| |
Harold Schiffman at the Bösendorfer
Tallahassee, Florida (1998)
Photograph by Lois Griffin © 1998 Lois Griffin As part of the March 2008 celebrations of Harold Schiffman's 80th birth year, three of his works received premières. On March 1, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro presented an all-Schiffman concert that featured the North Carolina première of his cantata Alma (2002). Welborn Young conducted the performance, with mezzo-soprano soloist Hope Fairchild Thacker, and the UNCG Chamber Singers, the UNCG University Chorale, and the UNCG Faculty and Student Orchestra. During the days prior to the concert itself, the composer worked with various composition students in the UNCG School of Music, offering them both a seminar and a masterclass.
Schiffman with masterclass students University of North Carolina Greensboro (29 February 2008) Photograph by Jennifer Scott |
The North Carolina première of Alma (2002) School of Music Recital Hall, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1 March 2008) Photograph by Jennifer Scott
|
The birth year celebration continued in New York, at The Morgan Library & Museum, where Schiffman's song cycle Blood Mountain (2007) received its world première. Like Alma (which text was from Wildwood Flower), Blood Mountain was also set to text by North Carolina Poet Laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer, from her volume of poetry, Black Shawl. Soprano Gayle Seaton, for whom the cycle was written, and pianist Jane Perry-Camp presented the work to the Gilder Lehrman Hall audience. Likewise receiving its world première during the concert was Schiffman's Duo Concertante for Violin and Clarinet (1993), performed by violinist Aaron Boyd and clarinetist Richard Goldsmith. Additionally, violist Ah-Ling Neu gave Schiffman's Fantasy-Suite for Solo Viola (1980) its first New York performance; just as pianist Max Lifchitz gave Schiffman's Sonata No. 1 for Piano (1951) its first New York performance.
Première of Duo Concertante for Violin and Clarinet (1993) Aaron Boyd, violin; Richard Goldsmith, clarinet Gilder Lehrman Hall (9 March 2008) Photograph by A. J. Leslie |
After world première of Blood Mountain (2007)
Harold Schiffman receiving applause from the audience,
pianist Jane Perry-Camp, and soprano Gayle Seaton
Gilder Lehrman Hall (9 March 2008) Photograph by Gerd-Uwe Johnson
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 
This medal was given to Harold Schiffman in 2001,
when he was designated an Honorary Visitor of the
City of Győr. The medal, on one face, celebrates
the 2001 dedication of the János Richter Hall,
home of the Győr Philharmonic and named for its
internationally distinguished conductor who is depicted
on the medal. (János Richter was the son of Antal
Richter who founded the orchestra in 1862.) On the other
face is presented the logo of the Győr Philharmonic
Orchestra, with the date the orchestra was made the
official orchestra of Győr: 1894.
Nearly forty-seven years after composing his first symphony, Symphony (1961), in Tallahassee, Florida, on February 6, 2008, Harold Schiffman has finished his second. Scheduled for recording by the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra with Mátyás Antal conducting, in October, 2008, the work is a paean commemorating the composer’s ten-year love affair with the city of Győr, Hungary, and its glorious orchestra. Symphony No. 2 (2008) thus is subtitled Music for Győr.
Harold Schiffman's Symphony No. 2: Music for Győr (2008) |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
ALMA (2002) TO BE PERFORMED IN HUNGARY, 16 OCTOBER 2008
25 October 2007
 Streets in the center of the old city of Győr,* which
are but a short walk from the János Richter Hall.
Győr, Hungary (16 September 2007)
Photograph by Szidónia Juhász
Coinciding with his 80th birth year, Harold Schiffman's cantata Alma (2002) will receive, in Győr, Hungary,
its European première in a performance by the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hungarian National Chorus, Mátyás Antal (for whom the work was written) conducting. The première is scheduled as part of the orchestra's regular subscription series. Mátyás Antal's recording of Alma (North/South Recordings), released in 2004, has drawn high critical praise.
