Notes from the composer: I am a lesbian, gender-nonconforming woman of Mormon descent. I come from a people who wish I did not exist. I was raised in a culture that kept me hidden from myself.
I wrote Cradle while still living in Utah as a way to hold myself when no one else would. I wrote this music in response to breaches of nurture, by way of blood and betrayal.
This music comes from my body; originally written using voice, violin, and loop pedal, it has now found a home with the thoughtful, resonant musicians of Alarm Will Sound. I am grateful for the container they hold - I no longer having to hold myself alone.
Immense thanks to Alan Pierson for holding me and this work with tender care and vision. Gratitude to inti figgis-vizueta for brainstorming with me + mentoring on notations.
CRADLE Text:
Cradle Cradle
In your light I’m in your light
The only like I’ve known
Cradle Cradle
Second life A second life unknown
Bathe me Bathe me
In your light
Hold me Hold me
In your mind
In your In your mind
I see you in a crowded room I can taste your withered bloom
Bathe me Bathe me
In your mind
Hold me Hold me
In your light
There’s a window inside my mind Keeps me turning, turning inside
Close my curtain, safe from outside I have nothing, nothing to hide
Like a promise I can’t keep Wellspring dried beneath your feet Lifeless daughter hear your own Feel your thoughts your shaking home
Like a shadow at my side Dryness pulls me out of mind Lifeless daughter hear me cry! I am asking for my life!
(You’re afraid, and you cry The salt still crusting you inside)
Acknowledgements: "Cradle" is supported by the Matt Marks Impact Fund, a fund created by Alarm Will Sound in memory of AWS founding member, Matt Marks, to commission and develop new works by underrepresented composers and for unconventional practices.
Alarm Will Sound gratefully acknowledges our individual donors and the following foundations for their support: Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, BMI Foundation, Cheswatyr Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, New Music USA’s Organizational Development Fund in 2022-23, Mellon Foundation, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Additional Support provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
PERSONNEL Erin Lesser, flutes Christa Robinson, oboe and English horn Bill Kalinkos, clarinets Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinets Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Matt Smallcomb, percussion Chris P. Thompson, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Nigel Maister, Staging Director Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian Uday Singh, Program Coordinator
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Curtis Stewart (violin), Matt Albert (viola), Titi Ayangade (cello), and Adam Booker (bass) for their contributions to the video.
Notes from the composer: I am a lesbian, gender-nonconforming woman of Mormon descent. I come from a people who wish I did not exist. I was raised in a culture that kept me hidden from myself.
I wrote Cradle while still living in Utah as a way to hold myself when no one else would. I wrote this music in response to breaches of nurture, by way of blood and betrayal.
This music comes from my body; originally written using voice, violin, and loop pedal, it has now found a home with the thoughtful, resonant musicians of Alarm Will Sound. I am grateful for the container they hold - I no longer having to hold myself alone.
Immense thanks to Alan Pierson for holding me and this work with tender care and vision. Gratitude to inti figgis-vizueta for brainstorming with me + mentoring on notations.
CRADLE Text:
Cradle Cradle
In your light I’m in your light
The only like I’ve known
Cradle Cradle
Second life A second life unknown
Bathe me Bathe me
In your light
Hold me Hold me
In your mind
In your In your mind
I see you in a crowded room I can taste your withered bloom
Bathe me Bathe me
In your mind
Hold me Hold me
In your light
There’s a window inside my mind Keeps me turning, turning inside
Close my curtain, safe from outside I have nothing, nothing to hide
Like a promise I can’t keep Wellspring dried beneath your feet Lifeless daughter hear your own Feel your thoughts your shaking home
Like a shadow at my side Dryness pulls me out of mind Lifeless daughter hear me cry! I am asking for my life!
(You’re afraid, and you cry The salt still crusting you inside)
Acknowledgements: "Cradle" is supported by the Matt Marks Impact Fund, a fund created by Alarm Will Sound in memory of AWS founding member, Matt Marks, to commission and develop new works by underrepresented composers and for unconventional practices.
