http://derrikjordan.com/news.html Derrik Jordan: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:04:39 -0800 http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#18 http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#18 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#17

Governor Peter Shumlin signed a proclamation in Montpelier today stating that 2011 is the "Year of the Composer" in Vermont.

He asked me to read the proclamation before he signed it since he's from Putney and so am I. Getting a little preferential treatment for a change. Ha!

About 12 composers were present for the ceremony.]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#17 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#12 http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#12 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#15
"Walk In Beauty" is an instrumental arrangement of an original Brazilian flavored samba for flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn and bassoon.]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#15 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#13



Impulse Ensemble has released its first CD! A world fusion power trio with Tony Vacca on balafon and percussion, Jim Matus on electric Greek lute and Derrik Jordan on electric violin, percussion and vocals. The band works with spontaneous improvisation based around African and Middle Eastern sounds. High energy, great chemistry and interplay make this band very special.

Our CD release party will be in Brattleboro, VT on Sat Sept 18 at the Stone Church on Main St next to the Post Office. $10 admission or pay $20 and get the CD as well. Another Cd release party will be held in Northampton TBA.]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#13 Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#16
It was performed with Derrik Jordan on kalimba, Julian Gerstin on shekere, Sabine Rhyne on cello, Lisa Ferrigno on violin, Michelle Liechti on violin and Peggy Spencer on viola.

The piece is Derrik's 2nd world fusion string quartet and is written in 12/8. It is heavily influenced by the music of Africa. It has three movements: Mbiraland, Gratitude For The Earth And Sky and That Buzzing Is The Ancestors Singing.]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#16 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#11 http://www.impulseensemble.com. Let me know what you think. We are looking to get into some festivals this summer here and in Europe.]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#11 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#9 As I announced in my last newsletter - I have been chosen to be the the featured composer for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra's 2009 "Made In Vermont" Fall Festival Tour. I received a commission to write a 12 minute piece for the VSO chamber orchestra. This year Vermont is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Lake Champlain by Samuel de Champlain. The VSO wanted a piece about the lake and I thought it would be nice to write something that paid respect to the Abenaki, who, after all, were here long before that French explorer decided to name a beautiful lake after himself.

The piece I wrote is called "Odzihozo And The Lake." Who is Odzihozo you might ask? Well, he is a supernatural being of Abenaki legend who created himself from the leftover dust that fell from the Creator's hands. He was pretty clever at making himself but somehow he forgot to make himself legs. So he dragged himself over the land pushing up mountains and gouging out rivers and eventually made Lake Champlain, which he considered to be his masterpiece. In fact, he liked it so much that he decided that he would stay there and watch over it forever, so he turned himself into a rock island that sits in the Burlington Bay. The piece tells this story in music.

The piece was performed in 10 locations around the state of Vermont in the fall of 2009 and was conducted by Anthony Princiotti. It's been a lot of fun writing it and I've learned a lot in the process. It is written for a chamber orchestra of 28 people, which includes 1 flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 french horns, violins, violas, cellos, bass and a percussionist who plays vibraphone, timpani, bass drum and cymbal. I have worked two Abenaki musical themes (a greeting song and fragments of friendship song) into the piece to honor the Abenaki people and their connection to the lake and to Ndakinna, which is their name for Vermont.]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#9 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#10 I had the premiere of two movements of my piece for brass quintet (2 trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba) at "Spotlight Indonesia," an evening of Indonesian music, dance and Indonesian inspired music in Brattleboro on April 30, 2009. The two movements are The Clown Prince and Mountain Of The Gods And Goddesses. The piece is called "Five Gamelans For Brass Quintet" and draws on the rhythms and scales of Balinese music. It is not traditionally Balinese but has some of the Balinese flavor. Gamelan is the name of the traditional Balinese orchestra that is made up of metallophones, drums, rattles and flutes.]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#10 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#7
The composition competition took place in Australia with entries submitted from all over the world. Shakuhachi (aka Japanese bamboo flute) is used traditionally in Zen Buddhism and is most often played solo. It has a very evocative and expressive sound, sometimes employing explosive breath and other techniques unique to the instrument. The idea behind this competition in Australia was to expand the repertoire of the shakuhachi by encouraging composers to create chamber music pieces that feature the shakuhachi as part of an ensemble.

"Sky Mirror" will be performed and recorded as part of the prize in a concert in December and there is a cash award of $1500 Australian dollars as well.

If you are interested you can go to their website to see for yourself. http://www.shakuhachichambermusic.net/index.html]]> http://derrikjordan.com/news.html#7 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Positive pop and globally-conscious soul - Derrik Jordan - News