New Work for Four (4) Bassoons

Russo recently completed a three movement work for 4 bassoons. The name of the short work is "In The Woods". Each movement is a "scene" - Scene 1 is Adagio-Allegro; Scene 2 is Andante - Pastorale; and Scene 3 is Allegro. To listen to a computer generated rendition of the piece click here.

The world premiere of this work is scheduled sometime in the Spring 2010.

Three Performances of Russo's Septet "Distant Light" Scheduled this Fall

Three performances of Russo's Septet "Distant Light" were performed this fall by the ensemble Canta Libre. The Septet is scored for Flute, Clarinet, Harp and String Quartet. Here was the schedule:

1. Sunday, September 27^th 1:30 p.m. Sachem Library 150 Holbrook Rd. Holbrook, N.Y. (631) 588-5024 Free Admission

2. Saturday Oct. 17^th, 6:00 p.m. Salmagundi Center for Amercian Art 47 Fifth Ave. New York, N.Y. (212) 255-7740 Tickets $20

3. Sunday Oct. 18^th 2:30 p.m. South Huntington Library 145 Pidgeon Hill Rd. South Huntington, N.Y. (631) 549-4411 Free Admission

To hear excerpts of the Septet's three movements you may click here.

Brass Quintet "Hannoverture" performed in New York

On Saturday, July 25 Joe's brass quintet "Hannoverture" was performed by the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble (John Charles Thomas, lead trumpet) on the "Midsummer Night Music" summer series at Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Katonah, New York. This was the New York premiere of the work.

Brass Quintet "Hannoverture" Performed in Germany

Joe's new Brass Quintet "Hannoverture" was recently given its European premiere performance in Bremen, Germany. To view the video of its outdoor pre-premiere performance click here. To listen to the German audio performance of "Hannoverture" click here.

Hannoverture was again performed in Wustrow, Germany on October 4, 2009 by a brass choir. You may view and hear the video of this performance by clicking here.

Here is the description of the earlier (Bremen) video by quintet leader and trombone player Alexander Kockel:

Hannoverture - new brass quintet work by Joseph M. Russo (US).
This is a trial and error performance between rehearsal (2 weeks before) and official premiere in europe (the evening after) at the Kirchentag in Bremen/GER.
We, the brass quintet "Ottoni con anima", were not prepared to play outdoor, so we unfortunately lost the challenge against the wind, who blew the sheets away. But see, it was fun and the performance in the evening (in church) was about to tell another story... :-)

Russo Brass Quintet performed in Ridgefield, Sunday April 26

The Ridgefield Symphony Brass Quintet and Joe: from left to right - Sara Della Posta - French Horn, Tom Verchot - trumpet, Daniel Peck - tuba, Joe Russo, John Charles Thomas - trumpet, Johannes Pfannkuch - trombone.

The new brass quintet "Hannoverture" was beautifully performed in Ridgefield, Connecticut at the Keeler Tavern Museum at 3pm on Sunday, April 26, 2009 by The Ridgefield Symphony Brass Quintet.

String Orchestra work performed in March at Battell Chapel, New Haven

Joe's Four Pieces for Strings "Homage to Bach" 2008 was given its world premiere performance by Orchestra New England on March 21 (Bach's birthday) at 8pm at Yale's Battell Chapel in New Haven, Connecticut. Each piece depicts a different side of life: sadness, complexity, love, excitement. To hear an excerpt of each piece you may click here.

New Brass Quintet Completed..."Hannoverture"

Joe just finished composing his new brass quintet "Hannoverture". It is a one movement tonal, fanfare-like piece begun soon after he returned from Germany where he conducted his double brass quintet "Concordance" near Hannover, Germany. If you would like to hear a computer generated version of the work you may click here.

Trip to Germany -- to conduct "Concordance"

On Saturday, November 2, 2008 Joe conducted a performance of his "Concordance" 1994 for double brass quintet. The brass group Auf biegen Und Blechen - see upper photo -- (http://www.aufbiegenundblechen.de/) performed the work in the church Christuskirche Westercelle in Celle near Hanover, Germany.
The performance was successful and the music was enjoyed by both the musicians and audience.

If you would like to hear an excerpt of the 1994 world premiere performance of the work you may do so by visiting Joe's AMC website by clicking here.

While in Europe, Joe (on left in above photo) visited his longtime friend and fellow Yalie Jean-Yves Benichou (on right in above photo) who has been playing bass with the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra (in Strasbourg, France) for over 30 years.

New Work completed - "Mourning Mist" for Guitar & String Quartet

Joe completed his latest work, "Mourning Mist" for Guitar and String Quartet during the summer of 2008. This nine minute work is tonal and melodic in character composed in memory of Joe's father George Russo who passed away in April 2008. There is no scheduled world premiere of the work yet. You may hear this music at Joe's American Music Center's website.

New Solo Flute work -- Premiered April 25, 2008

Joe's new work "Golden Flute"for solo flute was given its world premiere performance by his dear friend and superb flutist Celinda Ann Levno in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday evening, April 25, 2008. Joe and Celinda Ann are in the above photo. To view the video of the performance click here.

Trip to Los Angeles -- for Triple Flute Concerto and Juilliard friend

Joe (on left in above photo) travelled to Los Angeles to attend the west coast premiere performance of his Triple Flute Concerto by the La Mirada Symphony (south of LA) on Saturday, October 20, 2007.