Alarm Will Sound gratefully acknowledges our individual donors and the following foundations for their support: Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, BMI Foundation, Cheswatyr Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, New Music USA’s Organizational Development Fund in 2022-23, Mellon Foundation, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Additional Support provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
PERSONNEL Erin Lesser, flutes Christa Robinson, oboe and English horn Bill Kalinkos, clarinets Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinets Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Matt Smallcomb, percussion Chris P. Thompson, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Nigel Maister, Staging Director Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian Uday Singh, Program Coordinator
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Curtis Stewart (violin), Matt Albert (viola), Titi Ayangade (cello), and Adam Booker (bass) for their contributions to the video.🎹 Hot Licks: Code-Switching by Marcos Balter 🌀 #music #piano #contemporarymusicAlarm Will Sound2024-09-21 | Alarm Will Sound's John Orfe, conquering the relentless 99-bar left-hand marathon in Marcos Balter's "Code-Switching." 🏃♂️💥 99 bars of the Left Hand = [keeps on going]^∞. Energizer bunny mode 🔋🎶Spotlight on Toque by Tania León - Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-09-10 | Composer Tania León discusses her work.
Performed and recorded in the Sinquefield Music Center at the University of Missouri.
PERSONNEL Erin Lesser, flutes Christa Robinson, oboes Bill Kalinkos, clarinets and saxophone Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinets and saxophone Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Matt Smallcomb, percussion Chris P. Thompson, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Nigel Maister, Staging Director Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian Uday Singh, Program Coordinator
GUESTS Special thanks to Priscilla Rinehart (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Justin Caulley (viola) for their contributions to this video.
Shot and edited by Four/TenGolden Lily 金莲(Act 1, Scene 1) - Composed by Fang Man - Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-08-13 | Golden Lily 金莲
Opera in 3 Acts Adapted from the 16th-Century Anonymous Novel Jin Ping Mei
Act 1, Scene 1 Wu Dalang's shabby house. This is the opening scene of the opera, which centers on the story of Golden Lily. In this scene, dressed in white from head to toe in mourning, Lily is keeping a "pretend" vigil for her recently deceased husband Dalang in front of an altar set up for him. Throughout the scene, Lily is haunted by the (imaginary) ghost of Dalang and her neighbors' voices, which gossip about Dalang's murder by his wife. She reminisces about her past: her father sold her to a wealthy man who turned her into his favorite pipa girl in his household. Out of jealousy the man's wife got rid of her by forcing her to marry Dalang. She also recalls the night when she murdered Dalang. Feeling haunted, she accidentally burns down the house in a frenzied attempt to drive away what she believes to be Dalang's ghost.
Music by Fang Man
Libretto by Guo Jie
SOLOISTS
Yihan Chen, pipa
Ah-young Hong, soprano
Michael Harley, bassoon and voice
Yihan Chen, pipa
Catherine Chi, video art
ALARM WILL SOUND
Erin Lesser, flutes
Christa Robinson, oboes
Bill Kalinkos, clarinets
Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinets
Michael Harley, bassoon
Laura Weiner, horn
Tim Leopold, trumpet
Michael Clayville, trombone
Matt Smallcomb, percussion
Chris P. Thompson, percussion
John Orfe, piano
Courtney Orlando, violin
Patti Kilroy, violin Stefan Freund, cello
Miles Brown, bass
Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer
Nigel Maister, Staging Director
Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director
Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning
Jason Varvaro, Production Manager
Annie Toth, General Manager
Tracy Mendez, Development Manager
Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing
Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Uday Singh, Program Coordinator
Special thanks to Kristine Poulsen (flute), Kathy Halvorson (oboe),
Madison Greenstone (clarinet), Andie Tanning (violin),
Jesse Irons (violin), and Caleb Paxton (viola)
for their contributions to this performance.
Alarm Will Sound’s St. Louis Season is supported in part by the
Sinquefield Charitable Trust and the Mellon Foundation.
Alarm Will Sound gratefully acknowledges our individual donors
and the following foundations for their support:
Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation,
Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University,
BMI Foundation, Cheswatyr Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation,
Mellon Foundation, and the Sinquefield Charitable Trust.
