Brian Fennelly

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With a degree in mechanical engineering (Union College, 1958), Brian Fennelly (born 8/14/1937) began his career as an officer in the Air Force, with service in the U. S. and Korea. After receiving a B. A. from Union (1963), he entered Yale on a Woodrow Wilson fellowship, where he studied music composition and theory with Mel Powell, Allen Forte, Gunther Schuller and George Perle (M.Mus 1965, Ph.D. 1968). From 1968 to 1997 he was Professor of Music in the Faculty of Arts and Science at New York University, where he is now Professor Emeritus. In addition to a Guggenheim fellowship, his awards include three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, two commissions from the Koussevitsky Foundation as well as commissions from the Fromm Foundation, Meet the Composer/Reader’s Digest, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, and others. In 1997 he received a lifetime achievement award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has been awarded composer residencies at the Rockefeller Foundation Center (Bellagio, Italy), the Camargo Foundation (Cassis, France), the Bogliasco Foundation (Italy), and Copland House. His music has been awarded prizes in many competitions, which include the Goffredo Petrassi Competition for Orchestral Music (1993), International Trumpet Guild Competition (First Prize, 1990), the Louisville Orchestra New Music Competition (First Prize [Whitney Prize], 1986), Shreveport Symphony Competition (1981), and the Premio Citta di Trieste (1981). His catalogue includes 15 works for orchestra, 8 choral works, 39 works for chamber groups, and 21 works for a variety of solo instruments. His orchestral and chamber music appears on four solo CDs (Albany, New World, CRI) as well as other works on the Pro Viva, First Edition, Capstone, and New Ariel labels. Releases of orchestral music include Fantasy Variations, In Wildness is the Preservation of the World, On Civil Disobedience, Chrysalis, Thoreau Fantasy No. 2, and A Sprig of Andromeda, the last five all Thoreau-inspired works. Brian Fennelly’s music has been performed by several orchestras including the Rochester Philharmonic, American Composers Orchestra, and The Louisville Orchestra, as well as by chamber ensembles such as the American and Empire Brass Quintets and the Concord, Audubon, and Pro Arte String Quartets. His choral music has been sung by the Gregg Smith Singers and the New York Virtuoso Singers, among others. International performances include two at the Warsaw Autumn (Poland) and four at the ISCM World Music Days (Iceland, Israel, Belgium, and Canada), with recordings by The Louisville Orchestra, Polish Chamber Orchestra, Prague Radio Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Polish Radio National Symphony, as well as acclaimed chamber ensembles such as the Da Capo Chamber Players and the Dorian Wind Quintet. Fennelly’s music is published by Margun Music (Schirmer), MMB Music (St. Louis), Pro Nova (Munich), Ricordi (Milan), and American Composers Edition (New York), among others. In addition to composing and teaching, he has been active as a pianist and also as an officer and board member in a number of music organizations; he also co-directs the Washington Square Contemporary Music Society, which he founded in 1976. Fennelly resides in Kingston, New York with his wife Jacqueline, who played French horn with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic for many years. Liam Fennelly, a son from a previous marriage, is a viola da gamba player living and working in Europe.