While on the west coast Joe visited with Yale alum friend Alan Rickmeier (bassist in the San Diego Symphony), Juilliard alum friend Andre Briere who plays Principal Bass with the La Mirada Symphony and long lost Juilliard friend Nathaniel Ayers (on right in above photo). Joe also visited with author/journalist Steve Lopez.

Steve Lopez has written a wonderful book about Nathaniel Ayers, "The Soloist" and DreamWorks is producing a movie based on Lopez's book about Nathaniel's life. The book is now available and the movie will be in theaters by the end of April 2009. If you would like to view information/short videos about the movie click here. To view a current (July 2009) LA Times article about Nathaniel click here. To view the 3-22-09 segment of CBS 60 minutes about Nathaniel and Steve Lopez click here. To view the video of Nathaniel's speech at San Franscisco's NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) conference in July 2009 click here. If you would like to hear Nathaniel play some trumpet and cello click here.

Above are some photos: The first photo is of the actors in the movie "The Soloist" - Jamie Fox and Robert Downey Jr with Joe, Nathaniel and Adam Crane (formerly with the LA Philharmonic administration). The second photo is that of Joe, Steve Lopez and Nathaniel. And the third is of Joe and Nathaniel -- meeting after over 30 years at the October 20, 2007 performance of Joe's Triple Flute Concerto in La Mirada, California.

West Coast Premiere of Triple Flute Concerto

On Saturday night October 20, 2007 solo flutists Laura Scott, Brad Cain and Joan Cain (from left to right in above photo) and The La Mirada Symphony performed Joe's Triple Flute Concerto in La Mirada, California. Joe attended this excellent and well received performance of his work.

New Work - Septet "Distant Light" given first performance

On April 29, 2007 the Fontenay Chamber Players gave the world premiere performance of Joe's Septet "Distant Light" for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet at the Christ Church Parish in Redding Ridge, Connecticut. The work was commissioned by the Fontenay Chamber Players. This tonal work is twenty five minutes long and in three movements. Excerpts of this work can be heard at Joe's personal website: www.JosephMRusso.com
You may also hear this music at his AMC website.

Please note that after the premiere of this work Joe rewrote the third movement (originally marked "Theme & Variations") shortening it from 16 minutes to 11 minutes (and renaming it "Variations"). The original third movement (the one you hear at the AMC website) is now a stand alone work called "Theme & Variations for Septet" running the original 16 minutes.

Russo String Bass Quartet performed at Mensch Memorial

On Monday evening, January 29, 2007 Joe's bass quartet arrangement of his a capella motet "Psalm 23" (The Lord is My Shepherd) was performed at the Homer Mensch Memorial Concert at The Juilliard School. Joe and Eric Harris were two of the four bassists performing the new work. This Homer Mensch Memorial Concert was organized by bassist Kurt Muroki and included many of Mr. Mensch's students both performing and in the audience. Juilliard President Joseph Polisi spoke about his personal friendship with both Connie and Homer Mensch.

Russo completes Kyrie and Gloria of his Mass

Joe recently completed the Kyrie and Gloria of his Mass (..an ongoing project). These choral movements are written for choir (SATB) and chamber orchestra -- 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 bassoon, 1 French Horn, 1 trumpet, timpani and strings. You may hear computer generated renditions of this music by clicking on either name above (Kyrie or Gloria) -- you will be directed to Joe's American Music Center's website. This music has yet to be performed.

Why Music

The following occurred a few years ago. I was giving a high school sophomore a double bass lesson at his home. The boy's father came into the room and said to me: "My son John will most likely be going to law school or medical school. Since he will not be a professional musician do you think these bass lessons are really necessary? If he does not plan to ever play 'Carnegie Hall' why should he take lessons?"

I proceeded to tell my student's father the following true story: I have a good friend, Harry, who with me, graduated from Yale with a Masters of Music degree some years ago. Soon after graduating Harry decided that he wanted to be an attorney instead of a professional musician. Months later he applied to various law schools. Over lunch Harry described an incredible occurrence: he was interviewed by the dean of a major university law school. The dean looked down at Harry's resume and said "I see you graduated from Yale with a Masters of Music". Harry, a little concerned, said "Yes, but I now would like to become an attorney". "Well", the dean continued, "based on your Music Masters degree you are accepted to attend our law school". Harry was surprised and with a confused look asked "I don't understand. Based on a music degree you are accepting me into your law school? I don't understand". The dean smiled "Let me explain. What do you need to do to become a successful musician? First you need to spend much time alone in a practice room, solving problems. Then you need to go out on stage to rehearse with other musicians (as a team) to solve problems. Finally, you need to perform your music in front of an audience. Let me tell you what a successful attorney needs to do: first he spends much time alone in a library, researching and solving problems for his client. Then he often works with other attorneys (as a team) to help his client and to solve additional problems. Finally, he usually has to "perform" his case in front of a jury and a judge. Harry, as a successful musician you have developed all the skills needed to become a successful attorney -- we will need to re-tune those skills to law, that's all."

The father of my student stared at me with a surprised look on his face. "I never realized that by learning a musical instrument, my son could develop skills that could be applied to other careers." He turned to his son and said "Listen carefully to your bass teacher....do whatever he says.....” The father then left the room.

And here is one of the best moments in my teaching career: as his father left the room, my student turned to me and said "But, Mr. Russo isn't the privilege and ability to play Bach, Beethoven and Brahms enough of a reason to study music?" I smiled and nodded, thankful for the wisdom and enthusiasm of children.

Joseph Russo

JoeR11@Juno.com