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Gabriela Lena Frank (1972-     )

Gabriela Lena Frank, composerIdentity has always been at the center of Gabriela Lena Frank's music. Born in Berkeley, California, to a mother of mixed Peruvian/Chinese ancestry and a father of Lithuanian/Jewish descent, Frank explores her multicultural heritage most ardently through her compositions. Frank attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, where she earned both a BA (1994) and MA (1996). She studied composition with Paul Cooper, Ellsworth Milburn, and Sam Jones, and piano with Jeanne Kierman Fischer. Frank credits Fischer with introducing her to the music of Ginastera, Bartók, and other composers who utilized folk elements in their work. At the University of Michigan, from which she received a DMA in composition in 2001, Frank studied composition with William Albright, William Bolcom, Leslie Bassett, and Michael Daugherty, and piano with Logan Skelton. Inspired by the works of Bela Bartók and Alberto Ginastera, Frank is something of a musical anthropologist. She has traveled extensively throughout South America and her pieces reflect and refract her studies of Latin-American folklore, incorporating poetry, mythology, and native musical styles into a western classical framework that is uniquely her own. She writes challenging idiomatic parts for solo instrumentalists, vocalists, chamber ensembles, and orchestras. Moreover, she writes, "There's usually a story line behind my music; a scenario or character." While the enjoyment of her works can be obtained solely from her music, the composer's program notes enhance the listener's experience, for they describe how a piano part mimics a marimba or pan-pipes, or how a movement is based on a particular type of folk song, where the singer is mockingly crying. Even a brief glance at her titles evokes specific imagery: Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout; Cuatro Canciones Andinas; and Ríos Profundos. Frank's compositions also reflect her virtuosity as a pianist — when not composing, she is a sought-after performer, specializing in contemporary repertoire. A 2009 recipient of a prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship to assist in research and artistic creation, Frank's upcoming premieres include a new work for the King's Singers, a concert opener for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and additional works for guitarist Sharon Isbin, the Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma, the Chiara Quartet, and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. A frequent collaborator with artists in other disciplines, Frank is developing a number of projects with the Pulitzer Prize winning Cuban playwright Nilo Cruz. 
-  Indiana State University/Contemporary Music Festival

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Frank Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Frank on Frank
Manhattan Serenades, cello and piano (1995)
Las Sombras de los Apus, 4 cellos (1998)
Ríos Profundos, cello and piano (1999)
Cuatro Canciones Andinas (4 songs), mezzo-soprano and piano (1999)
Elegía Andina, orchestra (2000)
Sonata Andina, piano (2000)
Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, string orchestra (2001) [also arr. for string quartet]
Hombre Errante, chorus (2002)
Sueños de Chambi: Snapshots for an Andean Album, violin and piano; or flute/alto flute and piano (2002)
Three Latin-American Dances for Orchestra (2003)
Havana Jila, violin, string orchestra (no db) and percussion (2003; also arr. for violin, 4fl, 2perc, 4vn, 2va, 2vc and 2db, 2010)
Khazn’s Recitative: Elu D’vorim, violin (2003)
Illapa: Tone Poem for Flute and Orchestra (2004)
Ccollanan María, chorus (2004)
Manchay Tiempo (Time of Fear), string orchestra, piano, harp and percussion (2005)
Why Am I So Brown?, children's chorus (2005)
Canto de Harawi: “Amadeoso”, flute, clarinet and piano (2005)
Ghosts in the Dream Machine, piano and string quartet (2005)
Inkarrí (Inca Rey), string quartet (2005)
Night at the Alhambra Café (Act I Finale), Latina soprano, tenor, baritone, onstage violin, guitar, percussion and piano (2006)
Requiem for a Magical America: El Día de los Muertos, band (2006)
Pollerita Roja, female chorus (2006)
Cuatro Bosquejos Pre-Incaicos (Four Pre-Inca Sketches), flute and cello (2006)
Danza de los Saqsampillos, 2 pianos (or 2 marimbas) (2006)
Ritmos Anchinos, zheng, pipa and string quartet (2006)
Cinco Danzas de Chambi, viola and piano (2006)
Compadrazgo, cello, piano and orchestra (2007)
La Llorona: Tone Poem for Viola and Orchestra (2007)
Jalapeño Blues (4 pieces), double chorus (2007)
Quijotadas, string quartet (2007)
Tres Homenajes: Compadrazgo, piano and string quartet (2007)
Soliloquio Serrano, pipa (2007)
Adagio para Amantaní, cello and piano (2007)
Barcarola Latinoamericana, piano (2007)
New Andean Songs, song cycle, soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 pianos and 2 percussionists (2007)
Songs of Cifar and the Sweet Sea, soprano, baritone and piano (2004-07, work-in-progress)
Two American Portraits, orchestra (2008)
San Joaquin, chorus (2008)
Two Mountain Songs, youth chorus, or female chorus (2008)
Hypnagogia, string sextet (2 vln, 2 va, 2 vc) (2008)
Inca Dances, guitar and string quartet (2008)
Danza Peruana, 2 flutes, 2 alto flutes, marimba and percussion (2008)
Peregrinos, orchestra (2009)
Tres Mitos de Mi Tierra, male chorus (with counter tenors) (2009)
Canto y Danza, flute, oboe and piano (2009)
Escaramuza, orchestra (2010)
Hilos, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2010)
Milagros, string quartet (2010)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Frank Links    ~ ~ ~    Frank on Frank      ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Night at the Alhambra Café (Act I Finale), Latina soprano, tenor, baritone, onstage violin, guitar, percussion and piano (2006)

