Elena Ruehr
Elena Ruehr (born 1963, Ann Arbor) is an American musician, music educator and composer.
Life and career
Elena Ruehr's parents were a mathematician and an English professor.[1] She grew up in Houghton, Michigan and began piano lessons at age four. She studied composition at the University of Michigan with William Bolcom and at The Juilliard School with Vincent Persichetti and Bernard Rands.[2] She also studied dance and has performed with Javanese and West African ensembles. In 1991 Ruehr took a teaching position at MIT and located in Boston.[3] Her compositions have been performed internationally and are well received.[4] Her music has been recorded and is widely available on media
Many of Ruehr's compositions involve setting poetry to music.[5][6]
Ruehr is married and has one daughter.
Selected works
Ruehr has composed works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, solo instruments and vocals.
- Ladder to the Moon (2003) for orchestra
- Toussaint Before the Spirits (2003), opera
- Cloud Atlas (2011), cello concerto[7]
- Song of the Silkie (2000) for baritone, string quartet, text by Laura Harrington
- Sky Above Clouds (1993) for orchestra
- Bel Canto for string quartette[8]
- Averno for choir[9]
- It's About Time (2015) for chamber ensemble, commissioned by the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players
Recordings
- "SHIMMER" on Metamorphosen. Metamorphosen string orchestra, Scott Yoo conducting [10]
- "TOUSSAINT BEFORE THE SPIRTS" Stephen Salters, Baritone and Opera Unlimited, Gil Rose, conducting [11]
- “HOW SHE DANCED”: String Quartets of Elena Ruehr Performed by the Cypress String Quartet. Cypress Performing Arts Association.[12][13]
- "JANE WANG CONSIDERS THE BUTTERFLY." Alexi Gonzales, Benjamin Seltzer, Sarah Brady, Heng-Jin Park, and Sarah Bob [14]
- "AVERNO" Marguerite Krull, Stephen Salters, The Trinity Choir, Novus NY, and Julian Wachner, conducting [15]
- "O'KEEFFE IMAGES" Jennifer Kloetzel, Cello, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, conducting. [16]
- "LIFT" Irina Muresanu, violin Ethan Filner, viola Jennifer Kloetzel, cello Sarah Bob, piano - See more at: http://www.avie-records.com/releases/lift-chamber-music-by-elena-ruehr/#sthash.E7eviuJx.dpuf[17]
References
- ↑ "Elena Ruehr". Kathryn King Media. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ↑ PN Review Online - Words and Music: A Conversation with Elena Ruehr - Reena Sastri - PN Review 211
- ↑ "Elena Ruehr". Last FM. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ↑ Scherer, Barrymore Laurence (2007), A History of American Classical Music
- ↑ PN Review Online - Words and Music: A Conversation with Elena Ruehr - Reena Sastri - PN Review 211
- ↑ New York Times review of Elena Ruehr’s music | MIT Music and Theater Arts News
- ↑ Review: Cellist Jennifer Kloetzel shines in premiere by Elena Ruehr at San Jose Chamber Orchestra - San Jose Mercury News
- ↑ Review: Cypress Quartet unveils new 'Bel Canto' by Elena Ruehr - Inside Bay Area
- ↑ Music review: Washington Chorus features Elena Ruehr in its ‘New Music’ series - The Washington Post
- ↑ http://www.albanyrecords.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AR&Product_Code=TROY194&Category_Code=a-Chamber
- ↑ http://www.arsisaudio.com/cd158N.html
- ↑ Muse, Phil. “HOW SHE DANCED String Quartets of Elena Ruehr“. CD Review. Sequenzia 21, 1 February 2010.
- ↑ How She Danced – String Quartets of ELENA RUEHR – Cypress String Quartet – Cypress String Quartet Performing Arts Association - Audiophile Audition
- ↑ http://www.albanyrecords.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AR&Product_Code=TROY1117&Category_Code=a-Chamber
- ↑ http://www.avie-records.com/releases/averno/
- ↑ http://bmop.org/audio-recordings/elena-ruehr-okeeffe-images
- ↑ http://www.avie-records.com/releases/lift-chamber-music-by-elena-ruehr/
External Links
- Official composer page
- Composer biography and recording of It's About Time San Francisco Contemporary Music Players