Commissions

About the 2006 Commissions

This year's commissions for eighth blackbird continue on the same theme as last year: composers were asked to compose pieces that respond in some way to the musical past:

• Ashley Fure, Susurrus
• Michael Barnhart, Blue Mess

About the 2005 Commissions

To celebrate its fifth year of presenting new electroacoustic music Third Practice commissioned five composers to write to works for University of Richmond ensemble-in-residence, eighth blackbird. The composers, Paul Lansky, Stephen Vitiello, Evan Chambers, Paul Rudy and Benjamin Broening, were asked to compose pieces for ensemble and electronics (tape or live processing) that in some way respond to existing musical works or styles.

• Paul Lansky evokes the use of echoes in the music of Gabrieli and Vivaldi in his work Ancient Echoes.
• Evan Chambers' piece longing for peace in the garden of lost children reflects his interest in Balkan folk music
• Paul Rudy explores the musical world of Delibes and Donizetti in his work for whom...
• Stephen Vitiello has created a multi-channel tape piece based on recordings of eighth blackbird improvisations.
• Benjamin Broening's piece reinterprets the dream world of Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun in his like dreams, statistics are a form of wish fulfillment.

Check back soon for future announcements about commissioning projects!