There’s a lot more to music and culture in Minnesota than “A Prairie Home Companion.” Just ask pianist Matthew McCright, who lives in Minneapolis and teaches at Carlton College.
But better yet, listen to one of his recordings or go hear him in concert.
McCright will be performing an all-Minnesota program at Merkin Concert Hall in New York on Saturday September 25. Every one of the six pieces on the program comes from a Minnesota composer and represents a New York premiere. Here’s the full line-up:
Actually those in the thick of new music already know that Minnesota has a lot more than lakes and cream to boast of. The American Composers Forum (founded in 1973 as the Minnesota Composers Forum) is an engine of activity in support of a wide variety of contemporary music endeavors throughout the country. The Forum is supporting McCright’s Merkin concert and his 2009 disc “Second Childhood” was released on its recording label, Innova.
A specialist in contemporary music, McCright has performed at lots of top venues and festivals (and his work is not always about Minnesota). His “Composer’s Project” is a residency program wherein he visits colleges and conservatories and applies professional skill and insight to learning and performing works by student composers.
Student composers rely on friends or fellow students to play their pieces. Although this provides an excellent learning opportunity for the performer; the composer himself only gains the insight of hearing his music realized. In talking with composers I have noticed many come to the same conclusions: They often wish the performer took the piece/project more seriously, practiced more, had some insight other than just asking questions and in turn could give critical feedback to them.
This project allows new composers the opportunity to work with a professional pianist who not only specializes in performing new music but also is a gifted and passionate teacher; allowing the new generation of composers to emerge!
In addition to his ongoing concerts and teaching, McCright will soon release a disc on Centaeur of music by the late Gene Gutche, who was born in Germany but spent most of his life… in Minnesota.
