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Aaron Robinson (composer)

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Aaron Robinson (born December 11, 1970) is an American composer,[1] conductor,[2] recording artist and author.[3] He has composed and conducted numerous premiere works for the concert and theatrical stage; written for television, film, and radio; has released several recordings, including Black Nativity - In Concert: A Gospel Celebration,[4] and is the author of the book "Does God Sing - A Musical Journey" (2012).[5]

Life and career

Robinson was born 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, and studied film score at Berklee College of Music with John Williams. In 1997, Robinson conducted the world première performance of Treemonisha: The Concert Version [6] by ragtime composer Scott Joplin, in association with the Scott Joplin Foundation, at the Rockport Opera House in Rockport, Maine. He has lectured on the history of Ragtime and Early Jazz. Robinson has performed On- and Off- Broadway, and in 2001 Robinson orchestrated, arranged and conducted the musical "Islands" on Broadway at the New Victory Theater[7], with music and lyrics by Cindy Bullens and book by producer John Wulp, and can be seen in the documentary On This Island.[8] [9]

Robinson is the author of the book "Does God Sing - A Musical Journey" , published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, which explores the power of music and the ability it has to change and heal lives. Mr. Robinson's musical compositions have been performed all over the world, including Peter and Wendy - A Fantasy Ballet Suite, The Amazing Bone for Narrator and Orchestra - book by children's author William Steig (creator of Shrek) for Rabbit Ears Radio which broadcasts on KPR and NPR, An American Requiem for Orchestra, Soloists and Chorus, which had its première under the direction of Dr. Robert Russell in 2005, and "The Tell-Tale Heart", with text by Edgar Allen Poe and premièred in Boston, Massachusetts with actor Kurt Guba as the Narrator.

His choral arrangement of Stephen Sondheim's Hills of Tomorrow from Merrily We Roll Along (musical) was commissioned in celebration of Sondheim's 80th birthday[10]. Mr. 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 life-long association with the Bouvier-Beales of Grey Gardens in East Hampton, New York.

Hirschfeld Caricature
File:Ragtime Caricature.jpg
Caricature of Aaron Robinson at the Keyboard by Jon Bogdanove

Recordings

Robinson's first album was They All Played Ragtime, which featured his most popular ragtime work: The New England Ragtime Suite. Called "one of today's leading proponents of ragtime and early jazz"[11], he followed this success with the Original Cast Recording of Treemonisha - In Concert in 1998. In 2004, Robinson released "Black Nativity - In Concert: A Gospel Celebration": a Gospel Christmas Album that recreates the original performance of Langston Hughes's Black Nativity which premièred on Broadway in 1961. The film Black Nativity - In Concert: A Gospel Celebration (2006) documents the 2004 historic performance. The Broadway Vocal Selections (edited, transcribed and arranged by Mr. Robinson) are published by Dramatists Play Service.

Considered to be one of the world's great orchestral organists, the album Symphonic Dances (which features Mr. Robinson performing the ballet music of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and Andrew Lloyd Webber live in concert on an Orchestral Organ)[12] was released in 2008; followed by La Belle Epoque in 2010.

References

  1. ^ Sadie, Stanley (2004). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians second edition, vol 18. Oxford University Press. p. 192. ISBN 0195170679.
  2. ^ "Aaron Robinson". PortOpera. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  3. ^ Robinson, Aaron (2012). McClane, Liz (ed.). Does God Sing - A Musical Journey. Tate Publishing & Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-62147-463-0. {{cite book}}: More than one of |subject= and |last= specified (help)
  4. ^ By Becca Dewan. "Boston/Portland Phoenix: "Back In Black". Becca Dewan". Portlandphoenix.com. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  5. ^ "Does God Sing - A Musical Journey". Tate Publishing & Enterprises. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  6. ^ "Treemonisha - In Concert". Copyright Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  7. ^ ""Islands": When one-fifth of a community takes part in a project, things begin to happen" by Lisa Shields". Workingwaterfront.com. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  8. ^ Wulp, John (2003). De Angelis, Paul (ed.). John Wulp. CommonPlace Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 0-9651645-5-1. {{cite book}}: More than one of |subject= and |last= specified (help)
  9. ^ "Independent Lens . ON THIS ISLAND . The Cast". PBS. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  10. ^ By Stephen Sondheim. "Merrily We Roll Along Rich and Happy". Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  11. ^ Welker, David (1999). "Robinson & Ragtime". Arts. Rockport, Maine: Down East Magazine. (Robinson is) one of today's leading proponents of ragtime and early jazz
  12. ^ "Kotzchmar Organ Hundredth Year Celebration". Allenorganofmaine.com. 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2012-10-20.


Books

Articles

  • Zimmerman, Dick (1997). "Treemonisha - In Concert". Magazine Article. Los Angeles, California: Rag Times.
  • Welker, David (1999). "Robinson & Ragtime". Lecture Article. Rockport, Maine: Down East Magazine. (Robinson is) one of today's leading proponents of ragtime and early jazz
  • Lucy, Martin (Jan 15, 1997). "Making a Joyful Noise with Joplin". Newspaper Article / Arts & Culture - Entertainment. Boston: Boston Herald.
  • Sudekis, Stephanie (2001). "On This Island". Newspaper Article / Arts - Theater Section. New York, New York: NY Times.
  • [1] - PortOpera
  • [2] - 52 Great American Composers Variations on America performed by Aaron Robinson
  • [3] - Portland Phoenix. Back In Black
  • [4] - Treemonisha: In Concert Website
  • [5] - Islands - A New Musical
  • [6] IMDb: In The Shadows of Grey Gardens
  • [7] IMDb: Black Nativity - In Concert: A Gospel Celebration
  • [8] Symphonic Dances
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