Joseph Bertolozzi
Joseph Bertolozzi (born 1959) is an American composer and musician with works ranging from full symphony orchestra to solo gongs. With increasingly numerous performances across Europe and the United States to his credit, his music is performed by groups ranging from the Grammy-winning Chestnut Brass Company to the Eastman School of Music, and he himself has played at such diverse venues as the Vatican[1] and The US Tennis Open.[2]
Works and performances
His most well known project is 'Bridge Music': using only the sounds of New York's Mid-Hudson Bridge, Bridge Music allows listeners to hear the bridge played like a musical instrument. The work was created for New York's 400th anniversary observance of Henry Hudson's voyage up the Hudson River. Originally intended to be a live performance piece,[3][4][5] this "audacious plan" (New York Times) to compose music for a suspension bridge using the bridge itself as the instrument brought Bertolozzi wide international attention.[6] A recording of the results, the 2009 CD "Bridge Music" (on the Delos label DE1045), entered the Billboard Classical Crossover Music Chart at #18,[7] and has been released globally.[8][9] In addition to the album, Bridge Music exists as a free public audio installation on the bridge itself and in nearby parks.[10][11][12][13] Bertolozzi is now working on creating a similar project to have a group of live percussionists play the Eiffel Tower.[7][14] That project is underway now.[15][16]
Bertolozzi also has created concert music and theatrical scores, including “The Contemplation of Bravery,” which was an official 2002 Bicentennial commission for The United States Military Academy at West Point , and his incidental score to “Waiting for Godot,” used at the 1991 Festival Internationale de Café Theatre in Nancy, France. In addition, he has a large body of liturgical music for use in both Christian and Jewish worship.[17]
As a longtime concert organist, he has performed his own compositions as well as those of the classical literature in the US and in Italy (including St. Peter's Basilica),[1] Poland, Spain[18] and Portugal (for the U. S. State Department).[19] He is Organist and Choirmaster at Vassar Temple in Poughkeepsie, NY and St. Joseph's Church in Middletown NY. He also performs and composes for his percussion project "The Bronze Collection," a collection of over 60 gongs and cymbals from around the world.[20]
Biography
Joseph Bertolozzi was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, one year after his parents and sister emigrated from Lucca, Italy. When, at an early age, his interests turned to music, he read biographies of composers, music encyclopedias, and ultimately musical scores from the local library. He began organ lessons not in order to perform, but to learn how to notate the compositions he wished to create.
He went on to receive his B.A. in music from Vassar College, and did further study at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana (with Xenakis and Donatoni), Westminster Choir College, and The Juilliard School, as well as numerous professional workshops with ASCAP, The American Music Center, and Carnegie Hall (including contemporary conducting techniques with Boulez).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Poughkeepsie Journal (9 August 1979). "Poughkeepsie man will play at Vatican." Poughkeepsie Journal (New York).
- ↑
- ↑ Young, Alison (1 July 2007). "It's all in the ears of the beholder.", Minnesota Public Radio (Minnesota).
- ↑ "Reuters Video: Hudson River Bridge Used For Music.", Reuters.
- ↑ "New York State Bridge Authority Mid Hudson Bridge Page"
- ↑ http://josephbertolozzi.com/bridge-music-2/global-press
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 AOL News (12 April 2010). "Musician Hammering Out Deal to Play Eiffel Tower."
- ↑ http://www.classicalmusicstore.co.uk/search.asp?search=bertolozzi&I1.x=17&I1.y=5
- ↑ http://www.amazon.co.jp/Joseph-Bertolozzi-Bridge-Music/dp/B0020MSTU4/
- ↑ Wakin, Daniel J (19 March 2009). "Traffic Jams: Extracting Music From a Bridge.", New York Times ArtsBeat.
- ↑ Aaron, Peter (27 February 2009). "Take It To The Bridge.", Chronogram (New York).
- ↑ "Rundown 6/3: Bridge Music (3 June 2009).", WBUR Boston Public Radio (Boston).
- ↑ "On The Town (August 2009).", Hudson Valley Magazine (New York).
- ↑ HV Echo Blog (16 April 2010). "Local Composer Plans Musical Project of Towering Proportions."
- ↑ De La Baume, Maia. "New York Times - Arts: Music (5 June 2013). "That Instrument Known as the Eiffel Tower."". The New York Times.
- ↑ ["http://josephbertolozzi.com/eiffel-tower-music/" "Joseph Bertolozzi - Eiffel Tower Music"].
- ↑ http://www.faqs.org/copyright/mass-of-st-mary-mother-of-the-church-wings-of-eagles-flight/
- ↑ The American Organist, May 1983, vol. 17 (no.5), p. 38.
- ↑ The American Organist, November 1985, vol. 19 (no.11), p. 84.
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df30By31qFo
- Associated Press (18 July 2006). "Composer turns Hudson River bridge into a musical instrument."
- Barry, John W. (18 March 2009), "Local composer's 'bridge playing' to become a permanent feature", Poughkeepsie Journal
- Clarke, Mia (11 June 2009). "Joseph Bertolozzi: Bridge Music". TimeOut Chicago (Chicago).
- Farnsworth, Amy (16 June 2009). "Notes on a Bridge." Christian Science Monitor (Boston).
- I Love New York: The Beat (7 April 2009). " 'Bridge Music' Unique Quad Event, Premieres in Poughkeepsie & Highland."
- Prescott, Virginia (9 June 2009). "Bridge Music". New Hampshire Public Radio (New Hampshire).
- Naxos Online (9 May 2009), Joseph Bertolozzi’s Bridge Music Uses World’s Largest Instrument.
- New York Times Video (28 June 2007). "Celebrating The Bridge."
- Schultz, Bridget (20 November 2009). "Joseph Bertolozzi makes a bridge sing." Hudson Valley Life Magazine (New York).
- de la Baume, Maïa (5 June 2013). "That Instrument Known as the Eiffel Tower." The New York Times
External links
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