9/17/2015

GabrielaLenaFrankLongBiographyMusicSalesClassical

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Gabriela Lena Frank
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Gabriela Lena Frank

Born: 1972
Nationality: American
Publisher: G. Schirmer
Photo Sabina Frank
IdentityhasalwaysbeenatthecenterofGabrielaLenaFrank'smusic.BorninBerkeley,
California,toamotherofmixedPeruvian/Chineseancestryandafatherof
Lithuanian/Jewishdescent,Frankexploreshermulticulturalheritagemostardently
throughhercompositions.InspiredbytheworksofBelaBartkandAlbertoGinastera,
Frankissomethingofamusicalanthropologist.Shehastraveledextensivelythroughout
SouthAmericaandherpiecesreflectandrefractherstudiesofLatinAmericanfolklore,
incorporatingpoetry,mythology,andnativemusicalstylesintoawesternclassical
frameworkthatisuniquelyherown.Shewriteschallengingidiomaticpartsforsolo
instrumentalists,vocalists,chamberensembles,andorchestras.
Moreover,shewrites,"There'susuallyastorylinebehindmymusicascenarioor
character."Whiletheenjoymentofherworkscanbeobtainedsolelyfromhermusic,the
composer'sprogramnotesenhancethelistener'sexperience,fortheydescribehowa
pianopartmimicsamarimbaorpanpipes,orhowamovementisbasedonaparticular
typeoffolksong,wherethesingerismockinglycrying.Evenabriefglanceathertitles
evokesspecificimagery:Leyendas:AnAndeanWalkaboutCuatroCancionesAndinas
andLaLlorona:TonePoemforViolaandOrchestra.Frank'scompositionsalsoreflect
hervirtuosityasapianistwhennotcomposing,sheisasoughtafterperformer,
specializingincontemporaryrepertoire.
Thisseason,FrankservesacomposerinresidencetoboththeHoustonSymphonyforwhoshewroteKarnavalingoto
welcomeincomingmusicdirectorAndrsOrozcoEstradaandtheDetroitSymphonyOrchestra.A2009recipientofthe
prestigiousJohnSimonGuggenheimMemorialFoundationFellowshiptoassistinresearchandartisticcreation,Frank's
recentpremieresincludeWillo'theWispforpiccoloplayerMaryKayFinkandtheClevelandOrchestraSaintsforThe
BerkeleySymphony,sopranoJessicaRiveraandtheSanFranciscoGirlsChorusandConcertinoCusqueoforthe
PhiladelphiaOrchestra.Afrequentcollaboratorwithartistsinotherdisciplines,Frankhasdevelopedanumberofprojectswith
thePulitzerPrizewinningCubanplaywrightNiloCruz,amongthemLaCentinelaylaPaloma(TheKeeperandtheDove),a
songcycleforDawnUpshawandtheSaintPaulChamberOrchestraandJourneyoftheShadowfortheSanFrancisco
ChamberOrchestra.OtherrecentpremieresincludeNocturnoNazqueofortheNewYorkInternationalPianoCompetition
HilosfortheAliasChamberEnsemblePuntosSuspensivosforBalletHispanicoIncaDancesforguitaristManuelBarrueco
andCuartetoLatinoamericanowhichreceiveda2009LatinGrammyforBestClassicalContemporaryCompositionNew
AndeanSongsfortheLosAngelesPhilharmonic'sGreenUmbrellanewmusicseriesPeregrinosfortheIndianapolis
SymphonyandTwoMountainSongsforaconsortiumcomprisedoftheYoungPeople'sChorusofNewYork,theSan
FranciscoGirlsChorus,andAnima.
Havingcollaboratedwithabroadrangeofartists,Frank'sotherworksincludeQuijotadasfortheBrentanoStringQuartet
JalapeoBluesforChanticleer,basedontheSpanglishpoetryofrenownedChicanopoetTrinidadS*aacutenchez
Compadrazgo,adoubleconcertoforDavidFinckelandWuHanwiththeProMusicaOrchestraLaLlorona:TonePoemfor
ViolaandOrchestrafortheHoustonSymphonywithprincipalWayneBrooksunderthebatonofHansGrafDosCanciones
deCifarforbaritoneandpiano,commissionedbytheMarilynHorneFoundationwithCarnegieHallChayraq!andRitmos
AnchinosfortheSilkRoadProjectCincoDanzasdeChambiforviolaandpiano,commissionedbytheAspenSummer
MusicFestivalCantodeHarawifortheDaCameraSocietyofHoustonManchayTiempofortheSeattleSymphonyunder
thebatonofJunMrklInkarrfortheKronosQuartetIllapa:TonePoemforFluteandOrchestraforflutistLeoneBuyseand
theShepherdSymphonyOrchestraandThreeLatinAmericanDancesfortheUtahSymphonyOrchestraunderthebatonof
KeithLockhart.
ThreeLatinAmericanDanceswassubsequentlyrecordedbytheUtahSymphonyfortheReferenceRecordinglabeland
hasbeenhailedas"dazzling"andexhibiting"wit,brilliance,atmosphere,andpoetry"(ClassicsToday),and"araretreasureof
modernorchestralmusic"(HongKong/ChinaHiFiReview).Leyendas:AnAndeanWalkabout,performedbyits
commissioner,theChiaraStringQuartet,wasreleasedinearly2007ontheNewVoiceSingleslabel.Inreferencetothis
recording,theAmericanRecordGuidecalledFrank"aremarkablecomposer."RecentrecordingsincludeanallFrankdiscon
NaxosfeaturingHilos,amongotherworks,bytheAliasChamberEnsembleIncaDanceswithguitaristManuelBarruecoand
theCuartetoLatinoamericano,releasedontheTonarMusicLabelandseveralchamber/orchestralworksfortheFilarmonika
labelaspartofthegroundbreaking"CaminosdelInka"projectunderthedirectorshipofconductorMiguelHarthBedoya.
FrankattendedRiceUniversityinHouston,Texas,wheresheearnedbothaB.A.(1994)andM.A.(1996).Shestudied
compositionwithPaulCooper,EllsworthMilburn,andSamJones,andpianowithJeanneKiermanFischer.Frankcredits
FischerwithintroducinghertothemusicofGinastera,Bartk,andothercomposerswhoutilizedfolkelementsintheirwork.At
theUniversityofMichigan,whereshereceivedaD.M.A.incompositionin2001,FrankstudiedwithWilliamAlbright,William
Bolcom,LeslieBassett,andMichaelDaugherty,andpianowithLoganSkelton.
GabrielaLenaFrank'smusicispublishedexclusivelybyG.Schirmer,Inc.

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9/17/2015

GabrielaLenaFrankLongBiographyMusicSalesClassical
July2014
Forspecificinquiriesaboutthiscomposer,pleasecontactMattie.Kaiser@schirmer.comorcall2122542100.

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