Orchestra
Elegía Andina, orchestra (2000)
Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, string orchestra (2001) [also arr. for string quartet]
Three Latin-American Dances for Orchestra (2003)
Manchay Tiempo (Time of Fear), string orchestra, piano, harp and percussion (2005)
Two American Portraits, orchestra (2008)
Peregrinos, orchestra (2009)
Escaramuza, orchestra (2010)

Band
Requiem for a Magical America: El Día de los Muertos, band (2006)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Havana Jila, violin, string orchestra (no db) and percussion (2003; also arr. for violin, 4fl, 2perc, 4vn, 2va, 2vc and 2db, 2010)
Illapa: Tone Poem for Flute and Orchestra (2004)
Compadrazgo, cello, piano and orchestra (2007)
La Llorona: Tone Poem for Viola and Orchestra (2007)

Choral
Hombre Errante, chorus (2002)
Ccollanan María, chorus (2004)
Why Am I So Brown?, children's chorus (2005)
Pollerita Roja, female chorus (2006)
Jalapeño Blues (4 pieces), double chorus (2007)
    - Jalapeno Blues
    - Chicanofobia
    - A Poem About Brandon Dever
    - Why Do Men Wear Earrings on One Ear?
San Joaquin, chorus (2008)
Two Mountain Songs, youth chorus, or female chorus (2008)
Tres Mitos de Mi Tierra, male chorus (with counter tenors) (2009)

Chamber
Las Sombras de los Apus, 4 cellos (1998)
Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, string orchestra (2001) [also arr. for string quartet]
Havana Jila, violin, string orchestra (no db) and percussion (2003; also arr. for violin, 4fl, 2perc, 4vn, 2va, 2vc and 2db, 2010)
Canto de Harawi: “Amadeoso”, flute, clarinet and piano (2005)
Ghosts in the Dream Machine, piano and string quartet (2005)
Inkarrí (Inca Rey), string quartet (2005)
Cuatro Bosquejos Pre-Incaicos (Four Pre-Inca Sketches), flute and cello (2006)
Danza de los Saqsampillos, 2 pianos (or 2 marimbas) (2006)
Ritmos Anchinos, zheng, pipa and string quartet (2006)
Quijotadas, string quartet (2007)
Tres Homenajes: Compadrazgo, piano and string quartet (2007)
Hypnagogia, string sextet (2 vln, 2 va, 2 vc) (2008)
Inca Dances, guitar and string quartet (2008)
Danza Peruana, 2 flutes, 2 alto flutes, marimba and percussion (2008)
Canto y Danza, flute, oboe and piano (2009)
Hilos, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2010)
Milagros, string quartet (2010)

