David Gaines, composer

Bio:

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PRESS QUOTES

"A captivating performance....a milestone in the canon of symphonic band literature" (Washington Post)

"Colorful percussion writing....Gaines demonstrates a keen affinity for orchestration. Woodwinds and brass are vividly exploited; percussion applied with as much subtlety as power." (Baltimore Sun)

"I cannot imagine a more powerful mix of words, images, and music....People who know nothing of Massoud or Afghanistan will be stunned by the sheer power of the composition, and people who are familiar with these topics will be reduced to tears....a tremendous piece of work." (Sebastian Junger, author, "The Perfect Storm," "A Death In Belmont," "Fire")

"This is very attractive music....Without ever sounding like a pastiche of styles, Gaines' music succeeds in creating its own approachable style, with impressive lyricism....and a real sense of power and purpose" (Records International)

"Wonderful compositions...." (Bay Area Chamber Symphony)

"Thank you for writing such beautiful music for the voice." (Mezzo-soprano Kimball Wheeler, former voice faculty member, California Institute of the Arts)

"Extraordinary talents....highly skilled handling of the large structure....a very talented composer" (Loudoun Symphony Orchestra conductor Mark McCoy)

"....spiritually uplifting...." (Omaid Weekly)

"....Gaines has contributed [a] major work which can hold its own against any other modern symphony...." (EsperantoUSA)

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BIOGRAPHY

Composer David Gaines (b. 1961) has been recognized both by critics and by other artists for his imaginative orchestrations and his uniquely international and eclectic style. His music, which has been performed across the United States and Europe, includes two symphonies, concertos for baritone saxophone, trombone, and euphonium, plus a variety of chamber, choral, and electronic music. Recordings are available in compact disc and digital download formats on the MMC Recordings and Verda Stelo Music labels.

A graduate of Northwestern University, American University, and Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory of Music (where he earned a doctoral degree in composition), Dr. Gaines’ studied with M. William Karlins, Stephen Syverud, Jerzy Sapieyevski, Jean Eichelberger Ivey, and Robert Sirota. His awards include annual ASCAP Standard Awards since 2000 as well as first prize in the 1997 College Music Society Mid Atlantic Chapter Student Composers Competition and first prize in the song division of the World Esperanto Association's 1995 International Fine Arts Competition. The "Society and Esperanto" Foundation of Bulgaria named him an Honorary Life Member in 1994, and in 2006 the international organization Muzika Esperanto-Ligo awarded him the title of Honorary President in recognition of his usage of the international language Esperanto in his music.

Dr. Gaines has served on the faculty of New School University's online Master of Media Technology degree program, for which he created the first Internet university-level music course for credit (on the history of electronic music technology), as well as University of Maryland University College, where he held the rank of adjunct associate professor.

New recordings of chamber music compositions by David Gaines (and dispel the miseries of the world for baritone saxophone & chamber orchestra, Suite Of Changes for viola & mallet percussion, and Jubilee for euphonium & piano) will be released on June 29th, 2010 on the album Conversations: Keyboard and Chamber Music by John Bilotta and David Gaines on the Navona Records label, distributed by Naxos.

Recent performances have included the piano reduction version of the Concerto for euphonium & orchestra at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia; Duo for flute & tuba at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh; Lyric Fanfare for trombone & piano at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan and the University of Oregon; and the premiere of a new trombone concerto for Robert Kozánek (principal trombonist, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra) in Kromeríz, Czech Republic as part of the 60th anniversary celebration in September 2009 of the P. J. Vejvanovský Conservatory.

Outside of his musical activities, Dr. Gaines has been an activist on behalf of ferrets and other small mammals for many years and currently serves as the volunteer director of legal and legislative affairs for the American Ferret Association.

6/2010

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Member Since:

January 21, 2006

Influences:

Aaron Copland, Jerzy Sapieyevski, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Paul Hindemith, Adolphus Hailstork, Alan Hovhaness, Bulgarian folk music, Brazilian jazz, bits & pieces of everything else that I've ever heard

Sounds Like:

A mix of all of the above

Record Label:

MMC Recordings & Verda Stelo Music