Meet the Composer

"Elemental Soundings", a free performance to be presented by Aperio at the Rothko Chapel in Houston, TX in November 2009, shows the influence of traditional and popular music of China and Japan on both Asian-born and US-born composers. It is a well-balanced program, providing depth and richness of content featuring works by Thomas Osborne, Steve Reich, Lou Harrison, Tan Dun, Bright Sheng, and Chen Yi. Of special interest will be two Houston premieres of compositions by Thomas Osborne, who will be present at this concert.

Prior to the concert, Osborne will participate in a number of public events. He will visit Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts to give a presentation to young composers. The presentation will feature the performance of various recent works followed by a discussion of Osborne's compositional method and style. By performing a number of his Piano Preludes and excerpts from other original compositions, he will discuss how one goes about composing a piece of music from start to finish. Students will also be given a preview performance of Like Still Water for piano and percussion, which will be featured on the concert the following evening. Osborne will also be featured on The Front Row a daily arts magazine program on KUHF 88.7, Houstons NPR affiliate station. For this live interview he will discuss his career, influences, and key works. This broadcast will include a live performance of "Songs of a Thousand Autumns" played by musicians from Aperio. In addition, the composer will give a pre-concert talk about his two works featured on the program and will coach musicians from Aperio's ensemble during an open rehearsal in the Rothko Chapel the afternoon preceding the concert.