The concert will take place the evening of Thursday, 16 October 2008 in Győr's János Richter Hall. The composer plans to attend.
Conductor Mátyás Antal Photograph by Gyula Berényi |
A plaque identifying the Győr
Philharmonic Orchestra ( Győri Filharmonikus Zenekar) in an entryway into the orchestra's home, the János Richter Hall.
Győr, Hungary (21 September 2007) |
The façade of Győr's János Richter Hall ( Richter János Terem)
Győr, Hungary (20 October 2002)
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
THE YEAR 2008 CELEBRATES HAROLD SCHIFFMAN'S
BIRTH YEAR WITH ALL-SCHIFFMAN CONCERTS
23 October 2007
To celebrate his 80th birth year, two all-Schiffman concerts are scheduled for March 2008 (although his birthday is not until August!).
The School of Music Building of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Photograph courtesy of UNCG (http://www.uncg.edu/mus/)
It is expected also that the first winner of the Harold Schiffman High School Composition Competition Award will be announced at the concert.
On Sunday, 9 March 2008, at three o'clock in the afternoon, North/South Consonance will sponsor a program of chamber music in New York City's new Gilder Lehrman Hall of the J. Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum (at Madison Avenue and 36th Street). This all-Schiffman concert will not duplicate any of the compositions heard in the Greensboro concert; instead, among other works, it will feature two world premières: Schiffman's song cycle Blood Mountain (2007), using text from Kathryn Stripling Byer and featuring soprano Gayle Seaton, for whom the cycle was written; and his Duo Concertante for Violin and Clarinet (1993). Featured also will be a performance of Schiffman's early Sonata No. 1 for Piano (1951). |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
NEWLY RECORDED: THREE CONCERTI BY HAROLD SCHIFFMAN
21 October 2007
During September 2007, three of Harold Schiffman's concerti - his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (2006), his Double Concerto for Horn, Bassoon and String Orchestra (1992), and his Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra (1979) - were recorded in Győr, Hungary with the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra (Győri Filharmonikus Zenekar), Mátyás Antal conducting.
| |
Rebekah Binford, violin
Photograph by
Michael Schultz |
Tamás Zempléni, French horn Photograph courtesy of Tamás Zempléni
|
Pál Bokor, bassoon, Photograph courtesy of Pál Bokor
|
Ákos Takács, violoncello Photograph courtesy of Ákos Takács
|
Rebekah Binford, for whom the Violin Concerto was written, is the soloist in "her" concerto. She is the Assistant Concertmaster of the North Carolina Symphony. Soloists for the Double Concerto are Tamás Zempléni, French horn; and Pál Bokor, bassoon - both of whom are members of the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra. The Violoncello Concerto features Ákos Takács, 'cellist of the Auer Quartet, which had recorded Schiffman's string quartets in 2004.
The compact disc of the three concerti was released as N/S R1047 by North/South Recordings in December, 2007. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
North/South Recordings has just released its newest compact disc, N/S R 1045, Remembrances|Recuerdos: Music by Composers from Cuba and the US. The disc includes Harold Schiffman’s Concertino for Flute and String Orchestra (2004) performed by Lisa Hansen, flutist, and the North/South Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Max Lifchitz. The work was written to celebrate North/South Consonance´s twenty-fifth season, and was premièred in New York City, January 9, 2005, by the same performers.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Harold Schiffman's song cycle, Blood Mountain (2007) for soprano and piano, was completed in Graham County, North Carolina, June 20, 2007.
Soprano Gayle Seaton
Photograph by Beth Kelly Photography © 2006 Beth Kelly Photography |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
Harpist Erzsébet Gaál
Bloomington, Indiana (1998)
Photograph by Charles Hodge © 1998 Charles Hodge
Final Cut Video Productions |
NOTTURNO FOR HARP (1980), EDITED BY ERZSÉBET GAÁL, HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED BY HARPA HUNGARICA,
P. O. BOX 5433, BLOOMINGTON, IN 47407 USA.
21 May 2007
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Harold Schiffman's Sonata No. 1 for Piano (1951)
in original manuscript and now in print.