Additional support provided by public funds
from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council
on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor
and the New York State Legislature;
and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Golden Lily (Act 1 Scene 1) was jointly supported by a
Provost Grant from the University of South Carolina
&
a Discovery Grant for female composers from Opera America.Contrapunctus//Song by Niko D. Schroeder performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-06-28 | Niko D. Schroeder, composer Performed by Alarm Will Sound (http://alarmwillsound.com)
Live at the 2022 Mizzou International Composers Festival, July 30, 2022 http://composersfestival.missouri.edu
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Patty Kilroy, violin Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot by Jason Thorpe Buchanan and Mizzou New Music and edited by Michael Clayville
Special thanks to Madison Greenstone (clarinet), Nicolee Kuester (horn), Yvonne Lam (violin), and Gillian Gallagher (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Color Utterance by Santiago Beis performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-06-18 | Santiago Beis, composer Performed by Alarm Will Sound (alarmwillsound.com) Live at the 2023 Mizzou International Composers Festival, July 29, 2023 http://composersfestival.missouri.edu
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Patti Kilroy, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot by Mizzou New Music
Special thanks to Priscilla Rinehart (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Justin Caulley (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Aphex Twin Avril 14th + Steve Reich Radio RewriteAlarm Will Sound2024-04-14 | ...Aphex Twin - 4 - Arranged by Jessica Johnson and Payton MacDonald - Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-02-20 | 4 is available on Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound performs Aphex Twin (Cantaloupe Music) at alarmwillsound.bandcamp.com/album/acoustica
Composed by Aphex Twin Arranged by Jessica Johnson and Payton MacDonaldSpotlight on Artificial by Daniel Wohl - Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-02-13 | Composer Daniel Wohl discusses his work with Alarm Will Sound.
Performed and recorded in the Sinquefield Music Center at the University of Missouri.
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Patti Kilroy, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten
Special thanks to Keve Wilson (oboe/English horn), Megan Arns (percussion), Curtis Stewart (violin), and Monica Davis (viola) for their contributions to the audio. Special thanks to Priscilla Rinehart (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Justin Caulley (viola) for their contributions to this video.Carmen Infernarum Machinarum Fugax by Claude Baker performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-02-06 | Claude Baker, composer Performed by Alarm Will Sound (alarmwillsound.com) Live at the 2023 Mizzou International Composers Festival, July 27, 2023 http://composersfestival.missouri.edu
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Patti Kilroy, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot by Mizzou New Music
Special thanks to Priscilla Rinehart (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Justin Caulley (viola) for their contributions to this performance.The Beatles - Revolution 9 - Arranged by Matt Marks - Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-01-23 | Watch a live performance here: youtu.be/_WjfQSxcq0c
Composed by The Beatles Arranged by Matt MarksAphex Twin - Gwely Mernans - Arranged by Ken Thomson - Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-01-16 | Gwely Mernans is available on Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound performs Aphex Twin (Cantaloupe Music) at alarmwillsound.bandcamp.com/album/acoustica
Composed by Aphex Twin Arranged by Ken ThomsonFrom Within by Ali Can Puskulcu performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-01-09 | Live at the 2023 Mizzou International Composers Festival, July 29, 2023 http://composersfestival.missouri.edu
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Patti Kilroy, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot by Mizzou New Music
Special thanks to Priscilla Rinehart (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Justin Caulley (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Aphex Twin - Cock/Ver 10 - Arranged by Stefan Freund - Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2024-01-09 | Cock/Ver 10 is available on Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound performs Aphex Twin (Cantaloupe Music) at alarmwillsound.bandcamp.com/album/acoustica
Composed by Aphex Twin Arranged by Stefan FreundFlute, so hot right now. AWS flutist, Erin Lesser.#flute #alarmwillsound #flutistAlarm Will Sound2023-11-23 | ...Consolation Prize by Cassie Wieland performed by Cassie Wieland and Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-09-05 | Cassie Wieland, composer Performed by Alarm Will Sound (http://alarmwillsound.com)
Live at the 2022 Mizzou International Composers Festival, July 30, 2022 http://composersfestival.missouri.edu
It’s incredibly frustrating that being your most genuine self Or becoming who you want to be Is so often incompatible with what you find comfortable
I’m terrified of heights, but I love flying Every time I ascend, I think “is this worth it if we crash, was this worth it”
I never find the answer, and it never gets easier But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try again Each time, not trying again becomes less of an option — Cassie Wieland
Cassie Wieland, vocals
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot by Jason Thorpe Buchanan and Mizzou New Music and edited by Michael Clayville
Special thanks to Madison Greenstone (clarinet), Nicolee Kuester (horn), Yvonne Lam (violin), and Gillian Gallagher (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Spotlight on Execution by JG ThirlwellAlarm Will Sound2023-08-29 | Watch a full performance of "Execution" here: youtube.com/live/_CRhVAL3xQc?si=CFGWm37mSKjl-t9e&t=1356
Composer JG Thirlwell (Venture Bros, Foetus, Silver Mantis, etc.) discusses his work with Alarm Will Sound.
