Bloom

Stephen Bryant (b. 1972)

“Bloom is a celebration of springtime. The bright, sunny days, with nature in bloom all around, give me a powerful sense of well-being, simultaneously tranquil and exuberant. Bloom is my attempt to recreate that feeling.”

Steven Bryant (b. 1972, Little Rock, AR) is an active composer and conductor with a varied catalog, including works for wind ensemble, orchestra, electronic and electro-acoustic creations, chamber music, and music for the web. Steven’s music has been performed by numerous ensembles across the United States, as well as in England, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Germany. His first orchestral work, Loose Id for Orchestra, hailed by celebrated composer Samuel Adler as “orchestrated like a virtuoso,” was premiered by The Juilliard Symphony and will be featured on an upcoming release by the Bowling Green Philharmonia on Albany Records. His most recent orchestral work, Alchemy in Silent Spaces, commissioned by James DePreist and The Juilliard School, was premiered by the Juilliard Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall in May 2006. He studied composition with John Corigliano at The Juilliard School, Cindy McTee at the University of North Texas, and Francis McBeth at Ouachita University.

Morceau de Concert for Horn

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Saint-Saëns, a prolific French composer, began writing and making music from a very young age, similar to other composers during his time. He began taking an interest in the piano and music in general at the age of 3, beginning to show perfect pitch and picking notes out on his mother’s piano. He became well-acquainted with music throughout his life, composing small pieces on the spot on that same piano he played on in his childhood home. He also became well-versed in playing the organ, as it was popular at the time to have a church organ to play along with the piano. This piece, translated as “Horn Piece,” is a popular selection for French Horn players. The virtuosity of the piece makes it popular and fun to perform, while also being a joy for the audience!

Symphony No. 1 in E Minor

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Florence Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her mother was the primary guide of her musical beginnings, teaching her piano and other musical aspects throughout her childhood. She began playing the piano very quickly and played her first piano concert at the age of 4. In her young adult years, she attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Her first symphony was monumental for a couple of reasons, the most prominent being that it was the first symphony composed by an African-American woman to be performed by a major orchestra. The 4-movement work is well-known for serving as a wonderful bridge between the classical world and Price’s childhood experiences. The piece is rich in culture and sound, creating a monumental musical experience that showcases the virtuosity and expressive capacity of the orchestra.