Elizabeth Bell

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Short Bio:

Composer, poet, founder NY Women Composers

Biography:

ELIZABETH BELL was born in 1928; graduated from Wellesley College (Music) in 1950, and from Juilliard (Composition) in 1953. She was music critic of the Ithaca Journal, 1971-1975; one of the founders, a former officer, and currently a director of New York Women Composers; and a member of Board of Governors of American Composers Alliance, 2000-2004. She has had commissions from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Bradshaw/Buono duo, the Inoue Chamber Ensemble, North/South Consonance, the Putnam Valley Orchestra, and Vienna Modern Masters. Awards have been: the Delius Prize (Keyboard), 1994; first prize (1986), and grand prize (1996) in the Utah Composers Competition; many Meet-the-Composer grants.

There are three all-Bell CD’s: “The Music of Elizabeth Bell”, MMC 2082; “Snows of Yesteryear”, N/S R 1029; and “A Collection of Reflections”, N/S R 1042. Other recordings are on CRS, Classic Masters, VMM, and North/South Records. There have been six all-Bell concerts, including two to celebrate her 75th birthday: NYC 10/12/03, and Yerevan, Armenia, 4/28/04. Performed world-wide, she is a member of BMI, ACA, SCI, AMC, NACUSA, and other professional organizations.

Compositions:

ANDROMEDA

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Scoring, for orchestra pieces:
pf(solo),perc, str orch

Year Authored:
1993

Duration (min):
16

Alternate Title:
ANDROMEDA

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
Lvov, Ukraine 1996

Recording:
Vienna Modern Masters #3029: Ruth Spindler, pf; Koszalin (Poland) State Philharmonic Orchestra, Szymon Kawalla, cond. . . . Master Musicians Collective #2082 'The Music of Elizabeth Bell'): Eleanor Elkins, pf; Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz, c

Concerto in One Movement for Piano, Percussion, & Strings. Commissioned by Vienna Modern Masters.
Ensemble Type
- solo instrument(s) featured+large ens or orch
Instruments
- piano
ARECIBO SONATA

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
pf

Year Authored:
1968

Duration (min):
11:

Movements-Titles:
3

First Performance:
Sharon Momany, pf: Memphis, TN 1976.

Piano sonata in 3 movements.

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo keyboard
Instruments
- piano
CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Scoring, for orchestra pieces:
2/pic-2-2-2, 4-2-3-1,perc,str

Year Authored:
1976

Duration (min):
10

Alternate Title:
CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA

Movements-Titles:
Ampolloso

Movements-Titles:
Lacrimoso

Movements-Titles:
Scorrevole

First Performance:
Music Educators National Conference, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, DC; 2/20/77.

Written for the Ithaca (NY) High School Orchestra, Robert Spear, cond. Meant for a student orchestra. Movements: 1)Ampolloso 2)Lacrimoso 3)Scorrevole
Ensemble Type
- orchestra
Instruments
- orchestra
- conductor
Genre/Theme
- for young audiences
- for young performers
DUOVARIOS

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
two pianos

Year Authored:
1987

Duration (min):
13:

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
David Bradshaw, Cosmo Buono, duo-pianists; Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY, 1/24/88.

Recording:
Jennifer Rinehart and Loretta Goldberg: North/South Records 1029 ('The Snows of Yesteryear').

Two-Piano work in one movement; pianos play different music; commissioned by David Bradshaw and Cosmo Buono. Winner of the Delius Prize, 1994.

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- multiple keyboards
- duo inst or voices
Instruments
- piano
FANTASY-SONATA

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
vcl,pf

Year Authored:
1971

Duration (min):
11

Alternate Title:
FANTASY-SONATA

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
Einar Holm, cello, and Ann Silsbee, piano; Barnes Hall, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 1973.

Small cello sonata in one movement. . . . 'Written in a wonderfully angular contemporary idiom drawing on the full resonance of the instruments.' -- Brancaleone, Gannett Westchester Newspapers.
Ensemble Type
- solo inst+keyboard
- duo inst or voices
Instruments
- piano
- cello
KALEIDOSCOPE - flute and piano

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
fl, pf

Year Authored:
1969

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo inst+keyboard
Instruments
- piano
- flute
KALEIDOSCOPE - ww quintet

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
ww quintet

Year Authored:
1969

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- woodwind quintet
LES NEIGES D'ANTAN -- SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
vln, pf

Year Authored:
1998

Duration (min):
20:

Movements-Titles:
4

First Performance:
Rene Jolles, vn, and Max Lifchitz, pf, at Church of Christ and St. Stephens, New York, NY, 5/23/99.

Recording:
Rene Jolles, vn, and Max Lifchitz, pf: North/South Records #1029 ('Snows of Yesteryear').

