NYC Concert
The annual Alec Wilder Concert in New York City will be held on Sunday, April 11th, 3PM at Christ and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 120 West 69th Street. Tickets at the door: $25 and $15 (students).
It is expected that concert performances will include the Trio for Flute (Paul Dunkel), Clarinet (Steve Hart) and Bassoon (Harrison Hollingsworth). Dunkel, accompanied by Barbara Lee, will also perform the Sonata No. 2 for Flute and Piano.
Other scheduled artists include jazz pianist David Berkman, who will perform a set of Wilder songs.
Hosted by songstress Marlene VerPlanck, the concert will include a performance of the Wilder-Sundgaard one-act opera The Opening, organized by conductor-pianist Aaron Gandy (See "The Next Generation"), who has assembled a cast of singers, yet to be named.
The Next Generation
Noting the predominantly gray hair among attendees at the annual Alec Wilder concerts, one naturally wonders about the future of these concerts and of the "Friends" organization. To show that there is indeed hope on the horizon, we have decided to showcase a few of the prominent representatives of what might be called "the next generation," younger Wilder-enthusiasts who increasingly are taking a lead in the organization and its activities. We have asked these individuals to respond to either of the following questions:
How did you come to be interested in the music of Alec Wilder? What was it about his music that drew your attention?
John Biderman was the host of the most recent "Friends" concert. His varied background has led him from journalism and public relations to information technology in the health care industry.
I came to love Alec Wilder's music only after a fascination about the man himself -- from his APS book, from Whitney Balliet's New Yorker profile, and from meeting him (along with Jim Maher, who'd known my father for decades) in New York jazz venues, from the NPR radio series, and from "Letters I Never Mailed," which I absolutely adored.
Today, I am totally smitten by the Octets and other chamber pieces, by both his popular songs and his art songs, many of which I have discovered only in the last 10 or 15 years.
David Demsey is a saxophonist and member of the music faculty at William Paterson University. He has authored and edited books on Alec Wilder and has been a featured soloist at a number of the annual concerts.
I first became aware of Alec's music when I was at Julliard, and was the stage manager at an Englewood, NJ venue that presented French hornist Robert Routch playing a Wilder horn sonata -- it's jazz elements knocked me out! I quickly learned that Alec had written for saxophone and fell in love with the Alto Saxophone Sonata and the "Three Ballads for Stan."
I (like many newcomers, I'm sure) was stunned to learn that this was the same Alec Wilder who wrote "I'll Be Around" and so many other classic popular songs.
My introduction to the real Alec Wilder came, beginning with my studies at Eastman, through meeting Lou and Helen Ouzer, Tom Hampson, Gunther Schuller, and many others who knew and loved Alec. Though a bit too young to have met him in person, I feel that it has been a great gift in my life to become a Friend of Alec through meeting the many incredible people who were in his life.
Aaron Gandy is a conductor, pianist and musical theater historian. His arrangements have been a principal feature of several of the most recent Alec Wilder concerts.
TRO's Judy Bell introduced me to Wilder's theater music, particularly "Miss Chicken Little," "Hansel and Gretel" and "Pinocchio." I was captivated by the lyricism, humor and overall theatricality of these works, not to mention the beauty and originality of the music itself, particularly as accompanied by the words of Bill Engvick -- my personal favorite among Wilder's lyricists.
It was my distinct pleasure to have had the opportunity to organize presentations of selections from these musical dramas at several of the more recent Wilder concerts.
Rob Geller is a musician and sound engineer. He is best known to most of us for having assembled the incredible "wilderworld" website of classic Alec Wilder recordings.
One spring day I happened upon a copy of "Children's Plea for Peace" in a thrift store LP record bin. Fortunately, the words to Alec's marvelous cantata were printed on the back cover. As I read them I was struck by their humanity, the audacious, singular focus on "peace," and the brilliant stroke of having incorporated the words of children. Taking it home, I found the music even better than the words -- I was hooked!
Since then, I have acquired a tremendous number of Wilder records, tapes, sheet music, letters and other ephemera. Utilizing the newly-emerging podcasting technology, in 2006 I created a centennial website tribute to Alec, where tens of thousands of people from around the world have listened to and downloaded any of the more than 150 recordings stored there. By far the most popular download has been "The Churkendoose," yet another of Alec's contributions to the furthering of a more humane world.
Mike McGinnis is a clarinetist and saxophonist. He has been instrumental in organizing jazz chamber groups for the recent Wilder concert performances.
