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biography: Jerod
Sommerfeldt’s music has been called “an ‘up’ experience.” He attended UW-La Crosse, studying
composition with Christopher Frye and trumpet with David Cooper. He completed
his Master's degree as a Program Assistant in Composition at UW-Milwaukee,
studying with Christopher Burns and Keith Carpenter. Jerod is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree at the
College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati where he studies electronic and acoustic composition with Mara Helmuth. His
compositions are written for a variety of groups in traditional and
electroacoustic environments. His Commencement Fanfare was commissioned by
the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to open the Spring 2005 graduation
ceremonies. A Study in Mono, for solo trumpet, was premiered by Dave
Cooper at the La Crosse Spring Trumpet Festival in 2005. The festival attracted
and featured, among others, Adolph Herseth, Doc Severinsen, Charles Lazarus,
Martin Hodel, and the Minnesota Orchestra trumpet section. His article
reviewing the festival can be found on the International Trumpet Guild
website. Jerod was recently
awarded 3rd prize in the 2006 Harrelson International Trumpet Composition
Competition for the Sonata for Trumpet and Piano. While
attending UW-Milwaukee, Jerod was an active member of the Milwaukee Laptop
Orchestra (MiLO), serving as an interactive and improvisational laptop
musician. His master’s thesis in
search of Derleth
integrated violin, cello, and piano with a laptop-constructed glass harmonica
and field-recorded electronics, all in collaboration with a film by
UW-Milwaukee film student David Dinnell. In addition, his music has been performed
in the La Crosse New Music Festival, Music From Almost Yesterday Concert
Series, Unruly Music Concert Series, the University of Wyoming, by the NOISE
Ensemble of San Diego, CA, and the Thelema Trio of Belgium. His music has also been the subject of
master classes by the Illinois State Faculty Brass Quintet and Charles Lazarus
of the Minnesota Orchestra. Jerod is a member of the Society of Composers and
the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers. His music is recorded on the Bohn Media label. |
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compositions: The Seven Paths of Awakening
(8’) for solo piano and interactive electronics Premiere set for
December 4, 2008 in Cincinnati, OH. in
search of Derleth
(30’) for violin, cello, piano, glass harmonica, electronics, and film Premiered
on May 8, 2008 in Milwaukee, WI. walking
away from Schueler
(12’) for clarinet, piano, and singing bowl Premiered
on March 30, 2008 by the Thelema Trio of Belgium. Last
Link, or, Green, Red, Blue (12’) for brass trio, percussion, celesta, and piano Premiered
on November 29, 2007 at the UW-Milwaukee Music From Almost Yesterday
concert. Meditation
in the Apeiron
(10’) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano Premiered
by the Institute of Chamber Music (Milwaukee) on April 26, 2007. Stride (5’) for flute, percussion,
and piano Composed
for the NOISE Ensemble (San Diego) and performed at soundON Festival (La Jolla,
CA) on June 13, 2007. Premiered by NOISE on February 17, 2007. Sonata
for Trumpet and Piano
(20’) Premiered
at the University of Wyoming on November 18, 2006. --3rd Prize in Harrelson
Trumpets International Composition Competition. Serenade
LGF7200
(5’) for electronics and 8-channel sound Premiered
December 14, 2006 at UW-Milwaukee’s Unruly Music Salon Concert Series. Composed
using Pd Software. A
Study in Mono
(3’) for unaccompanied trumpet Premiered
May 8, 2005 at UW-La Crosse Spring Trumpet Festival by Dr. David Cooper. Performed
on November 9, 2006 at UW-Milwaukee’s Music from Almost Yesterday concert. A
Commencement Fanfare
(30”) for brass ensemble and percussion Commissioned
by UW-La Crosse to open the spring 2005 commencement ceremonies. Music
for Brass Quintet
(6’) Featured
in a spring 2005 master class by the Illinois State Faculty Brass Quintet. Piano
Sonata
(18’) Premiered
on April 24, 2005 at my Senior Recital. Essay
for String Quartet
(12’) Premiered at the 2004 La Crosse New Music Festival. |
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Compositions | |||
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walking away from Schueler |
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| walking away from Schueler.mp3 - complete | |||
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walking away from Schueler replicates the visual experience of walking away from the painting Sky Shadow II, by Jon Schueler. When close to the canvas, shapes and colors blend into one another, with no discernible features. As you walk away from it, the features begin to coalesce, until a moment of arrival, when the painting becomes a distinct image. | |||
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Meditation in the Apeiron |
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| Meditation in the Apeiron.mp3 - complete | |||
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The extant work of the Greek philosopher Anaximander is a small fragment that discusses the course of our lives. We emerge and return from a boundless nothing, which Anaximander termed the Apeiron. The decisions we make in our life determine how quickly we must return after emergence. The musical material replicates this phenomena, beginning quietly, finding a culmination of the building musical material, and eventually returns. | |||
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Automatos |
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| Automatos.mp3 - complete | |||
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Automatos, from Greek, meaning "acting of itself." The source material for this ten minute tape composition was derived entirely from a self-coded Pd instrument that is able to run itself continuously. As sounds are realized, the instrument constantly analyzes its output, using those values to trigger future events. | |||
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The Seven Paths of Awakening |
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| The Seven Paths of Awakening.mp3 - complete | |||
| The Seven Paths of Awakening.pdf - complete | |||
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The Seven Paths of Awakening consists of seven short movement for piano and interactive electronics. Each movement expresses a different path in the Buddhist principle towards awakening, or enlightenment: Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Joy, Relaxation, Concentration, and Equanimity. | |||
©2009 by Jerod Sommerfeldt
All Rights Reserved
Jerod Sommerfeldt is a member of Society of Composers, Inc. SCI is dedicated to the promotion of composition, performance, understanding and dissemination of new and contemporary music.