Title means "Snows of Yesteryear", and is taken from a poem by 15th century French poet and criminal, Francois Villon. . . .Movement titles: Snow-Dreams, Elegy, Shadow-Dance, The Furies. . . "A large, emotionally varied statement that would not be out of place in the repertoire of any of the world's great violinists."--Story, Fanfare Magazine 2003.

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo inst+keyboard
Instruments
- piano
- violin
MILLENNIUM

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
sop,cl,pf

Year Authored:
1988

Duration (min):
9:

Movements-Titles:
1

Text Source/Author:
Lewis Thomas; OK.

First Performance:
Inoue Chamber Ensemble: E. Kirkpatrick, sop; E. Gilmore, cl; K. Inoue, pf; Weill Recital Hall, New York, NY; 10/17/88, poet attending.

Recording:
North/South Records, #1006 ('Clarinet Fantasy'); P. Schenk, sop; R. Goldsmith, cl; M. Lifchitz, pf.

Written for, and premiered by, the Inoue Chamber Ensemble.'Incisive, apocalyptic setting of Lewis Thomas's 'Millennium'''.-- Kozinn, New York Times

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo voice(s)+2 to 6 instruments
Instruments
- piano
- Soprano
- clarinet
NIGHT MUSIC

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
pf

Year Authored:
1990

Duration (min):
15

Alternate Title:
NIGHT MUSIC

Movements-Titles:
2

First Performance:
Max Lifchitz, pf; Performing Arts Center, SUNY/Albany, Albany, NY; 9/19/90.

Recording:
Max Lifchitz, pn.; Vienna Modern Masters #2002 ('Max Lifchitz Plays American Piano Music')

Commissioned by North/South Consonance. Two movements, played without pause: 1) Molto doloroso, 2) Angrily. . . . Inspired by a line by Henry James, the Elder: 'An unsubdued forest where the wolf howls and the obscene bird of night chatters. . . '

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo keyboard
Instruments
- piano
NIGHT MUSIC for piano

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
pf

Year Authored:
1955

Duration (min):
5:

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
1956 -Juilliard, by the composer

A slow, nocturne-like composition which explores expanded harmonic sonorities through use of the damper pedal and varying articulations. Moderately difficult.

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo keyboard
Instruments
- piano
PERNE IN A GYRE

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
cl, pf, vln, vc

Year Authored:
1984

Duration (min):
14:

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
Cincinnati Composers' Guild; Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati,OH; 4/19/85

Recording:
North/South Consonance Ensemble: Classic Masters #1011 ('American Music for Chamber Ensemble'). . . . Master Musicians Collective #2082 (The Music of Elizabeth Bell')

Inspired by a passage from 'Sailing to Byzantium' by W. B. Yeats: 'Soul clap its hand and sing, and louder sing/ For every tatter in its mortal dress . . . '1st Prize in 1986 Utah Composers' Competition

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- duo or ensemble+ keyboard
- instrumental quartet
Instruments
- piano
- clarinet in A
- violin
- cello
RITUALS FOR ORCHESTRA

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Scoring, for orchestra pieces:
pic-2, ehn-2, bcl -2 , cbs-2, 4-3-3-1, timp, perc(4), str

Year Authored:
1988

Duration (min):
10

Alternate Title:
RITUALS FOR ORCHESTRA

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
Putnam Symphony Orchestra, L. Bouchard cond., Carmel, NY 1988

Recording:
Master Musicians Collective CD#2082 (as part of Symphony #1)

1st movement of Symphony #1
Ensemble Type
- orchestra
RIVER FANTASY

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
fl/pic, vln, vla, vc

Year Authored:
1991

Duration (min):
15:

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
Merkin Concert Hall, NYC, October, 1991; North/South Consonance Ensemble

Inspired by the film 'The African Queen'. Uses quarter-tones to enlarge the melodic and harmonic vocabulary.

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- instrumental quartet
- strings featured
Instruments
- flute (dbl picc)
- violin
- viola
- cello
SECOND SONATA

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
pf

Year Authored:
1972

Duration (min):
10:

Movements-Titles:
Tragico

Movements-Titles:
Gioioso

Movements-Titles:
Meditativo

Movements-Titles:
Con Brio

First Performance:
Malcolm Bilson, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 1973

Recording:
CRS #8531 (LP); Camille Budarz, pf.

Piano sonata in four movements. Written for and premiered by Malcolm Bilson.'A solid, well-constructed, and affecting small sonata . . . .the high point of the concert' -- Schwarzbaum, The Cornell Daily Sun

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo keyboard
Instruments
- piano
SIX LOSS-SONGS

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
sop & pf

Year Authored:
1983

Duration (min):
19

Alternate Title:
SIX LOSS-SONGS

Movements-Titles:
6

Text Source/Author:
Plath, Berryman, Bell, Levertov,Kinnell -- all OK

First Performance:
4/19/85 (as part of 'Loss-Songs' q.v.)