Performed and recorded in the Sinquefield Music Center at the University of Missouri.
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Keve Wilson (oboe), Curtis Stewart (violin), and Monica Davis (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Alarm Will Sounds 2023-2024 #contemporarymusic #music #concertsAlarm Will Sound2023-08-27 | ...Lunatic by Piyawat Louilarpprasert performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-08-23 | Piyawat Louilarpprasert, composer Performed by Alarm Will Sound (http://alarmwillsound.com)
Live at the 2022 Mizzou International Composers Festival, July 30, 2022 http://composersfestival.missouri.edu Performers Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot by Jason Thorpe Buchanan and Mizzou New Music and edited by Michael Clayville
Special thanks to Madison Greenstone (clarinet), Nicolee Kuester (horn), Yvonne Lam (violin), and Gillian Gallagher (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Groove by Marcos Balter. #contemporarymusic #music #classicalmusicAlarm Will Sound2023-08-15 | ...Will a microphone bow? #contemporarymusic #music #classicalmusicAlarm Will Sound2023-08-14 | ...PUSH MUSIC with Alarm Will Sound #contemporarymusic #music #orchestraAlarm Will Sound2023-08-04 | ...Making circles with the bows. #contemporarymusic #music #violinAlarm Will Sound2023-08-02 | ...What were all about. #music #contemporarymusic #pushmusicAlarm Will Sound2023-07-31 | ...Will it Bow? Our contribution to World Chess Day ♟️ #classicalmusic #contemporarymusicAlarm Will Sound2023-07-21 | ...Latent Seeds by Daniel Neumann - Video Chat Variations Episode 6Alarm Will Sound2023-07-05 | Dedicated to Joel Chadabe
Thanks to Fridman Gallery, Juan Betancurth, the Goethe-Institut Bogotá, Synthesis Gallery and Matthew D. Gantt, The Wrong Biennial, ISCP, and CT::SWaM for presenting the work as an installation.
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
ambient recordings by Chris P. Thompson, Alan Pierson, Nigel Maister, Daniel Neumann, Christa Robinson, Bill Kalinkos, Michael Harley, Tim Leopold
video editing: Carlton D. Bright Michael ClayvilleFull video now on YouTube.Alarm Will Sound2023-06-29 | #classicalmusic #pride #contemporarymusicSpotlight on What Belongs to You by David T. LittleAlarm Will Sound2023-06-29 | David T. Little, composer Adapted from the novel by Garth Greenwell
Recorded in 2022 at Washington University in St. Louis
David T. Little (composer / librettist) is “one of the most imaginative young composers” on the scene (The New Yorker), with “a knack for overturning musical conventions” (The New York Times). His operas JFK, Dog Days, and Vinkensport (librettos by Royce Vavrek), and Soldier Songs have been widely acclaimed and performed around the globe, “prov[ing] beyond any doubt that opera has both a relevant present and a bright future” (New York Times).
A 2022 GRAMMY®-nominee, Little has been commissioned by the world’s most prestigious institutions and performers, including recent projects for The Metropolitan Opera / Lincoln Center Theater new works program, The Kennedy Center, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, London Sinfonietta, Alarm Will Sound, ICE, The Crossing, Eighth Blackbird, Kronos Quartet, and Beth Morrison Projects. His music has been presented by the Park Avenue Armory, Holland Festival, Carnegie Hall, BAM Next Wave, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, LA Opera, Opéra de Montréal, and LA Philharmonic.
