New Music USA Online Library

Brian Wilbur Grundstrom ~ Compositions & Performance History
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Orchestra

Contentment, Poem for Orchestra (1999) 11:20m (2222,4331,timp,perc,hrp,strings)

A lyric poem for orchestra (Orquestra Sinfônica do Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro, Maestro Jeffrey Dokken, Teatro Pedro Calmon, Brasilia, Brazil, December 13, 2016)

Jubilation! Dance for Orchestra (2000) 8:45m (3333,4331,timp,xyl,vibr,mar,perc,strings)

 (George Washington University Orchestra, Director Nancia D’Alimonte, Lisner Auditorium, Washington DC, Nov. 19, 2006)
 (Queer Urban Orchestra, BWG orchestral conducting debut, Church of the Holy Apostles, New York City, November 21, 2010)
Jubilation! is an exciting dance in 5/4 for full orchestra, climaxing with a big energetic ending.

American Reflections for Strings and Harp (2009) 12:00m (v1 solo, v2 solo, va solo, vc solo, harp, strings)
(SONOS Chamber Orchestra, Director Erik E. Ochsner, Good Shepherd Church May 12, 2009, Merkin Concert Hall, NYC May 13 2009, First Baptist Church of White Plains May 16, 2009)
(Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra, Teatro Sanchez Aguilar, Ecuador July 10, 2015, Jeffrey Dokken guest conductor)
Chenonceau, Music for Wind and String Quintets  (2013) 12:48m (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Strings)  Commissioned by Max Lifchitz and North/South Consonance
(North/South Consonance, February 16, 2014, Christ & St. Stephen's Church, 120 West 69th Street, NYC-performed with solo strings)

Children of Zeus (Chorus and Orchestra)

45:00m (3342,4331,timp,perc,hrp,SSAATTBB chorus and strings)

i Hercules (6min) cynicism for the Half man half God, the strongest of all men (‘Hercules & Co.’ by Arthur Guieterman)

ii Aphrodite (9min) beautiful melodies for the Goddess of Love, beauty, pleasure and procreation (Adapted from the ‘Homeric Hymns’)

iii. Ares (10min) Loud and Militaristic for the God of War and Chaos (Adapted from assorted writings on Ares)

iv. Dionysus (11min) Lush and Mysterious for the God of Wine and Religious Ecstasy (‘Oedipus at Colonnus’)

v. Apollo (9min) a hypnotic refrain for the God of music, poetry, arts, oracles, archery, medicine, sun, light and knowledge (‘Hymn to Apollo’ by John Keats)

(CoroAllegro, Delaware Choral Society and the Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia, Jeffrey Sean Dokken Music Director:

April 29, 2017 Baby Grand, Wilmington Deleware; June 3, 2017 Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Virginia, and June 4, 2017 at Great Mills High School, Great Mills, Maryland with St. Maries Choral Arts)

Suite for Chamber Orchestra (fl,ob,cl,bn,hn,tmp,strings)

(NIH Philharmonia, Director Nancia D’Alimonte, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Rockville MD, October 20, 2007)

(Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia, Director Jeffrey Dokken, James Lee Community Center Theater, Falls Church VA, November 5, 2011)
I. Before the Fall! (2001) 10:45m
 (Trinity Chamber Orchestra, Richard Fazio Director, October 15, 2006, St Ann’s Church Washington DC)
Before the Fall! was almost completed before that defining moment of September 11th, yet there is a dark side to the piece that seems to forebode. Coincidentally, the title also portrays the sense of loss felt as summer fades away and the anticipated dread of the cold and dark as winter approaches. In some sense, the events that shape our world are just as seasonal and uncontrollable as the weather.

II. Avalon (2002) 11:30m
Avalon is the mystical island of healing that King Arthur went to after his battle. This piece represents the slow and necessary healing process following a dramatic event.  Mysterious and epic sounding, Avalon has a freestyle beginning with interjecting little motives -- then transitions and builds upon these interjections to a steady and foreboding feel with string pizzicato. The color and character changes subtly as the piece slowly climaxes and relaxes.
III. Celebration! (2002) 8:30m

 (SONOS Chamber Orchestra, Director Erik E Ochsner, Trinity Church, NYC 2003, February 2003)

 (Trinity Chamber Orchestra, Richard Fazio Director, Trinity Theater, Washington DC, January 2005)
 (Festival Chamber Orchestra Series, Artistic Director Dr. Blaine Shover, Shippensburg PA, July 2005)
 (Holyoke Civic Symphony, Artistic Director David Kidwell, Holyoke MA, May 2008)
Celebration! deals with the joy and celebration of life that we need to express after coming to terms with the darker side. With all its excitement and vigor, as well as its interesting unexpected turns, Celebration! makes a great concert opener!!! 

