Aaron Robinson (composer)
Aaron Robinson (born December 11, 1970) is an American composer, conductor, musician, and author. He has written scores for film, television, and radio productions; and is the author of the book Does God Sing? - A Musical Journey.[1]
Early Life and Career
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Robinson was born on December 11, 1970, in Camden, Maine. He studied composition and piano performance at the Boston Conservatory of Music with composers John Adams and Lawrence Thomas Bell, a student of composer Vincent Persichetti.[citation needed]
Robinson has lectured on the history of ragtime and early jazz,[2] and in 1997, he conducted the world premiere performance of Treemonisha: The Concert Version by ragtime composer Scott Joplin at the Rockport Opera House in Rockport, Maine with a new libretto by Judith Kurtz Bogdanove.[3] He has composed and conducted premiere works for the concert and theatrical stage including Leonard Bernstein's Candide - The Concert Version[4], Langston Hughes' Black Nativity - In Concert: A Gospel Celebration[5] and in 2001, he orchestrated, arranged and conducted[6][7] the musical Islands, which was produced on Broadway at the New Victory Theater by John Wulp, with music and lyrics by Cindy Bullens.[8][9]
Works
This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2012) |
Robinson is considered as "one of today's leading proponents of ragtime and early jazz".[10] His first album, entitled, Ragtime (1998), was re-released in 2011, under the title They All Played Ragtime and features his own "The New England Ragtime Suite".
In 2004, Robinson conducted Black Nativity - In Concert: A Gospel Celebration[11]. The film Black Nativity – In Concert: A Gospel Celebration documents the recording of this album that recreates the original performance of Langston Hughes's Gospel Song-Play Black Nativity.
In 2008, the album Symphonic Dances was released, which features Robinson performing the ballet music of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and Andrew Lloyd Webber live in concert on an Orchestral Organ.[citation needed]
Many of his classical works have been performed throughout the world, including Peter and Wendy - A Fantasy Ballet (1994), and An American Requiem for Orchestra and Chorus (1997), which recently had its New England premiere under the direction of Dr. Robert Russell, and The Amazing Bone (1996) for Narrator and Orchestra, with book by children's book author and illustrator William Steig.[citation needed]
Robinson wrote the score for the film In The Shadows of Grey Gardens (2012) about the life of author and painter Lois Wright and her lifelong association with the Bouvier and Beale families of Grey Gardens in East Hampton, New York.[12][13]
Television and Film Appearances
Discography
- Albums
- 1998: Ragtime – Aaron Robinson (Piano) – Label: Independent
- 1998: Treemonisha – In Concert - Aaron Robinson (Conductor), Judith Kurtz Bogdanove (Libretto) - Label: Take-A-Bough Productions
- 2004: Black Nativity – In Concert: A Gospel Celebration – Aaron Robinson (Piano, Conductor), Paul Havenstein II (B-3 Hammond Organ) Black Nativity Chorus (Vocals, Ensemble) – Label: Music at Immanuel
- 2008: Symphonic Dances – Aaron Robinson (Orchestral Organ), Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Aaron Copland (Composer), Andrew Lloyd Webber (Composer) – Label: Music at Immanuel
- 2011: La Belle Epoque – Aaron Robinson (Piano, Composer, Conductor) – Label: Music at Immanuel
- 2011: They All Played Ragtime – Aaron Robinson (Piano, Conductor, Composer), Scott Joplin (Composer), Zez Confrey (Composer), Jelly Roll Morton (Composer) – Label: Music at Immanuel
Published Works
- Books
- Robinson, Aaron; and Liz McClane (ed.) (2012). Does God Sing – A Musical Journey, Tate Publishing & Enterprises. ISBN 978-1621474630
Musical Works
- Film score
- 2011: In The Shadows of Grey Gardens[12]
- Television Documentary
- 2004: Black Nativity – In Concert: A Gospel Celebration[15]
References
- ^ Robinson, Aaron (2012). Does God Sing? A Musical Journey. Tate Publishing. ISBN 978-1621474630.
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(help) - ^ Welker, David (1999). "Robinson & Ragtime". Down East Magazine.
Robinson has lectured extensively on the history of Ragtime, early Jazz and the Great American Songbook.
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(help) - ^ Martin, Lucy (November 8, 1997). "Making a Joyful Noise with Joplin". Lincoln County News. Damariscotta, Maine: lincolncountynewsonline.com/.
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ignored (help) - ^ Cross, Kernan (July 18, 1996). "Worldly 'Candide' Arrives On Stage". Lincoln County News. No. Your Weekend Plus. Damariscotta, Maine: lincolncountynewsonline.com/.
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ignored (help) - ^ DeWan, Becca (December 3, 2004). "Back in Black". Portland Phoenix. Portland, Maine. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
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ignored (help) - ^ Wulp, John (2003). De Angelis, Paul (ed.). John Wulp. CommonPlace Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-0965164551.
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value: checksum (help) - ^ Ernest, Dagney C. (Thursday, May 24, 2001). "Singing the Songs of North Haven". Courier-Gazette. No. Your Weekend Plus. Camden, Maine: knox.villagesoup.com. pp. C3.
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(help) - ^ Shields, Lisa. ""Islands": When one-fifth of a community takes part in a project, things begin to happen". Workingwaterfront.com. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ "Independent Lens. ON THIS ISLAND. The Cast". PBS. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ Welker, David (1999). "Robinson & Ragtime". Down East Magazine.
Robinson is one of today's leading proponents of ragtime and early jazz
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(help) - ^ "Back in Black". Portland Phoenix. December 3, 2002. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ a b "Lois Wright News". TV Guide. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ "Search Dictionaries: Grey Gardens". search dictionaries. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ John Wulp - producer, Cindy Bullens - songwriter, Aaron Robinson - conductor, and Stephanie Slewka – director (2002). "On This Island". PBS.
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(help) - ^ a b Aaron Robinson - Conductor, Richard Searls - Director (2007). "Black Nativity - In Concert: A Gospel Celebration". PBS.
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External links
- Aaron Robinson at IMDb
- http://www.portopera.org/mea_cast08.php/
- http://www.52composers.com/ives.html/
- http://www.portlandphoenix.com/music/other_stories/documents/04301692.asp/
- http://www.takeaboughproductions.com/
- Symphonic Dances code=W 185315 on AllMusic site
- http://www.allenorganofmaine.com/2012/08/02/allen-pipe-digital-combo-organ-to-be-used-in-kotzchmar-organ-hundredth-year-celebration/
- *List of ragtime composers