Lebanese-American tenor Karim Sulayman (soloist) has garnered international attention as a sophisticated and versatile artist, consistently praised for his sensitive and intelligent musicianship, riveting stage presence, and beautiful voice. A 2019 GRAMMY® Award winner, he regularly performs on the world’s stages in orchestral concerts and opera, as well as in recital and chamber music. His growing discography includes his debut solo album, Songs of Orpheus, which was released to international acclaim on the AVIE label. Named “Critic’s Choice” by Opera News, and praised for his “lucid, velvety tenor and pop-star charisma” by BBC Music Magazine, Karim was honored with the 2019 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. He also appears on the ARTE documentary Leonard Bernstein - A Genius Divided, and his performance of Bernstein’s Mass with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is slated for national televised broadcast in 2020.
Garth Greenwell is the author of "What Belongs to You," which won the British Book Award for Debut of the Year, was longlisted for the National Book Award, and was a finalist for six other awards, including the PEN/Faulkner Award, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His second book of fiction, "Cleanness," was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and was longlisted for several other awards, including the Prix Sade. A New York Times Notable Book, it was named a Best Book of 2020 by more than thirty publications. Greenwell’s fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and A Public Space, and he has written criticism for The New Yorker, Harper’s, and the London Review of Books, among others. His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. A 2020 Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the 2021 Vursell Award for prose style from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, he lives in Iowa City.
Acknowledgements Commissioning funds for "What Belongs to You" generously provided by the Claytor Family Charitable Foundation and Andrew Martin-Weber.
Alarm Will Sound gratefully acknowledges our individual donors and the following foundations for their support: Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, BMI Foundation, Cheswatyr Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Additional Support provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Special thanks to Andrew Nogal (oboe), Katherine Jordan (horn), Hajnal Pivnick (violin), Jessica Meyer (viola), Eli Lara (cello), and Greg Chudzik (bass) for their contributions to this performance.
Video shot and edited by Mooshido Films.Cello Concerto (Movement 2) by Gulli Björnsson performed by Stefan Freund and Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-06-27 | From Alarm Will Sound at Princeton Sound Kitchen, March 21, 2023.
Gulli Björnsson, composer Stefan Freund, cello
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Mariam Adam (clarinets), Maya Stone (bassoon), Adedeji Ogunfolu (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Beth Myers (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Spotlight on Cradle by Alyssa Pyper - Matt Marks Impact Fund RecipientAlarm Will Sound2023-06-20 | Watch a full performance of "Cradle" here: youtu.be/EkVwwqQtzh8 alyssapyper.bandcamp.com/album/cradle
Alyssa Pyper discusses her work with Alarm Will Sound.
Notes from the composer: I am a lesbian, gender-nonconforming woman of Mormon descent. I come from a people who wish I did not exist. I was raised in a culture that kept me hidden from myself.
I wrote Cradle while still living in Utah as a way to hold myself when no one else would. I wrote this music in response to breaches of nurture, by way of blood and betrayal.
This music comes from my body; originally written using voice, violin, and loop pedal, it has now found a home with the thoughtful, resonant musicians of Alarm Will Sound. I am grateful for the container they hold - I no longer having to hold myself alone.
Immense thanks to Alan Pierson for holding me and this work with tender care and vision. Gratitude to inti figgis-vizueta for brainstorming with me + mentoring on notations.
Acknowledgements: "Cradle" is supported by the Matt Marks Impact Fund, a fund created by Alarm Will Sound in memory of AWS founding member, Matt Marks, to commission and develop new works by underrepresented composers and for unconventional practices.
Alarm Will Sound gratefully acknowledges our individual donors and the following foundations for their support: Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, BMI Foundation, Cheswatyr Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, New Music USA’s Organizational Development Fund in 2022-23, Mellon Foundation, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Additional Support provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
PERSONNEL Erin Lesser, flutes Christa Robinson, oboe and English horn Bill Kalinkos, clarinets Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinets Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Matt Smallcomb, percussion Chris P. Thompson, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Nigel Maister, Staging Director Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian Uday Singh, Program Coordinator
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Curtis Stewart (violin), Matt Albert (viola), Titi Ayangade (cello), and Adam Booker (bass) for their contributions to the video.Test of Time by Don Freund performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-06-13 | Recorded at the 2022 Mizzou International Composers Festival at the University of Missouri (David Myers, AV Director).
Sponsored by the Mizzou New Music Initiative with funding from the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.