I first heard Alec's music in high school on an LP of saxophone selections: "Demsey Plays Wilder." Then it was simply the name Alec Wilder that drew me to the music, together with the fact that his titles were so interesting.
Gradually, I came to the realization that here was a body of music that combined elements in a way that I hadn't experienced before. The use of melodies and harmonies more often associated with popular song were combined with the structure and counterpoint of classical music. And there is always a wonderful balance of warmth, mystery, clarity, and wit. You never know quite where it's going to end up, but you're happy to be on the journey.
Two New CDs
The pairing of piano and saxophone, represented by Joe LoCascio and Woody Witt, yielded a new ten-selection album, "Seasons Ago: The Songs of Alec Wilder" on the Heart Music label.
Most familiar in this set are "Blackberry Winter" and "Moon and Sand." As one reviewer notes, Wilder had the ability to make beauty and melancholy loving companions, and the duo "honors this faithfully," on the former track, whereas the latter, nearly double the length of the other tracks, "stretches out to reach the depths of their instruments."
In a totally different vein, Metropolitan Opera singer Heidi Grant Murphy has recorded 22 selections from the Wilder-Engvick Lullabies and Night Songs collection on a KIC CD.
The original Wilder scores were little more than sketches -- with minimal piano accompaniment. Here, Gil Goldstein has written rich harmonic piano parts, now and then adding his own accordion to the accompanying piano of Keviin Murphy.
The release of the album and the 20th anniversary of HGM's debut with the Met were celebrated with a September 26th recital at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.
Recent Wilder Performances
In a series of three Philadelphia concerts in December, members of the Indiana University (Pennsylvania) Faculty presented Wilder's setting of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Read and sung by Michael Hood, the complete book and score were heard, as accompanied by the IUP woodwind quintet and percussion.
Saxophonist Jeff Crompton organized a February "Evening of Alec Wilder" at the Old Stone Church in Atlanta. Together with a selection of Wilder songs, the concert included a performance of the Clarinet Sonata by Sandy Wade.
Wilder Film Project
Bob Levy, over a period of almost a decade, has been producing a film on DVD, appropriately titled "I'll Be Around," using interviews he conducted with more than fifty friends and associates of Alec Wilder, including Studs Terkel, Mitch Miller, James Maher, Arnold Sundgaard, Gunther Schuller, Tony Bennett, Marian McPartland, Harvey Phillips, and others.
Some 47 Wilder compositions from recordings and rehearsals, photos, and narration are included in the "pilot" version of what would become a full-length film on Alec Wilder's life.
Anyone having ideas or suggestions in terms of potential documentary film producers or funding sources (grants, foundations, etc.) should contact Bob by phone (920-757-0852) or email (robert.levy@lawrence.edu).
Alec Wilder Group
The Alec Wilder Group at Yahoo is an internet forum for discussing the life and music of the composer.
To join the group, send an email to:
awilder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or click on the "Join This Group" button at the AWG website:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/awilder
Wilder Publishers
The Richmond Organization owns and publishes Wilder's popular songs, show music, and a number of his concert pieces. Inquiries as to the purchase of such items should be addressed to:
The Richmond Organization
266 West 37th Street
New York, NY 10018
Tel: 212-594-9795
Fax: 212-594-9782
Wilder's chamber music (orig. Margun Music) titles shouldbe ordered through the Hal Leonard website:
http://www.halleonard.com
Some items, not currently in stock at Hal Leonard, may be ordered from the J.W. Pepper website:
http://www.jwpepper.com
Through either of these websites, representatives can be contacted to handle specific inquiries.
New Editor
Beginning with the next issue, the Newsletter will have a new editor, Rob Geller (See "The Next Generation"). It has been my distinct pleasure to serve as the editor for the last decade. My thanks to Judy Bell, Tom Hampson, and my predecessors, Bob Levy and David Demsey, for their support of my endeavors throughout my tenure. I leave, knowing that the job will be left in good hands.
-- Ron Prather
The Newsletter of the Friends of Alec Wilder
Published annually in Oakland, California.
Editor: Ronald Prather
If you would like to be placed on the mailing list for this newsletter, free of charge, please write or call:
Ronald Prather
78 Gleneden Ave.
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 601-7627
email: rprather@brandxnet.com
FRIENDS OF ALEC WILDER
The Friends of Alec Wilder is an organization dedicated to perpetuating the memory and life's work of American composer Alec Wilder. Its membership presents annual Wilder concerts and other events involving the composer's work. For information concerning the Friends of Alec Wilder organization, please contact Tom Hampson at (585) 442-6941.