First 6 songs of 'Loss-Songs' (q.v.)
Ensemble Type
- voice+keyboard
Instruments
- piano
- Soprano
SOLILOQUY for SOLO CELLO

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
solo vlc

Year Authored:
1980

Duration (min):
9:

Movements-Titles:
8

First Performance:
Stephen Drake; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 3/6/80

Subtitled 'A Collection of Reflections'. Eight brief movements, based on a scalar tone-row, in a mood of overall sadness. . . . Written for and premiered by composer's son, Stephen Drake. Performed many times by him and other cellists.

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo instrumental (non-keyboard)
Instruments
- cello
SOLILOQUY for SOLO VIOLIN

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Scoring, for orchestra pieces:
solo violin

Year Authored:
1980

Duration (min):
9

Alternate Title:
SOLILOQUY for SOLO VIOLIN

Movements-Titles:
8

First Performance:
Marty Simons, 4/21/81 at The Juilliard School, New York City

Transcription of 'Soliloquy for Solo Cello'.Subtitled 'A Collection of Reflections'. Eight brief movements, based on a scalar tone-row, in a mood of overall sadness. . . . Cello version was written for and premiered by composer's son, Stephen Drake.
Ensemble Type
- solo instrumental (non-keyboard)
Instruments
- violin
SONGS OF HERE AND FOREVER

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Scoring, for orchestra pieces:
sop, pf

Year Authored:
1970

Duration (min):
20

Alternate Title:
SONGS OF HERE AND FOREVER

Movements-Titles:
6

Text Source/Author:
Composer

First Performance:
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, 1973; Linda Paterson, sop; Ann Silsbee, pn.

Recording:
North/South Recordings #1029 ('Snows of Yesteryear') -- Gayla Bauer Blaisdell, sop., Max Lifchitz, pn.

Six songs on early poems by the composer. Cache Lake, Communication, Harlem Bridge, Light, Song of Worship, Storm.
Ensemble Type
- voice+keyboard
Instruments
- piano
- Soprano
SPECTRA

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
pic/afl/fl; Ehn/ob; cl; bn; perc; pf/cel; string quartet

Year Authored:
1989

Duration (min):
19

Alternate Title:
SPECTRA

Movements-Titles:
5

First Performance:
Merkin Concert Hall, NYC, Jan. 22,1990; North/South Ensemble, Max Lifchitz, cond.

Recording:
N/S R #1029: 'Snows of Yesteryear'; The North/South Chamber Orchestra.

Suite for wind quartet, string quartet, piano and percussion. Commissioned by North/South Ensemble for its 10th anniversary. Grand Prize in 1996 Utah Composers' Competition. ' . . . a vivid, highly entertaining sense of instrumental color . . .'-- Story,
Ensemble Type
- mixed instrumental ens
Instruments
- piano
- flute (dbl picc)
- Percussion
- English horn
- clarinet
- violin
- violin ii
- viola
- cello
- celesta
- bassoon
STRING QUARTET #1

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
String Quartet

Year Authored:
1957

Duration (min):
25:

Movements-Titles:
Sostenuto

Movements-Titles:
Allegro Scherzando

Movements-Titles:
Religioso

Movements-Titles:
Con Fuoco

First Performance:
The Lydian Quartet; Corcoran Gallery, Washington, DC, 11/9/86.

Recording:
The Moyzes Quartet; MMC # 2082 ('The Music of Elizabeth Bell')

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- string quartet (alone or + inst or voc)
String Quartet No. 1 - 3rd movement Kolot Ensemble
Instruments
- strings
SUMMER SUITE

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
Pf

Year Authored:
1982

Publisher:
ACA

Publisher URL:
American Composers Alliance
Ensemble Type
- solo keyboard
Instruments
- piano
SYMPHONY NO. 1

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Scoring, for orchestra pieces:
pic-2-2-EH-2-bcl-2-cbsn, 4-3-3-1,timp,perc(3),str

Year Authored:
1971

Duration (min):
20

Alternate Title:
SYMPHONY NO. 1

Movements-Titles:
3

Recording:
The Seattle Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz, cond.; MMC CD #2082 (''The Music of Elizabeth Bell')

Maestoso, Passacagia, Prestissimo. Large, serious work for profressional orchestra.
Ensemble Type
- large orchestra
VARIATIONS & INTERLUDES

Composer:
Elizabeth Bell

Instrumentation freestyle:
pf

Year Authored:
1952

Duration (min):
7

Alternate Title:
VARIATIONS & INTERLUDES

Movements-Titles:
1

First Performance:
Howard Lebow, The Juilliard School, January, 1953

Recording:
Max Lifchitz, pf; North/South Records #1014 ('The American Collection')
Ensemble Type
- solo keyboard
Instruments
- piano

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