Notes from the composer: In order to appropriately describe this piece, the two
nouns in "Test of Time" should be plural. Not only are
there all kinds of tests, but there is also a variety of
ways of perceiving time that are challenged in the course
of the piece.
How long can rhythmic groove retain its momentum
against interruptions and juxtapositions? How do beats
and syncopations change their syntax when shifted or
superimposed? How can microsecond subdivisions of a
beat be reconfigured into unpredictable patterns that can
still be felt as rhythmically tight? When musical events are
frozen and cut-and-pasted out of context, are they
perceived as existing independently in their own
non-directional time-world?
Can the four-phrase tune of the solo tuba prologue pass
the test of time and be recognized when it reappears ten
minutes later?
Can the metrical implications of this tune still be appreciated when it played by the brass in a free-sounding rhythm superimposed over a driving 9/16 torrent in the rest of the ensemble? When — at the end of the piece (spoiler alert!) — the tune is played by solo flute over a tapestry of bells, will the listener recognize on some intuitive level that the notes of each phrase are played backwards although the ordering of the phrases is forward?
I have for a long time considered the one-on-a-part (two violins) chamber sinfonietta to be nature's perfect musical ensemble. No other ensemble could provide at the same time the timbral variety and turn-on-a-dime agility needed to execute a piece like "Test of Time." I've included tuba and alto saxophone, instruments too often neglected in this medium. I have also avoided using standard percussion instruments, replacing bass drum and tom-toms with log drums, the surdo (Brazilian carnival drum), and the cajon (Afro-Peruvian wood box drum), and writing for almglocken (tuned cowbells) and singing bowls in place of marimba and vibraphone.
From the beginning of the tuba prologue to the final wa-wa decay of the spring drum, around fifteen minutes will have expired
in the outside world. I hope that those of us inside
"Test of Time" will have experienced a universe of time
dimensions totally apart from that.
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Special thanks to Nicolee Kuester (horn), Theo Learnard (tuba), Alexandros Fragiskatos (percussion), Yvonne Lam (violin), and Gillian Gallagher (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Then, Again by Justin Wright featuring Charlotte Mundy with Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-06-02 | From Alarm Will Sound at Princeton Sound Kitchen, March 21, 2023.
Justin Wright, composer Charlotte Mundy, soprano
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Mariam Adam (clarinets), Maya Stone (bassoon), Adedeji Ogunfolu (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Beth Myers (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Cyclic Universe by Soo Yeon Lyuh feat. Soo Yeon on the haegeum, a traditional Korean instrument.Alarm Will Sound2023-05-24 | ...Cyclic Universe by Soo Yeon Lyuh performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-05-23 | From Alarm Will Sound at Princeton Sound Kitchen, March 21, 2023.
Soo Yeon Lyuh, composer and haegeum
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Mariam Adam (clarinets), Maya Stone (bassoon), Adedeji Ogunfolu (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Beth Myers (viola) for their contributions to this performance.sear by Max Vinetz performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-05-16 | From Alarm Will Sound at Princeton Sound Kitchen, March 21, 2023.
Max Vinetz, composer
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Mariam Adam (clarinets), Maya Stone (bassoon), Adedeji Ogunfolu (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Beth Myers (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Vermilion Glare by Elijah Daniel Smith performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-05-09 | From Alarm Will Sound at Princeton Sound Kitchen, March 21, 2023.
Elijah Daniel Smith, composer
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Mariam Adam (clarinets), Maya Stone (bassoon), Adedeji Ogunfolu (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Beth Myers (viola) for their contributions to this performance.Hidden Treasure (excerpt) - Hope Littwin with Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-05-07 | ...Hidden Treasure - Hope Littwin with Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2023-05-07 | From Alarm Will Sound at Princeton Sound Kitchen, March 21, 2023.
