NEW YORK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL: COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE
COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE : DAVID AMRAM
The legendary DAVID AMRAM was named Composer-in-Residence of the New York Chamber Music Festival, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of Leonard Bernstein selecting Amram as the first ever Composer-in-Residence of the New York Philharmonic.
David Amram was co-commissioned by the New York Chamber Music Festival and members of the Amram Ensemble to compose a new work for the Amram Ensemble: THREE LOST LOVES for violin, saxophone and piano, based on stories by authors Willa Cather, Zora Neale Hurston and Jack Kerouac, world-premiered on October 3, 2016, at the ZKM Center for Art & Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, by the Amram Ensemble: Elmira Darvarova (violin), Kenneth Radnofsky (saxophone) and Thomas Weaver (piano). The works was also recorded for the CD "David Amram - SO IN AMERICA" (Affetto/Naxos).
David Amram also composed "Bulgarian Wedding" on a commission supported by the New York Chamber Music Festival. The piece was premiered and recorded by violinist Elmira Darvarova and hornist Howard Wall. Affetto/Naxos included the recording in its 2020 release "American Music for Violin and Horn"
Presently David Amram is working on a new commission, also supported by the New York Chamber Music Festival - "The Voyage" for unaccompanied violin.
In this photo: David Amram and Leonard Bernstein (photo by Henry Grossman)
DAVID AMRAM - AN INSPIRATION and a LEGEND
DAVID AMRAM's music AT THE NEW YORK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Flutist Carol Wincenc and "Face The Music" Ensemble performing David Amram's "Theme and Variations on Red River Valley" at the New York Chamber Music Festival (photo by Elmira Darvarova)
A performance of David Amram's "Native American Portraits" at the New York Chamber Music Festival, Symphony Space (photo: NYCMF archive)
David Amram with New York Philharmonic hornist Howard Wall, who gave the European premiere (in Paris) of Amram's iconic work for solo horn "Blues and Variations for Monk". Wall also recorded this work, twice (including a live performance at the New York Chamber Music Festival, for a CD released by the Urlicht AudioVisual label). Photo by Elmira Darvarova
DAVID AMRAM PERFORMING AT THE NEW YORK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
David Amram participating in "Lecture on the Weather" by John Cage during the marathon celebration of John Cage's 100th Birthday at the New York Chamber Music Festival. In this photo are also composers Ned Rorem, Sean Hickey, Noel Zahler, David Leisner, Tania Leon, Joan Tower, Laura Kaminsky, José Serebrier, David Del Tredici, Arturo O'Farrill, John Deak. (Photo by Elmira Darvarova)
David Amram performing with Elmira Darvarova (former MET Opera concertmaster) and Greg Zuber (MET Opera principal percussionist) during the New York Chamber Music Festival at Symphony Space (photo: NYCMF archive)
David Amram during a New York Chamber Music Festival performance of his work "Five Readings from On the Road by Jack Kerouac", with the David Amram Jazz Quartet and actress Ekayani Chamberlin. This performance was recorded live for the CD "The Chamber Music of David Amram - LIVE at the New York Chamber Music Festival", released by Urlicht AudioVisual (photo by Elmira Darvarova)
LEARNING FROM COMPOSER DAVID AMRAM AT THE NEW YORK CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Spellbound members of the "Face The Music" Ensemble (with director Jenny Undercofler), being coached by David Amram for a performance of his "Cancion de Verano" at the New York Chamber Music Festival (photo by Elmira Darvarova)
Spellbound members of the "Face The Music" Ensemble (with director Jenny Undercofler), being coached by David Amram for a performance of his "Cancion de Verano" at the New York Chamber Music Festival (photo by Elmira Darvarova)
New York Chamber Music Festival director (and former MET Opera concertmaster) Elmira Darvarova, working with David Amram before a performance of his violin sonata (photo: NYCMF archive)
DAVID AMRAM - a MULTICULTURAL PHENOMENON
David Amram performing with Dizzy Gillespie and Percy Heath (photo used with permission)
David Amram - a living multicultural legend. The New York Times noted that Amram was "multicultural before multiculturalism existed"
David Amram with Bob Dylan (photo used by permission, courtesy of David Amram)
DAVID AMRAM - COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, PIONEER, LEGEND
David Amram conducting the Houston Symphony, 1968 (photo by Tom Bywaters, used with permission, courtesy of David Amram)
Maestro David Amram conducting his own "Elegy for Violin and Orchestra" at Carnegie Hall in 2019 with The Music For Life Orchestra and violin soloist Elmira Darvarova (director of the New York Chamber Music Festival). Photo by Chris Lee, used with permission
David Amram composing at his home (photo used by permission, courtesy of David Amram)
THE INCOMPARABLE DAVID AMRAM - THEN AND NOW
David Amram performing with the David Amram Band in 1972, ABC TV, Mike Douglas Show (used by permission, courtesy of David Amram)
David Amram in a 2014 performance (photo by Ashley Inguanta, used by special permission)
David Amram with New York Chamber Music Festival director, the violinist Elmira Darvarova (photo: NYCMF archive)
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NEW FESTIVAL COMMISSION (World-premiere: Carnegie, 10/10/24)
NEW COMMISSION by the Festival
DAVID AMRAM, composing his solo violin work "VOYAGES", commissioned by The New York Chamber Music Festival for violinist Elmira Darvarova. World-premiere at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 10, 2024