Loretta K. Notareschi, Composer

Category: Latest News

  • Going to Illinois

    I’m excited to be traveling to Bolingbrook, IL May 12-15 to hear the midwestern premiere of Spring Quiet by the Bolingbrook High School singers, under the direction of Lawrence Fisher. This follows the March world premiere of the piece in Denver by the First Universalist Singers, directed by John Hubert.

    Spring Quiet is the second of four pieces I’m writing for the First Universalist Singers–one on each season. The winter piece is Wake, O Earth  (SATB/English Horn version). The summer and fall pieces are forthcoming. This has been an immensely gratifying project, as I love writing for musicians whom I know. Also, it’s been great to sing in the premieres. Particularly helpful in making revisions, since I’m part of the rehearsal process.

  • Article in the Denver Post

    In July I was very happy to travel to Citta’ di Castello, Italy, to participate in the International Summer Arts Institute (thanks to generous funding from Regis University’s Faculty Development Committee). There my Liquid Sings was performed by Italian clarinetist Guido Arbonelli; I took a course in computer music with the inestimable Carlos Delgado; and I gave a lecture (in English and Italian) on my music. I also met a lot of great musicians and dancers, including the wonderful composers Charles Nichols, and Andrew Ardizzoia.

    The Denver Post published an article  about the trip, which also provides links to notices in the Italian press about the event, where you can see the names of the other cool people involved.

  • Duo Montagnard to play Two About Two

    I just found out from Matt Slotkin, the guitarist of the guitar/sax duo Duo Montagnard (saxophonist is Joseph Murphy), that they’re going to play my new guitar/soprano sax version of Two About Two in several places in the coming months. He tells me the piece will be on most of the concerts listed here, with the exception of the Scotland and Portugal engagements. Matt sent me a rehearsal recording, and I’m really happy with this new version. I only wish I could travel to hear some of the performances!

    The piece was originally a commission from the Mountain Music Duo, a guitar/oboe duo comprised of James Cline, guitar, and Tenly Williams, oboe. The recording for this version of the piece can be heard here.

  • Rocky Mountain Arts Association posts video of Wake, O Earth

    I was very happy just now to see that the Rocky Mountain Arts Association has posted a new video of Wake, O Earth on YouTube.

    The Denver Gay Men’s Chorus performs, with Donnie Lemley on trumpet and Ben Riggs conducting.

  • Liquid Sings to be performed at the International Summer Arts Institute

    A few days ago I was contacted by Italian clarinetist Arianna Tieghi. She plans to perform my clarinet piece Liquid Sings this July at the 2012 International Summer Arts Institute in Citta di Castello, Italy (see their website). This is part of an interesting project where she and her teacher Guido Arbonelli plan to collect a piece for clarinet from a composer in each of the 50 United States. I’m excited about this project and hope I can attend the performance!

  • Regis University Collegium 10th Anniversary

    I’ve been commissioned to write a piece for the Regis University Collegium’s 10th anniversary concert, which will be this spring (April, I think). It’s going to be for SATB singers, recorders, dulcien (a precursor to the bassoon), and hand bells and will most likely be an arrangement and reinterpretation of “Sumer Is Icumen In,” the anonymous medieval round/partsong. It’s a fun challenge to think about how I want to make a piece for student and community volunteers that is both accessible and interesting. I really enjoy arranging earlier music, and this tune is particularly charming. Check out the original version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOpcyFz4cw4