Robert Beaser’s Manhattan Roll Debuts in New Wind Band Transcription

Robert Beaser’s Manhattan Roll premiered in its new wind ensemble transcription on December 18 at the Midwest Band Clinic in a performance by the University of Missouri-Kansas City Wind Ensemble led by Steven Davis. Already beloved in its original orchestral version which premiered at the New York Philharmonic in 1998, the new transcription offers a challenging, unique and engaging addition to the wind band repertoire and the performance was the highlight of concert programming at the band clinic. Manhattan Roll now embarks on a tour of performances by 25 bands across the country.

Also last month the IRIS Orchestra led by Michael Stern performed Beaser’s work for string orchestra, timpani and harp, Folk Songs. Jon W.Sparks, writing in The Commercial Appeal of Memphis, says of the work:

… a fascinating collection of five works composed in 2007 and utterly American in outlook and expression. Beaser pulls from folk heritage -- from hoedowns to Leadbelly -- and yet remains fully original. The piece titled "Ground O" is a heartbreaking remembrance of 9/11 that never becomes maudlin.

On January 8, Beaser's Guitar Concerto was received with a standing ovation after a thrilling performance by guitarist Eliot Fisk and the South Dakota Symphony led by Delta David Gier. Fisk commented prior to the performance:

[The Guitar Concerto] is incredibly dramatic, exciting, the most daring work I've ever seen anybody try to do with a guitar concerto. With this piece, it's like the guitar is made to jump forward about 50 years with one leap.

Next month the Seattle Symphony premieres Beaser’s Ground “O”, a piece written in honor of Gerard Schwarz’s final season as music director in Seattle. This Spring, Beaser serves as the Guest Composer for the Beijing Modern Music Festival in May and the appointment includes performances of his chamber and orchestral works, to be announced shortly. The composer also begins his two-month residency at the American Academy in Rome in May.

Robert Beaser-Composer Profile.

Robert Beaser
Manhattan Roll (arr. 2010)
for wind ensemble
pic.2.2.ca.eb cl.3cl.bcl.cbcl.2.cbsn.ssax.asax.tsax.barsax-4.4.2.btbn.2euph.tba-perc-hp.pno(synth)-db
7'

Folk Songs (2007)
for string orchestra, harp, and timpani
15’