Tallahassee, Florida
(29 January 2007) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Violinist Rebekah Binford and composer Harold Schiffman. Charlotte, North Carolina (26 March 1998) Added to Harold Schiffman's catalogue of works is his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (2006), written for Rebekah Binford and completed in Graham County, North Carolina, on December 3, 2006. Binford is Associate Concertmaster of the North Carolina Symphony. She has premièred a number of Schiffman's works including Duo Concertante for Violin and English Horn (1990) and Sonata for Solo Violin (1993), a piece written for her. The new concerto features an important role for the harp as well as prominent parts for various woodwinds and French horns. The Violin Concerto is available from Harold Schiffman/Andres Editions.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
OME BANJOS!
NEW LINK
21 October 2006
The distinguished and world renowned banjo maker, OME Banjos, has recognized and honored Harold Schiffman by including him in their gallery of OME artists. Please visit the OME Banjo site at http://www.omebanjos.com and click on Gallery.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
THE HAROLD SCHIFFMAN HIGH SCHOOL COMPOSITION COMPETITION
18 August 2006
It is a special pleasure to announce that the generosity of an anonymous donor has made it possible for The School of Music of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro to establish The Harold Schiffman High School Composition Competition Award. The Award not only honors its namesake but will provide both encouragement and support for young composers to explore their talent and to hone their skills in writing music - opportunities that will be available to them as undergraduates in The School of Music at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The Harold Schiffman High School Composition Competition will be open to high school seniors who desire to pursue their undergraduate music study in composition in the University of North Carolina at Greensboro's (UNCG's) School of Music.
It is expected that the first Award will be given for the 2007-2008 academic year.
When each Award is announced, the recipient's name will appear on this web site, on the "News" page, along with our congratulations.
For further information concerning the Award (including application information), please contact:
The Harold Schiffman High School Composition Competition
The School of Music
Dr. Mark Engebretson
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Post Office Box 26170
Greensboro, North Carolina 27402-6170
Or consult the following websites:
http://www.uncg.edu/mus/students/CompositionContest.html
http://www.uncg.edu/mus/ (the UNCG School of Music home website)
http://www.uncg.edu/mus/composition.html (the composition/history/theory division website)
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
WELCOME TO HAROLD SCHIFFMAN´S WEB SITE!
26 June 2006
It, of course, should come as no surprise that the web site is now up and running, since were it not so, you´d not be reading this message. Still, it is exciting to welcome it into the world, cyber though that world may be.
I hope that you´ll find the web site useful, informative, and even at times entertaining. It will be my pleasure, and that of my webmaster, if you find it to be so!
 Composer Harold Schiffman and webmaster Elsa Leslie. Tallahassee, Florida (25 June 2006) The world hasn´t enough gratitude to extend adequate thanks to Elsa Leslie, who undertook the task of designing and literally mastering the web site. She has the patience of Job in dealing with my ignorance, uncertainty, and sometimes downright goofiness – yet she took it all in stride and never showed the slightest sign of impatience (although I´m sure that I caused her eyes to roll heavenward many a time during the process of creating this web site). For years my wife and I have known her to be a brilliant programmer and dear friend. Now we know her to be likewise a brilliant webmaster – and (thankfully) still a dear friend!
Composer Harold Schiffman and webmaster Elsa Leslie. Tallahassee, Florida (25 June 2006) So, thanks, Elsa, for working a miracle – a miracle that is made evident through the existence of your reading this very note right now: through the existence of www.haroldschiffman-composer.com!
Perhaps, the feather in your cap, Elsa, is more literal than I had realized. Just look at one of your two photos on this page, and you´ll see that a little birdie had to chime in somehow or another. Of course, it is a bluebird – and seems to be just as happy as I am.
AGAIN, WELCOME TO MY WEB SITE!
-- Harold Schiffman
|
|
