September 11, 08
Just got back from being a composer-in-residence with New Music Detroit for their "Strange Beautiful Music II" marathon. They Performed Vim-Hocket, Calm, Woodlawn Drive, and a new piece I wrote for them, DACCA : DECCA : GaFfA.
Here are some links to the event:
New Music Detroit
Detroit Free Press
Grosse Point News
September 10, 08
Here's a nice email from Ryan Brown, composer of Thick Skin which was on the DC Fringe Festival Carnal Node concert:"Hey D. J.,...Just wanted to thank you for the great job you did on "Thick Skin." Armando sent me the recordings recently and I really love what you added in and the energy and spirit you brought to the performances. Even being a guitarist myself (and playing on the premiere) I didn't play it nearly as well. Awesome job!"
And in a seperate email to Armando:
"Thanks a lot Armando. AWESOME JOB! The first performance (Fringe 1) is soooo good. The guitarist and drummer are especially amazing - they added some wonderful things that really bring the piece to life. Please please please pass on my appreciation to them. Even being a guitarist myself I didn't think to add in some of the funky, more "chordal" elements to the first movement (which I will now be inserting into the score!) and extra articulations here and there, and the drummer just rocks and really plays the hell out of it."
Thanks for the nice emails Ryan!
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June 23, 08
Carnal Node
great noise ensemble
Sex, love, and lies in the internet age: what is it about technology that simultaneously brings us together and drives us apart? Where can lonely souls find love in this age? Great Noise Ensemble explores these ideas through the works of D.J. Sparr, Mark Mellits, and Ryan Brown. 65 minutes
@ Harmon Center - The Forum
610 F Street NW, Washington DC
WE 7/23 6:30pm
SA 7/26 9:00pm
SU 7/27 3:00pm
listen to CARNAL NODE
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April 24, 08
This Sunday, April 27 @ 4:30, Washington DC's Corcoran Gallery:Contemporary Music Forum's Verge Ensemble performs "The Glam Seduction"
For their final concert of the season, VERGE ensemble, the new music ensemble in residence at the Corcoran Gallery, collaborates with Ensemble Aleph from Paris to present a program of American and French composers. The program includes a world premiere by VERGE composer Frederick Weck, as well as works by American icons John Cage and George Antheil. Composer Larry Austin is represented with Threnos for two bass clarinets and electronics, performed by clarinetists from VERGE and Aleph. Also included in the concert are DJ Sparr’s energetic The Glam Seduction, Charisma for clarinet and cello by Iannis Xenakis, Perttu Haapanen’s Metaromance, Cette mie luit sans qu’âtre vint by Jean-Baptiste Devillers, and Christopher Culpo’s Rebus. The concert is part of a year-long collaborative effort with the Embassy of France and is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
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January 11, 08
Happy New Year!Upcoming events:
Albany Symphony's Dogs of Desire: April 12
Contemporary Music Forum performs "The Glam Seduction": April 27, Washington D.C.
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September 06, 07
Just received recordings of the winds-only version of General Electric; will post those soon!****************************
July 16, 07 (crossover week?)
THIS FRIDAY July 20th: Hirshhorn "After-hours" - with the Great Noise Ensemble. Reich: Electric Counterpoint at the Hirshhorn Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute....click here for Hirshhorn details...
THIS WEDNESDAY July 18: Rock-trio gig at Roosevelt Tavern in York, PA with Katie Robinette & Dan Brenner.
...click here for Roosevelt details...
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June 19, 07
THIS JUST IN: The Great Noise Ensemble has cancelled General Electric on the Fringe Festival ... TOO BAD!!! But, there is a big project in the works for the 2008-09 season... super-secret!Next up: This Saturday June 23 @ 8pm - The Harp & Fiddle (York, PA) with the Katie Robinette, Dan Brenner, D. J. Sparr trio ...click here for future dates...
