody (2010) 9'
concert band
commissioned by the 2010-2011
Xavier University Symphonic Wind Ensemble,
Matthew Westgate, conductor

Colours of the Earth (2010) 10'
chamber ensemble
[1+AFl-1+EH-1+BsCl-1+Cbsn, 1-1-1-0, str.bass]

Mind States (2010) 15'
trombone, piano
commissioned by Timothy Anderson,
Assistant Professor of Trombone,
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Music for a Serbian Celebration (2010) 6'
trumpet, string quartet, piano four hands
commissioned by Dr. Srdjan Babovic and
Dr. Dusica Babovic-Vuksanovic

Fanfare for Violas (2009) 4'
4 violas (or multiples)

Mr. Ravenscroft's Haunting (2009) 4'
fixed-format electronics

Scenes From the Old Country (2009) 11'
percussion quartet

Second Nocturne (2009) 4'
clarinet, piano

Swan Song (2009) 3'
high version: oboe or soprano saxophone
low version: bassoon or bass clarinet

Vanished City (2009) 7'
piano

What Is Yet Unfound (2009) 3'
horn

Canzoni di Primavera (2008) 7'
2 violins, piano four hands

Chamber Music No. 5 - Insomniac Dreams (2008) 9'
bass clarinet, cello

Echoes of Rascia (2008) 10'
wind ensemble or concert band
**Finalist, 2nd International Frank Ticheli Composition Contest**

September Fanfare (2008) 2'
brass ensemble

Fierce Desire for Love's Delight (2007) 7'
English horn, fixed-format electronics

For the Impossible Dream (2007) 8'
viola, piano

Sprawl-Dystopia (2007) 10'
orchestra
[2(Picc)-2(EH)-2(BsCl)-2(Cbsn), 4-2-3-1, Timp+2 Perc, Strings]

Reflections on Solitude (2005) 7'
flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, 1 perc., cello, double bass
**Honorable Mention, 2008 Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Student Composition Contest, University of Cincinnati**

Compositions

Echoes of Rascia

PDF score

“Rascia” is the Latin name for Raška, a medieval state in southeastern Europe populated by the Serbian people, and a predecessor to the modern-day Republic of Serbia. While the rich history of its liturgical chant is well documented, little is known about other types of Serbian music from the Middle Ages.

Echoes of Rascia draws upon the musical traditions, both real and imagined, of this bygone era. Except for a quote from a Serbian Orthodox (Christian) hymn, first played by the flugelhorn at the beginning of the piece, all the thematic material is original.

This work is dedicated to Rodney Winther, Professor Emeritus at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, in gratitude for his guidance and support.

Chochek Rhapsody

PDF score

In several countries of southeastern Europe, the term chochek refers to a type of folk dance, as well as the associated musical genre, both of which developed under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Characterized by syncopated rhythms and energetic melodies, the music is traditionally performed by an ensemble of brass instruments and drums, sometimes also including clarinets or saxophones.

While this musical heritage was the main source of inspiration, the creation of Chochek Rhapsody was also shaped by the study of wind music from the “classical” tradition of North America and western Europe, particularly the rich variety of tone colors found in the wind band.

Chochek Rhapsody was commissioned by the 2010-11 Xavier University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Matthew Westgate, conductor.

Second Nocturne

PDF score

In 2002, shortly before changing my undergraduate major from meteorology to music composition, I wrote a Nocturne for clarinet and piano. While not entirely ineffectual, the piece was constrained by my younger self’s deficiencies in technical skill and limited aesthetic outlook. The Second Nocturne, composed seven years later, is intended as a more mature response to that earlier piece.

Colours of the Earth

PDF score

"These hearts were woven of human joys and cares,
Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth.
The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs,
And sunset, and the colours of the earth."

-Rupert Brooke (1887-1915), "War Sonnets: IV. The Dead" [excerpt]

On Monday, June 1, 2009, an airplane carrying 228 people vanished over the Atlantic Ocean. Its fate remained a mystery for the next 24 hours, until rescuers found debris floating in open water. There were no survivors.

Later that week, with news of the disaster and Brooke's words on my mind, I began to compose Colours of the Earth.