RECORDINGS: "SKYSCAPES" (Chamber Music of Brian Fennelly) Albany Records TROY 980; "CHRYSALIS" (Orchestral Music of Brian Fennelly) Albany Records TROY 491; "IN WILDNESS IS THE PRESERVATION OF THE WORLD" (chamber and orchestral) New World 80448-2; "MUSIC OF BRIAN FENNELLY" (chamber and orchestral)CRI CD 759; other orchestral and chamber works on PRO VIVA ISPV 175 CD, First Edition Recordings LCD003, NEW ARIEL CD AE002, CAPSTONECPS-8361........ - WORKLIST: - ORCHESTRA - A Sprig of Andromeda (1992), from A Thoreau Symphony [Winner, 1993 Goffredo Petrassi Orchestral Competition]; A Thoreau Symphony (1992-1997) in three movements, consisting of On Civil Disobedience, A Sprig of Andromeda, and Chrysalis, each performable separately (listed by title); Chrysalis (1996-97), from A Thoreau Symphony Concert Piece for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra (1976) Winner, 1981 Shreveport Symphony Competition; Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra (1983-84) commissioned by David Pituch/ Polish Chamber Orchestra; Empirical Rag, version #8 for orchestra (1980); Fantasia Concertante for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra (2009).for Duo Parnas; Fantasy Variations (1984-85)commissioned by the Koussevitsky Foundation, First Prize, 1986 Louisville Orchestra New Music Competition In Wildness is the Preservation of the World (1974-75) ( Orchestral Fantasy after Thoreau) Lunar Halos (Parasalenae) for Doublebass and Chamber Orchestra (1990) commissioned by James VanDemark and the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra; On Civil Disobedience (1993), from A Thoreau Symphony; Quintuplo (....fivefold five....) for Brass Quintet and Orchestra (1977-78) commissioned by the Empire Brass Quintet with funds from the NEA; Reflections/Metamorphoses for Chamber Orchestra (1995) commissioned by the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra; Scintilla Prisca for Cello and Orchestra (1981, Winner, 1981 Premio Citta di Trieste; "Sigol" for Strings (2007) for String Orchestra written while in residence at Copland House (Aaron Copland Award; The Other Side of Time (2009) for Winds, Brass and Percussion (30 players), for Charles Peltz and the New Englavnd Conservatory Wind Ensemble; Thoreau Fantasy No. 2 (Ambrosial Mornings) (1984-85) commissioned by the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra and supported by National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship; Tropes and Echoes for Clarinet and Orchestra (1981), supported by a Guggenheim Fellowship in Composition - CHORUS - Keats on Love (SATB, piano) (1989) [1. I cry your mercy 2. Hush, hush! tread softly! 3. Bright star (co-winner, 1989 Chautauqua Chamber Singers Competition)] Festive Psalm (SATB, narrator, organ, electronic sounds) (1972) text from Psalm 72; commissioned by St. Luke's Chapel, Trinity Parish; Praise Yah! (STB, organ; optional: 3 trumpets, improvised percussion) (1974) text from Psalms 117, 148; commissioned by St. Luke's Chapel, Trinity Parish; Proud Music (SATB, organ, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones) (1994) text by Walt Whitman; Union College Bicentennial commission; Psalm XIII (SSATBB, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones) (1965, rev. 2007) winner of the Noss Prize for Choral Composition, Yale University; Soon Shall the Winter's Foil (SATB) (1994) text by Walt Whitman; written for the New York Virtuoso Singers; Two Poems of Shelley (SATB) (1982-83), written for the Gregg Smith Singers [1. Music, When Soft Voices Die (1982) 2. Love's Philosophy (1983)] Winterkill (SATB, piano) (1981, rev. 2005) text by P. B. Shelley; written with support from a Guggenheim Fellowship - SOLO VOICE - Songs with Improvisation (e. e. cummings; mezzo, clarinet, piano) (1964, rev. 1969); Two Whitman Songs (Walt Whitman; mezzo, piano) (1962, rev. 2005) - CHAMBER MUSIC - Arias and Interludes(String Quartet No. 2) (2001) commissioned by the Koussevitsky Foundation for the Pro Arte String Quartet; Brass Quintet (No. 1) (1987) (2 tpt, hn, trb, tba) for the Saturday BQ; Winner, 1989 Richmond International Festival Competition; Cantilena (2000) for Flute, Viola, and Harp (from Trio No. 2); Canzona and Dance (1982-83) for Clarinet. Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano, Canzona co-winner 1982 New Music for Young Ensembles Competition; Concerto for Saxophone ( version for saxophone and piano) (1985); Coralita (Corollary I) (1986) for French Horn and Piano; Corollary II (1987-88) for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Corollary III (1989) for Trumpet and Piano, First prize, 1990 International Trumpet Guild Composers Contest; Corollary IV (2002) for Trombone and Piano, commissioned by Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone, NY Philharmonic; Consort I (1976) for Trombone Quintet (ATTBB); Consort II : Photogram (2002) for Saxophone Quartet (for the Prism Quartet); Duo for Violin and Piano (1964); Empirical Rag (1977) for Brass Quintet (2 tpt, hn, trb, tba or B.trb). written for the Empire Brass Quintet; version #3 for violin and piano (1978, rev. 2000); version #4 for wind quintet (1979, rev. 2006); version #5 for clarinet, trombone, cello, and piano ("Warsaw" version) (1979); version #6 for Harmonie ensemble (1979, rev. 2006) (2 ob, 2 cl, 2 hn, 2 bsn, optional cbsn); version #7 for violin, cello, and piano (1980, rev. 2001); version #9 for string quartet (1981, rev. 2000); version #10 for piano four-hands (19940; Evanescences (1969) for Alto Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Electronic Sounds, written for the Aeolian Chamber Players; Hypnotic Song (1985) for Alto Saxophone and Piano (arrangement of the opening movement of Concerto for Saxophone); Locking Horns (Brass Quintet No. 2) (1993) Meet the Composer/Reader's Digest consortium commission, 1992, for the American Brass Quintet, Annapolis Brass Quintet, and Chestnut Brass Co. 2 tpts(F tpts, flg), hn, trb, B.trb or tba; Quincunx (2003) for Trombone, Piano, and Marimba/Vibes (for Joseph Alessi); Prelude and Elegy (1973) for Brass Quintet (2 tpt, hn, trb, tba); Reflected Arc (1991, rev. 2007) for Oboe and Piano, Second Prize, 1998 Britten-on-the-Bay Competition; Sasquatch (2003-04) FOR Contrabass Trombone (or Bass Trb) and 2 percussionists; Scintilla Prisca (1979) for Cello and Piano, International Jury selection, 1981 World Music Days (Israel); Skyscapes I (1995) for Alto Saxophone and String Quartet; Skyscapes II (1999) for Trumpet and String Quartet; Skyscapes III (2002) for Flute(picc,AFl), Clarinet(BCl), Violin, Cello, and Piano, winner 2007 Portland Chamber Music Festival Competition; Skyscapes IV (2006) for Flute(picc,Afl), Clarinet(BCl), Violin, Cello, Guitar (for Cygnus Ens.); Sock Monkeys for Two Clarinets (2007 rev. of Miniatures, 1989); Sock Monkeys, version for Two Flutes (2007), for Patricia Spencer and Tara Helen O'Connor; String Quartet in Two Movements (No. 1) (1971-74); String Quartet No. 3 ("Sigol: Thirty Flowers") (2005); Sukhi! (1999) for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (for Sukhi Kang); Thingamabob (2006) for Brass Quintet (2tpts, hn, trb, tba) for the Empire Brass; Three Intermezzi (1983) for Bass Clarinet and Marimba (for Duo Contemporain); Three's Company for Flute/Piccolo, Alto Saxophone and Piano (1999-2000); Tombeau and Tango (2002) for two Bass Viols (gambas); Trio No. 2 (1986-87) for Violin, Cello, and Piano (or Harpsichord), commissioned by the Foundation for Baroque Music with funds from NYSCA; Triple Play (Trio No. 1) (1984) for Violin, Cello, and Piano (for the Arioso Trio); Tropes and Echoes for Clarinet and Chamber Ensemble (1986) chamber version prepared for the Washington Square Contemporary Music Society [fl, ob(E.hn), hn, bsn, vln, vla, vcl, pf, perc, solo cl]; Two Movements for Wind Quartet (1965) (oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone); Velvet and Spice (Brass Quintet No. 3) (1999-2000) (2 tpt, hn, trb, B.trb or tuba), commissioned by the Fromm Foundation for the American Brass