Good scene:
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May 29, 07
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May 22, 07
THIS JUST IN: The Great Noise Ensemble has programmed General Electric (soloists, D. J. Sparr- electric guitar, Molly Orlando- synth, Chris DeChiara- percussion, and Joel Ciaccio- electric bass) on their “Guerrilla New Music” show which is happening three times at the 2nd Annual Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, DC. Wednesday, July 25th @ 7pm; Friday, July 27th @ 2:45pm (?!); Sunday July 29th @ high-noon[all shows at the Source Theatre (1835 14th St NW Washington, DC, Washington DC 20009)]
Next up: May 30th 8pm - Roosevelt Tavern (York, PA) with the Katie Robinette, Dan Brenner, D. J. Sparr trio
On Deck: June 23rd 9PM - Harp & Fiddle in York, PA with the Katie Robinette/Dan Brenner/D. J. Sparr trio ...click here for future dates...
Special Thanks: To all of the players in the CSU Stanislaus Wind Ensemble and to their conductor Stuart Sims for his support of the good people...and for the great tour of Yosemite National Park.
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May 15, 07
Wednesday, May 16 to Saturday, May 19th: In residence at CSU Stanislaus (...also with composers Joel Puckett and Jonathan Pieslak)Concert: Friday, May 18th 7:30 PM General Electric (wind version) - CSU Stanislaus, Bernell and Flora Snider Music Recital Hall, Turlock, California 95380
On Deck: The Katie Robinette, Dan Brenner, D. J. Sparr trio at Roosevelt Tavern, York PA Wednesday, May 30th 8pm
...click here for future dates...
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May 11, 07
Back after a long hiatus!!! Katie Robinette/Dan Brenner/D. J. Sparr. Harp & Fiddle - York, PA Saturday May 12. 9pm-1am****************************
April 18, 07
New Recording posted! Kate Reinders (Wicked) was gracious enough to sing on a new recording project: an ultra-cheesy unrequited-love song "Move On"... now posted under MUSIC > ARRANGEMENTS. Thanks to Greg Smith (engineer), Jason Masimore (violin) and Dan Brenner (drums) for their contributions!
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April 2, 07
D. J. Sparr with former teachers Joseph Schwantner and Michael Daugherty at the CBDNA National Conference.
"Are you familiar with the Six Sigma? For one to master just its basic concepts, one must brave a five day conference at a Sheraton..." (Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock)
Upcoming Event: World premiere of General Electric (wind version - a concerto grosso for electric guitar, electric bass, synthesizer, percussion and chamber winds) and residency at CSU Stanislaus - May 14-19, 2007
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March 17, 07
ˇSparr's second-favorite holiday!
The Carroll County Times wrote a really nice write-up about Carroll Canons (for winds and chorus) which was composed for the Carroll Concert Band's annual fundraising concert featuring the Children's Chorus of Carroll County. The concert supports the Carroll Arts Council and scholarships for high-school kids to attend summer music programs. They raised a load of cash!
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February 23, 07
Carroll Canons for Concert Band and Chorus on March 13th concert at Winter's Mill High School in Westminster MD. 7:30 PM.
Click here for article and ticket information
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February 15, 07
Happy New Year!
Katie Robinette/Dan Brenner/D. J. Sparr trio will perform at a fundraiser for the Children's Chorus of Carroll County on February 17. Click here for information
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November 09, 06
General Electric will be premiered by the Great Noise Ensemble on Friday, November 17th in Washington, D. C.
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October 06, 06
Performing Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" with Great Noise Ensemble on Saturday October 7th in Silver Sping, MD.
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August 27, 06
Another short digression from classical music:
NEW RELEASE: ROSES (A SONG FOR FANS OF MICHIGAN FOOTBALL.) There are 2 versions - Rock and Country. click here for lyrics and info.
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July 22, 06
Jocelyn Scofield invites D. J. Sparr to perform with her at the Tacoma Park Folk Festival on the Emerging Artists Stage on September 10. Click here to hear D. J.'s string arrangement for Jocelyn's "Vanilla Dreams"
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July 4, 1777
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July 3, 06
New video posted of "Shrimp and Cookies" - click on music : arrangements - then scroll to the bottom.
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June 27, 06
The American Music Center recently announced D. J. Sparr as a recipient of a Composer Assistance Program award. Click here for press release from AMC.
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June 25, 06
Stephanie designed a new website for djsparr.com!
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