Hope Littwin, composer, voice, guitar
Lyrics: First bite of this tangerine is for you knives out, tell me the things I do That make me difficult to witness
like overthink, under communicate But I want to be a safer space For both of us the bloom I want to see you bloom
On the highest peak, waiting for ya I adore ya
Held and free How love can be
If I’m lost, find me, look for the kiss I blew Knives out, tell me now what is true You know wisdom begins in wonder
I made a plate of me and left it out for you I cringe at most of the things I do But you are safe with me, I believe in
Held and free How love can be
I wish you could just tell the world to go to hell so you can be just who you are Cause my phone is full of videos of you being a star
You’re a Hidden treasure You’re a hidden treasure You said Solzhenitsyn said it best But I think you said it better
Oh lover, my beloved Your problem is my own I made a place for saying grace Cause one day this will all be gone Beware, there’s a lot of stairs to nowhere
Held and free How love can be
I wish we would just tell the world to go to hell so we can be just who we are my phone is full of videos of us being a stars
we’re hidden treasures we’re a hidden treasures You said Solzhenitsyn said it best But I think we say it better
We’re all walking each other home
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, flute Christa Robinson, oboe Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Laura Weiner, horn Tim Leopold, trumpet Michael Clayville, trombone Chris P. Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Audio Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Annie Toth, General Manager Tracy Mendez, Development Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Bill Kalinkos, Librarian
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Mariam Adam (clarinets), Maya Stone (bassoon), Adedeji Ogunfolu (horn), Lauren Cauley (violin), and Beth Myers (viola) for their contributions to this performance.The many expressions of Matt Smallcomb, AWS percussionistAlarm Will Sound2023-04-27 | ...Youre curious.Alarm Will Sound2023-04-12 | ...Hot Licks, a behind-the-scenes look at some of our chop-busting music: JG Thirlwells Execution.Alarm Will Sound2023-04-05 | ...Alarm Will Sound: Soundbites - For George Lewis by Tyshawn SoreyAlarm Will Sound2023-04-04 | Follow AWS on Instagram @alarmwillsound
Alan Pierson, Alarm Will Sound's Artistic Director, explores Tyshawn Sorey's "For George Lewis."
Alarm Will Sound: Erin Lesser, alto flute and flute Christa Robinson, English horn Bill Kalinkos, clarinet Elisabeth Stimpert, clarinet Michael Harley, bassoon Tim Leopold, flugelhorn Michael Clayville, trombone Laura Weiner, horn Chris Thompson, percussion Matt Smallcomb, percussion John Orfe, piano Courtney Orlando, violin Stefan Freund, cello Miles Brown, bass Daniel Neumann, Sound Engineer Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director
Gavin Chuck, Executive Director Annie Toth, Managing Director Jason Varvaro, Production Manager Michael Clayville, Director of Marketing Peter Ferry, Assistant Director of Artistic Planning Bill Kalinkos, Librarian Tracy Mendez, Development Manager
Shot and edited by Four/Ten Media
Special thanks to Philip Payton (violin), Chris Otto (violin), Dana Kelley (viola), and Ashley Bathgate (cello) for their contributions to the video.
Special thank you to Lauren Melnikow and Paul Melnikow for their wisdom and advice in telling this story.A sneak peek at what to expect in our new series Will it Blow? the follow-up to Will it Bow?Alarm Will Sound2023-04-01 | ...🔥 Hot Licks, a behind-the-scenes look at some of the chop -busting excerpts we perform.Alarm Will Sound2023-03-23 | ...???? We continue our search for music.Alarm Will Sound2023-02-09 | ...We made cookies. 🍪Alarm Will Sound2023-01-25 | ...Alarm Will Sound: Music of Thirlwell, Wohl, Thompson, and JlinAlarm Will Sound2023-01-18 | 00:17 "Back Against the Wall" - Jlin/Igor Santos 07:37 "Artificial" - Daniel Wohl 22:35 "Execution: 1. Retribution" - JG Thirlwell 39:38 "Execution: 2. Evolution" - JG Thirlwell 46:46 "Execution: 3. Involution" - JG Thirlwell 53:25 "Execution: 4. Devolution" - JG Thirlwell 1:08:14 "Hanabi" - Chris P. Thompson/arr. Miles Brown
The University of Missouri presents Alarm Will Sound in a concert featuring world premieres of music by JG Thirlwell, Daniel Wohl, and Chris P. Thompson, and "Back Against the Wall" by Jlin.Will it Bow? - Cardboard with Chris ThompsonAlarm Will Sound2023-01-05 | ...Aphex Twin, Cock/Ver 10 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Dance Heginbotham. (clip)Alarm Will Sound2022-11-25 | ...Aphex Twins Cliffs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2014, performed by Alarm Will SoundAlarm Will Sound2022-11-20 | ...