Quintet] Wind Quintet (1967) (for Gunther Schuller); Variations on "Watkins Ale" for viol quartet (2001) (treble, alto, bass 1, bass 2) commissioned by Maverick Concerts for Parthenia, a consort of viols - MUSIC FOR SOLO INSTRUMENTS - Composition for Liam (1961, rev. 2003) for piano; Divisions (1968, rev. 1981) for solo violin (for Paul Zukofsky); Empirical Rag, version #2 for piano (1978)' For Solo Flute (1964, rev. 1976); Monogram (1996, rev. 2003) for piano tribute to Richard Swift, published in Perspectives of New Music; Paraphrasis (1991) for piano First Prize, 1995 New Ariel Piano Composition Competition; Sigol Musings (2004) for solo violin (for Rolf Schulte); Sigol Musings (2005) version for solo violoncello; Sonata Serena (1997) for piano, commissioned by Margaret Mills; Sonata Seria (1976) for piano; Suite for Doublebass (1963, rev. 1981) (for Bert Turetzky); Tangoblique (1984, rev. 2004) for piano (for Yvar Mikhashoff); Tesserae I (1971), Fantasy for Harpsichord (for Robert Conant); Tesserae II (1972, rev. 2003), Fantasy for Cello; Tesserae III (1976) for solo viola (Chaconne, Interlude, Finale) Internatioal Jury selection, 1984 ISCM World Music Days (Canada); Tesserae IV (1976) for Contrabass Trombone/Tesserae V (1980), for Tuba written for Sam Pilafian; these pieces are now identical and published as one; Tesserae V (1980) for solo tuba (based on Tesserae IV)- see Tesserae IV; Tesserae VI (1976) for solo trumpet (for Rolf Smedvig); Tesserae VII (1979) for solo Bb clarinet (for Murray Colosimo); American Music Center commission; Tesserae VIII (1980) for solo alto saxophone (for David Pituch); Tesserae IX (1981) for solo percussion (for Marta Ptaszynska); ThingamaBob (2004) for Harpsichord (for Robert Conant); (2005) version for piano; Three Pieces for Piano (1996-2005), compilation of Monogram, Tangoblique, and ThingamaBob - ELECTRONIC MUSIC - Evanescences for Instruments and Electronic Sounds: see under Chamber Music; Festive Psalm for Chorus, Organ, and Electronic Sounds: see under Choral Music; Three Pieces for Tape (1969); SUNYATA (1970) for 4-channel electronic sounds ( 2-channel version also) - ARRANGEMENTS - Johannes Brahms - Three Chorale Preludes brass quintet (2 flg or tpts, hn, trb or bar, tba or B.trb) - PUBLISHERS - ACE: American Composers Edition, ACA, 648 Broadway, Suite 803, New York, NY 10012 (www.composers.com); FEW: Frank E. Warren Music Service, 29 South Main St., Sharon, MA 02067 (Fewpub@juno.com); MGN: Margun Music, Music Sales Corp./G. Schirmer, 257 Park Ave. South, 20th floor, NY, NY 10010; MMB: MMB Music, Inc., Contemporary Arts Building, 3256 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63109; NDHM: Needham Publishing Co., P.O.Box 206, 5 West Mill St., Medfield, MA 02052; SON: SONOTON Musikverlag-Musikproduktion, Schleibinger Strasse 10, 8000 Munich 80,Germany; RIC: G. Ricordi & C., Via Berchet 2, 20121 Milan, Italy (U. S. representative: Boosey and Hawkes) SGM: Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc., 810 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10012

Compositions
SUKHI!
SUKHI!.mp3 - complete
SUKHI!.pdf - complete
SUKHI! Da Capo Chamber Players (cl,vln,vlc,pno). Full piece is a 3 minute portrait/tribute to Korean composer Sukhi Kang.
CANZONA AND DANCE: Dance excerpt
CANZONA AND DANCE: Dance excerpt.mp3 - excerpt
1:10 excerpt from Dance of Canzona and Dance. Canzona is a memorial piece originally written for the Musica Nova ensemble of Bucharest. Dance is celebratory wedding dance in 5/8 with a jazzy color.
CHRYSALIS
CHRYSALIS.mp3 - complete
2:28 excerpt from the climactic buildup of the orchestral piece CHRYSALIS, the 15' final movement of A Thoreau Symphony. Polish Radio National Orchestra, Joel E. Suben conducting.
ThingamaBob
ThingamaBob.mp3 - excerpt
0:28 excerpt form the beginning of the 3' keyboard piece ThingamaBob, a jazzy tribute to harpsichordinst Bob Conant. ThingamaBob is the third of the Three Piano Pieces (9')which also includes Monogram and Tangoblque. Blair McMillen, piano.