Solo Instrument
Manhattan Serenades, cello and piano (1995)
Ríos Profundos, cello and piano (1999)
Sueños de Chambi: Snapshots for an Andean Album, violin and piano; or flute/alto flute and piano (2002)
Khazn’s Recitative: Elu D’vorim, violin (2003)
Cinco Danzas de Chambi, viola and piano (2006)
Soliloquio Serrano, pipa (2007)
Adagio para Amantaní, cello and piano (2007)

Piano
Sonata Andina, piano (2000)
Barcarola Latinoamericana, piano (2007)

Vocal
Cuatro Canciones Andinas (4 songs), mezzo-soprano and piano (1999)
New Andean Songs, song cycle, soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 pianos and 2 percussionists (2007)
Songs of Cifar and the Sweet Sea, soprano, baritone and piano (2004-07, work-in-progress)
                                                                                            [based on the Nicaraguan poet Pablo Antonio Cuadra]
    - Me diste oh Dios una hija (2004)
    - El Naciemiento de Cifar (2004)
    - Pescador (2004)
    - El niño (2004)
    - El rebelde (2004)
    - Tomasito, el cuque (2004)
    - Two Songs to texts of Pablo Antonio Cuadra
        - Eufemia (2007)
        - En la Vela del Angelito (2007)


FRANK  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre    ~ ~ ~    Frank on Frank      ~ top of page ~
Art Talk with Gabriela Lena Frank (Art Works)
The Beautiful Next Step: An In-depth Interview with Composer Gabriela Lena Frank (Yowangdu.com)
Gabriela Lena Frank: Composite Identity (Frank J. Oteri, NewMusicBox)
Gabriela Lena Frank’s Free World Premiere (Jason Victor Serinus, San Francisco Examiner)
Gabriela Lena Frank: The Well-Grounded Composer (Georgia Rowe, San Francisco Classical Voice)
SFist Interviews Gabriela Lena Frank (SFist.com)

Composer's website (at G. Schirmer)    also    here        . . . contact Gabriela Lena Frank: @ G. Schirmer

Frank @ Wikipedia
Frank @ American Music Center
Frank @ Carnegie Hall Commissions
Frank @ ClassicsToday
Frank @ Colorado Choral Arts Society
Frank @ composition:today [listed as "Gabriella Frank"]
Frank @ Concertante
Frank @ Dilettante Music
Frank @ Facebook
Frank @ Indiana State University/Contemporary Music Festival
Frank @ Innovative Music Programs
Frank @ InstantEncore
Frank @ Mallarmé Chamber Players
Frank @ Minnesota Public Radio
Frank @ Musicians for Harmony
Frank @ G. Schirmer
Frank @ The Silk Road Project
Frank @ WQXR/Q2

Publisher
Frank @ G. Schirmer

Streaming Audio
Frank @ Carnegie Hall Commissions/Ritmos Anchinos
Frank @ last.fm
Frank @ Minnesota Public Radio
    - Elegia Andina (Andean Elegy)
    - Jalapeno Blues
Frank @ NPRmusic
Frank @ Radio Radiance/Young People's Chorus of New York City
Frank @ Rhapsody
Frank @ WQXR/Q2

Recordings
Frank @ ArkivMusic
Frank @ ClassicsOnline
Frank @ Naxos Direct

Video
Frank @ YouTube
Frank @ Google Video
Frank @ Minnesota Public Radio

                                                                                                                                                                                       ~ top of page ~
Frank on Frank: Brillante (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) (VIDEO)






Frank on Frank: Gabriela's Journey (Indianapolis Sym Orch) (VIDEO)
Gabriela Lena Frank, composerComposers Speak on the Web at Pytheas
                            ~ click on composer picture to listen ~







Frank on Frank: Composite Identity (Frank J. Oteri, NewMusicBox) (VIDEO)
Gabriela Lena Frank, composerComposers Speak on the Web at Pytheas
                            ~ click on composer picture to listen ~








Frank on Frank: Peregrinos: Pilgrims, a Musical Journey (WFYI) (VIDEO)
Gabriela Lena Frank, composerComposers Speak on the Web at Pytheas
                            ~ click on composer picture to listen ~







 Frank on Frank: Interview @ Radio Radiance (streaming audio)
Composer, composerComposers Speak on the Web at Pytheas
                            ~ click on composer picture to listen ~





. . . and check out more    Composers Speak on the Web    at Pytheas

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