Opera
For Whom the Bell Tolls, A New Opera in Two Acts (in progress)
Libretto by David Dorsen, Book by Ernest Hemingway.  Act I, Scene 3 (24 min) professionally recorded

Brian Wilbur Grundstrom ~ Compositions & Performance History
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Theater

"A Day At The Museum" (2008) 35 Min Underscore
Commissioned by The New Zenith Theatre for the New York International Fringe Festival. Written by Robert Barnett and directed by Ed Wierzbicki.  Capital Fringe Festival 2011, Washington DC, Director Perry T. Schwartz, BWG Producer

Pepe: The Mail Order Monkey Musical (2009) 45 Min
2009 Capital Fringe Fringe Festival - Lyrics by Jon Gann and Andrea King www.pepelives.com
Also Music Director of production and Recording Engineer of cast recording.

Music Director & Orchestrator
Cookin’ Up Numbers, Music by Tom Berger, Book & Lyrics by Yvonne Roen, 2010 Capital Fringe Festival

Film

The Greater Evil (2015) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Codependence Day (2015) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Uke & Trust Me (2014) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Residence Evil (2013) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Game of Assassins (2013) additional music Evan Evans/The Composers Collective

The Writer’s Dilemma (2013) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

The Monopoly Club (2013) short Meghan Reynolds

The Backseat Driver (2012) short Tragedy Plus Time/Rob Rafferty

At Last (2012) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Nocturnal Agony (2011) feature Nubia Filmworks

Arc of Light: A Portrait of Anna Campbell Bliss (2011) feature Cid Collis Walker

Touched by a Lawyer (2011) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Green House (2011) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Uncertainty Principle (2010) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Final Etiquette (2011) short Jack Kearney

Liability (2010) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Smithsonian Recruitment Video (2009) short by Sonnett Media Group/Dan Sonnett
The Red Wind (2009) short by Stephen L. Carr

Number One with a Bullet (2009) short Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Please Forward (2009) short 48 Hour Film Project 2009 DC Best of Selection) Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

Convergence (2007) feature by Zero Point Productions/Gary Wheeler & John Strawbridge

Sadie’s Waltz (2007) short by Mobius Films/Edward R. Tyndall

Deconfliction (2007) short by Mobius Films/Edward R. Tyndall

You Pay Your Dues (2007) short (Best of 48 Hour Film Project 2007) by Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

2 Minutes Later (2007) feature by Robert Gaston
Milind Soman Made Me Gay (2007) short by Harjant Gill
The Pride of the Maasai Mara (2007) short  by Sonnett Media Group/Dan Sonnett

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (2007) short by Attey Production/Yetta Myrick

Four Seasons (2007) short by Ahreum Kim

The Tea Party (2006) short by Attey Production/Yetta Myrick

The Mane Attraction (2006) short (National Film Challenge) by Sonnett Media Group/Dan Sonnett

Machinations (2006) short (Winner, Best Sci-Fi National Film Challenge) Tohubohu Productions/William R. Coughlan

A Date With Dennis (2006)short by Director Taylor Burns

Reunion (2006) short  by Director Andy Bely

Brian Wilbur Grundstrom ~ Compositions & Performance History
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Chamber

Suite Remembrance (2007) (Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano)

  I. Seduction 3:45m   (Angela Murakami, Robin Gelman, BWG, Kennedy Center, November 27, 2007)
  II. Langsyne 0:58m   III. Grander Days 1:23m  IV. Dream Waltz 2:16m  V. Distant Memories 4:36m

  (Brian David Jones, Ben Williams, Laurie Vivona-Bunn  April 16, 2009, George Mason University, VA)
Music II for Wind Quintet (2005) 15:05m (Fl, Ob, Cl, Hn, Bn)

  (Trinity Chamber Players, Oakton and Alexandria, VA, June 2005 and professionally recorded by Steve Antosca)
  (Ensemble A la Carte, The Westchester, Washington DC, July 17, 2006)
  (Kennedy Center, A la Carte, November 27, 2007)

  (Chamber Music by Candlelight/Baltimore Sym. Orchestra musicians, 2nd Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, April 25, 2010)

  (Sunderman Woodwind Quintet, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, October 18, 2013)
Music for Piano Solo II has been orchestrated into a fun lively piece for winds.

