On Saturday, February 19, 2022, pianist Stephen Clarke of the Array Ensemble will present the world premiere of my solo piano work Dream of a Blue Elf (2007), as part of the prerecorded and livestreamed program “Premieres.” Event details and a link to purchase a ticket (CAD$25 or pay what you want) can be found… Continue reading World Premiere: Dream of a Blue Elf
Category: Concert
Companion
Companion (2019) was composed through late 2018 and early 2019, while the first pencil sketches date to 2011. It is dedicated to my two youngest children. All of the material derives from seven-note rows: orderings of the pitches of the diatonic scale. The harmony resembles traditional tonality heard through a pandiatonic filter. There are four… Continue reading Companion
we have lived before at Ottawa Chamberfest
Fresh from giving the world premiere of we have lived before at Toronto Summer Music, Gryphon Trio performs my new work twice at Ottawa Chamberfest, on Wednesday, July 28 (7 pm, virtual only, in-person sold out) and Thursday July 29 (2 pm, limited in-person still available). I’ll be there to introduce the piece and tell… Continue reading we have lived before at Ottawa Chamberfest
we have lived before – Gryphon Trio Premiere
On Friday, July 16, 2021, Gryphon Trio will premiere my three-movement work for piano trio we have lived before (2021), as part of Toronto Summer Music. The virtual concert is free as is the entire festival. The title of this work is taken from an Earthseed verse in Octavia E. Butler’s novel Parable of the… Continue reading we have lived before – Gryphon Trio Premiere
Livestream and Programme for “The Music of Bruce A. Russell”
Here is the link for tonight’s first-ever concert of my music by The Array Ensemble. Viewing is free or by optional donation. You may be asked to create a free account in order to access the livestream. Please consider donating to Arraymusic as they are a historic and vital part of Toronto’s new music scene,… Continue reading Livestream and Programme for “The Music of Bruce A. Russell”
Arraymusic Presents “The Music of Bruce A. Russell”
In two weeks, on Saturday, November 21st at 8 pm EST, the Array Ensemble will present the first ever live concert dedicated to my music, featuring all world premieres. It will be livestreamed from https://www.arraymusic.ca/brucerussell/ and tickets are by donation (or free). The performers are legends: Stephen Clarke and Wesley Shen on pianos, and Rick… Continue reading Arraymusic Presents “The Music of Bruce A. Russell”
New Kalimba Canon Video
A little over a week after they gave the live world premiere of Kalimba Canon (1999), Prism Percussion have released a one-take performance video of the piece, recorded earlier in the fall. The performance and acoustics are stunning; the imagery speaks for itself in the moment we’re in.
Kalimba Canon Live
On Friday, October 30th, 2020, Prism Percussion will give the live concert premiere of my Kalimba Canon (1999), in a concert hosted by the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The program of percussion duets also includes music by Adrea Venet, Eric Cha-Beach, Alexandra Gardner and Molly Joyce. It can be streamed via this link… Continue reading Kalimba Canon Live
Black on Steve’s Birthday!
Iconic composer Steve Reich turns 84 today. He was recently alleged to have made some pointedly anti-Black racist remarks in the early 70s. Today is also a kind of late emergence for me; my first performance on a symphony orchestra program (albeit of a chamber work). As a child, I first heard the n-word, directed… Continue reading Black on Steve’s Birthday!
Emergence: Linea Nigra in Concert
My octet for strings Linea Nigra (2015) will receive its world premiere this Saturday, October 3rd at 7:30 pm MDT, in the release of a prerecorded performance by the San Juan Symphony, conducted by music director Thomas Heuser. It will feature as part of a program entitled “Black Voices and A Ballet for Martha,” which… Continue reading Emergence: Linea Nigra in Concert
EL MAHBOOB 