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John Aylward (1980-    )

John Aylward’s music has been praised for its youthful energy and precision.  In line with his mentors David Rakowski, and George Tsontakis, Aylward is quickly paving a new path of sophisticated and emotional American modernism. His latest works entertain experimental harmonic and textural concepts while not sacrificing rigorous technique or rhythmic vitality. Aylward’s music has been performed within the U.S and abroad by numerous ensembles including the New York New Music Ensemble, The Lydian String Quartet, Third Angle, The Bard Symphony Orchestra, Juventas, and The Aspen Contemporary Ensemble.  His work has also been championed by soloists Jo Ellen Miller, Curt Macomber, Chris Finkel, Steven Gosling, Christopher Oldfather, Sam Solomon, Elizabeth Keusch, Karina Sabac and Daria Binkowski. Aylward has received grants and awards for his compositions from numerous national institutions including the Wellesley Composer Conference, the MacDowell Colony, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, and the Society of Composers.  In 2007, Aylward won the Composition Prize from the International Society for Contemporary Music. In 2010, Aylward was selected as a Composers Apprentice at the National Centre for the arts in Ottowa, Canada. He also maintains a research profile currently focused on the works of Elliott Carter. Aylward has twice received fellowhsips to the Paul Sacher Stiftung in Basel, Switzerland to continue research on Carter's sketches and compositional process. Recent presentations on Elliott Carter’s music have been at the 2008 New England Conference of Music Theory, the 2008 American Innovator’s Series, and a colloquium at the Paul Sacher Stiftung. Aylward's recent research on Carter can be read in the summer 2010 issue of Perspectives of New Music. Aylward is currently Assistant Professor of Music Composition and Theory at Clark University in Massachusetts.  Before his post at Clark, Aylward taught at Tufts University and at Brandeis University.  John lives in Boston, Massachusetts and is originally from Tucson, Arizona.

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Aylward Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Dragonfly, cello and piano (2003)
Swirling Petals, Falling Leaves, soprano, flute, clarinet and vibraphone (2003)
Double Entendre, ensemble (2004)
String Quartet (2004)
Two Sonnets, chorus (2004)
In the Sky She Floats, soprano and piano (2004) [text: Sappho]
Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (2005)
Figuratively Speaking, ensemble (2005)
Brouhaha, clarinet, cello and piano (2005)
Bridging, cello (2005)
Deux Cartes Postales, piano (2005)
Autobiography, electronics/5.1 surround sound (2005)
Singe, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2006)
Functions of Consciousness, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2006)
Dreaming Sleep, orchestra (2007)
First Tears, mezzo-soprano and ensemble (2007)
Double Resonance, percussion (marimba, vibraphone, crotales, glockenspiel, tam-tam) (2007)
The Undulations of Water, flute, cello, percussion (marimba, vibraphone and crotales) (2007)
End of Winter, soprano, violin and percussion (2007)
An Der Quelle, piano and electronics/5.1 surround sound (2007)
Verschwinden, viola and electronics/5.1 surround sound (2007)
Stillness and Change, ensemble (2008)
Whisper, alto flute, guitar and double bass (2009)
Reciprocal Accord, violin and cello (2009)
Duo for Saxophone and Violin (2009) [also for saxophone and viola]
Images of Departure, viola and piano (2009)
Songs From the Wild Iris, soprano, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion (2010) [text: Louise Gluck]
My Voice Will Go With You, multimedia installation [collaboration with filmmaker Karl Nussbaum]
Four Visions, alto saxophone and piano (2010)
Transformation Study, alto saxophone (2010)
D’abord le Vent et Puis le Silence, [????] (2010?)
Twin Suspension, clarinets (1 player) and percussion (2011)
Three Berkshire Miniatures, violin, viola, cello and trumpet (2011)
Instant Conductors, soprano and piano (2011)
Compulsive Loves, alto saxophone and piano (2011)
[new work for saxophone and ensemble] (2011)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                           Aylward Links     ~ top of page ~
Orchestra
Dreaming Sleep, orchestra (2007)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Ensemble
Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (2005)
[new work for saxophone and ensemble] (2011)

Choral
Two Sonnets, chorus (2004)

Chamber
Dragonfly, cello and piano (2003)
Double Entendre, ensemble (2004)
String Quartet (2004)
Figuratively Speaking, ensemble (2005)
Brouhaha, clarinet, cello and piano (2005)
Singe, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion (2006)
Functions of Consciousness, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2006)
Double Resonance, percussion (marimba, vibraphone, crotales, glockenspiel, tam-tam) (2007)
The Undulations of Water, flute, cello, percussion (marimba, vibraphone and crotales) (2007)
Stillness and Change, ensemble (2008)
Whisper, alto flute, guitar and double bass (2009)
Reciprocal Accord, violin and cello (2009)
Duo for Saxophone and Violin (2009) [also for saxophone and viola]
Images of Departure, viola and piano (2009)
Four Visions, alto saxophone and piano (2010)
Twin Suspension, clarinets (1 player) and percussion (2011)
Three Berkshire Miniatures, violin, viola, cello and trumpet (2011)
Compulsive Loves, alto saxophone and piano (2011)
[new work for saxophone and ensemble] (2011)

D’abord le Vent et Puis le Silence, [????] (2010?)

Solo Instrument
Bridging, cello (2005)
Verschwinden, viola and electronics/5.1 surround sound (2007)
Transformation Study, alto saxophone (2010)

Piano
Deux Cartes Postales, piano (2005)
An Der Quelle, piano and electronics/5.1 surround sound (2007)

Vocal
Swirling Petals, Falling Leaves, soprano, flute, clarinet and vibraphone (2003)
In the Sky She Floats, soprano and piano (2004) [text: Sappho]
    - Clear Silver Light.
    - Autumn.
    - Winter
    - Murmurs
    - The Sinking Moon
First Tears, mezzo-soprano and ensemble (2007)
End of Winter, soprano, violin and percussion (2007)
Songs From the Wild Iris, soprano, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion (2010) [text: Louise Gluck]
    - Doorway
    - End of Summer
    - End of Winter
    - Presque Isle
    - Retreating Light
Instant Conductors, soprano and piano (2011)

Electronic and Multimedia
Autobiography, electronics/5.1 surround sound (2005)
An Der Quelle, piano and electronics/5.1 surround sound (2007)
Verschwinden, viola and electronics/5.1 surround sound (2007)
My Voice Will Go With You, multimedia installation [collaboration with filmmaker Karl Nussbaum]


AYLWARD  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~

Composer's website        . . . contact John Aylward: john@johnaylward.com

Aylward @ Clark University
Aylward @ The Composer's Site
Aylward @ ECCE/East Coast Contemporary Ensemble    also     here
Aylward @ Juventas
Aylward @ League of Composers
Aylward @ LinkedIn

Publisher
Aylward @ Composer website/publisher listings
Aylward @ MLKEEPE Publications

Streaming Audio
Aylward @ Composer's website

Recordings
Aylward @ Albany Records

Video
Aylward @ YouTube
Aylward @ Google Video