Benefit of Going to Law (2004) 4:45m (Guitar and Soprano)
  (J. Andrew Dickenson and Yeonjune Suh on November 9, 2005 and July 11, 2005)
  (Harlie Sponaugle and Warren Zwicky Friday Morning Music Club November 9, 2007 and Kennedy Center, Nov. 27, 2007)
This intimate song presents the wit and humor of Benjamin Franklin, received Encore Performance Incentive award with J. Andrew Dickenson from the American Composers Forum

Choral

My Letter from Carl (2007) 9:00m (TTBB Chorus, Piano and Oboe)  Lyrics by Joseph Shapiro
Commissioned for the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus and Director Steven A Russell, Carl writes his dear friend Joey to tell him how much he is missed.
 (New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus, Unitarian Universalist Church, Titusville NJ, June 15, 2007)
 (New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus, Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, Plainfield NJ, June 16, 2007)
How I Found Sam (2006) 7:00m (TTBB Chorus and Piano)  Lyrics by Jim Skofield
Fun and upbeat, commissioned for San Francisco’s Colla Voce.
 (Colla Voce, Steve Ng Director, Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, Fairfield CA  June 11, 2006)
 (Colla Voce, Steve Ng Director, St John the Evangelist Church, San Francisco CA   July 9, 2006)
 (Colla Voce, Steve Ng Director, Salle Pierre-Mercure, OutGames, Montreal, August 1, 2006, sold-out)

Tessitura Mission Statement Chorus (2005) 3:33m (SATB and Piano)
Commissioned for the Tessitura Network annual conference in Boston, a thirty member volunteer chorus sang the network’s mission statement set to music, under the direction of BWG.  (Tessitura is a performing arts organization software.)  (2005, 2006 & 2007 Annual Conferences in Boston, Toronto and Tucson)
Simple Town (1997) 9:00m (TTBB Chorus and Piano) 
The joys of growing up gay in rural America.

Piano

Music for Piano Solo I (1985) 6:30m  
 (Gettysburg College, Gettysburg PA  1985)

A short lyric atonal piece for piano solo

Music for Piano Solo II (1990) 16:00m

Using all 88 keys, this upbeat melodic journey explores different tonal centers and textures, including a "hoedown" performed by Guy Livingston in his "One Minute More"
Music for Piano Solo III (1994) 12:00m

This tonal piece is defined by its melodic landscape. Pianist Craig Randal Johnson received a Performance Incentive Fund from the American Composers Forum to perform this work.
Music III for Two Pianos (1995) 13:00m  
 (performed with Jay Egelberg, Steinway Hall, NYC 1996)
 (Shiphrah Meditz, Cameron Dennis, Kennedy Center, November 27, 2007)

Music for Piano Solo III is orchestrated with plenty of counterpoint to make a lively jubilant piano duo.
Music for Piano Solo IV (Crystalline Textures) (1996) 12:30m  
 (Steinwall Hall 1997) (Ruth Rose, Kennedy Center, November 27, 2007)
A response to minimalism, Crystalline Textures was written as an exercise in “transparent” or “crystalline” textures.

Brian Wilbur Grundstrom ~ Compositions & Performance History
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Honors

Outstanding Emerging Artist, Annual Mayor's Arts Awards, Washington DC (2013)

Silver Peer Award (2012) for Arc of Light: A Portrait of Anna Campbell Bliss from Television, Internet & Video Association of DC (TIVA-DC)
Nomination, 2009 OUTmusic  Awards, New York City

Bronze Peer Award (2008) for Sadie's Waltz from Television, Internet & Video Association of DC (TIVA-DC)

Artist Fellowship D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012)

ASCAPlus (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Composers Assistance Program from American Music Center (2007, 2009)

Encore from American Composers Forum (2005)

ASCAP/NYU Buddy Baker Film Music Workshop (2005)

Rick Baitz Workshop (2011)

Discography

An Orchestral Journey, Erik Ochsner Director, Omega Recording Studios Orchestra, Parma Recordings, Navona Label, released via Naxos August 12, 2016.  Includes: Contentment, Jubilation, Suite for Chamber Orchestra, American Reflections and Chenonceau.