Spindrift Commissioning Guild
New Trombone Sonata "Future of Life" with Piano and Percussion
About the Music
The Future of Life is a book by conservation biologist and entomologist Edward O. Wilson. In that book I found passages that made a wonderful text for a choral piece.
So The Future of Life became an 8-movement piece of music for chorus, trombone, and piano. I wrote it in 2007 for the MasterSingers, directed by Adam Grossman, in Lexington, MA. The theme is the need to protect all life on our planet. Biodiversity is essential to the well-being of the world. View the PDF score on The Future of Life page in the Spindrift Music Catalog.
In the Future of Life, the trombone calls out to the world to pay attention. It also plays what I call “jungle music”, quirky bits that paint a soundscape of some natural place, full of bird, insect, and frog voices.
Listen to excerpts of
the
choral version of The Future of Life,
with The Master Singers,
Adam Grossman conducting
View the PDF score
Now I'm going to expand the trombone music from the choral piece into a new recital piece with several movements. It will be scored for trombone, piano and percussion and will be 10 to 15 minutes long. It will be ready in Spring 2010.
About the Project, Supporters Expand Text
Guild Overview
Read more about the
Guild and how it works
Target finish date: March 31, 2010
Target amount: $2500 for a commission fee
Performer-sponsors can present their local premiere
Anyone supporting the project will have the privilege of performing a local premiere of the music. Of course, this only works if you are a musician who plays trombone, percussion or piano.
If you don’t want to perform the music, you can sponsor the project in the name of your favorite local trombonist, percussionist or pianist. That way, they can perform the music and you get to hear the music performed live at a concert near you.
Other benefits
Let me know if you would like:
- PDF file of the music score and parts, when finished. If you are not planning a performance, I generally like to send it after the first performance, in case I revise things
- Demo CD or MP3 download of a performance, when it becomes available
Honored Supporters
Thank yous to all of you who have supported this project!
- Carson Cooman - inaugural supporter!
- Anonymous
- Gerald and Miriam McCue
Fiscal Sponsorship by Fractured Atlas Expand Text
In 2005, I organized Spindrift Commissioning Guild to accept monetary support for specific projects. Now Spindrift Commissioning Guild can accept tax-deductible charitable donations under the fiscal sponsorship of Fractured Atlas.
Spindrift Commissioning Guild is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Spindrift Commissioning Guild may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
It would be really helpful if you can give at least $25, but please consider any gift you can afford. Thank you!
How to Donate Expand Text
You can make a donation online or with a check. Fractured Atlas receives the money and disburses it to Spindrift as the project progresses.
You can support the project in any amount. A donation of at least $25 will be really helpful. All donors will be listed in the music score and on my web site. You can be anonymous, if you want. And always, thank you for your interest and support!
Online
Use the Fractured Atlas web site to donate by credit card
After you donate, send me an email indicating what project you want
to support and whether you want to receive the finished music as a
PDF file. If you want to my work generally without choosing a
specific project, that's greatly appreciated too. (Spindrift contact info)
Get updates Click Join My Mailing List
below
By check
Send a check, made payable to Fractured Atlas to Spindrift Commissioning Guild, Pamela Marshall, 38 Dexter Road, Lexington, MA 02420. Include a note with your check to tell me what project you want to support. Include your email address, so that I can send you project updates. If you don't use email, I can send updates via USPS mail.
Please keep in touch Send me your comments about the project. For Commission projects, performers, let me know your concert schedule. I like deadlines. Knowing there’s a performance coming up helps the music flow!
Join the Guild email list Expand Text
To keep up to date on the project, please sign up for the Spindrift Commissioning Guild email list.
You don’t have to be a donor to get project updates. I always
appreciate your interest in my music. Maybe the updates will entice
you to support the project with money too!
Click Join My Mailing List below.
Resources Expand Text
Fractured Atlas Learn more about their support for artists, including fiscal sponsorship for hundreds of artists’ projects
Meet the Composer If you want to learn more about the commissioning process, Meet the Composer has published a respected guide: Commissioning Music: A Basic Guide. Download their PDF file.
The Future of Life for chorus by Pamela Marshall Hear excerpts and download a PDF perusal score
Conservation issues I've compiled a list of resources related to The Future of Life, the book by Edward O. Wilson
Thank you for your interest and support!
Back to Guild Overview
