Music professor collaborates on CD of previously unrecorded works
Janel Shoun |
Lipscomb University’s artist-in-residence Jerry Reed recently collaborated with a Middle Tennessee State University music professor to produce a CD of 20th century sonatas, most of which have never been recorded before.
Diamonds Uncovered, a collection of 5 sonatas for flute and piano, includes one unpublished work by title composer David Diamond. Reed said he was excited to be part of a project that included a piece no one had ever played in public before.
“When Deanna came to me with this opportunity, I was excited to be a part of a project that would bring musical works that may never have been heard before to the public, both on the recording and through student performances that will be encouraged by the release of this CD for years to come,” said Reed.
“It was a double honor when the recording engineer chose Ward Hall as the perfect place to record the works. Ward has always had a distinctive sonic signature, which is why so many internationally known artists have enjoyed playing there,” he said.
On the CD, Reed collaborates with Deanna Little, flutist and associate professor of flute at Middle Tennessee State University, performing sonatas by North American 20th century composers. The CD’s playlist includes sonatas by David Diamond, Thomas Pasatieri, Emma Lou Diemer, Denis Bédard and Samuel Zyman.
Reed, professor of music at Lipscomb and an international performer, said the recently composed pieces on the new CD are very listener-friendly and highly accessible to music students looking for new music to perform.
The recording was funded by a research and creative project grant from MTSU, Little said. She originally wanted to make the CD to add to the flute repertoire available to music students. This is her first solo CD. Little works with Reed at Tennessee’s Governor’s School for the Arts.
Diemer, one of the composers on the CD who has been composing since the 1950s, praised Diamonds Uncovered: “Such gorgeous playing by both of you, and I'm delighted that you included my sonata…. What fun for the music of contemporary American composers to be noticed and made available.”
To purchase a copy of Diamonds Uncovered or to listen to a sampling of the sonatas click here.