Composer and Bass Guitarist - Rick Crittenden - Journal

Five Variations for String Quartet performance

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

The video and mp3 recordings are now up for you to check out. As mentioned before, they are to be found at the Cascadia Composers site, but now, they are also available on the music page of this site.

String Quartet recordings

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

The recent performances of my "Five Variations for String Quartet" were captured by Dan Senn and are now posted on the Cascadia Composers web site. www.cascadiacomposers.org

Current Project

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

I'm working on a piece for electric guitar quartet. At least, I'm thinking about it. The piece is in the beginning stage of planning. This means deciding the main qualities...length, when major events happen (within the timeline), and specifying the characteristics of the sections and their relation to each other.

This is scheduled to be performed in the Los Angeles area sometime in Jan. 2011.

Five Variations for String Quartet selected for Fall Concert

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

The National Association of Composers-Cascadia Chapter has selected one of my early string quartet pieces for inclusion in the 2010 Fall Concert in October. It's a short 6-7 minute piece comprised if 5 very short movements. The form was intends to be focus on the various tonal qualities and articulations available from the instruments.

More details later.

New Music Performance

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

I am just now finishing a composition for a rather unique ensemble...Saxophone choir and Harp!

Six saxophones from bass sax to sopranino with the orchestal grand harp. This has been a challenging and fun project. I intend to continue writing for this ensemble since it offers such rich textural possibilities.

The current piece (which isn't named yet), will be performed in Los Angeles CA on March 23rd as part of the West Coast Composers Forum 5th annual concert.

Lecture/Workshop

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

On May 4th, 2009, I will be doing a presentation to Cascadia Composers. I will be discussing compositions from the Passages CD as well as current classical works and the priorities of each discipline. More info may be found at the Cascadia web site.

www.cascadiacomposers.org Go to Upcoming Events.

New composition premier

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800

On March 22nd, my newest composition "Impromptu for Winds" will be premiered in Los Angeles as part of the West Coast Composers Furom. The concert will be held at the Don Wright Auditorium, 285 E Walnut, Pasadena CA, 91101

There are 8 other pieces being premiered. Besides myself, the composers are Peter Armetta
Charles Fernandez
John David Grab
David Leslie
Johnterryl Plumeri
Joseph Sorce
Clifford J. Tasner
T. J. Troy
Larry Williams
Ross Wright (a.k.a. Elvis Schoenberg).

The players are all top LA musicians. It should be fun! For more info, go to my contact page and send me an email.

Passages follow up CD

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I am excited to be starting work on the next CD project. This will be with the same musicians as were on Passages. This CD will be markedly different though. This project will be largely free improvisations in duo format with Paul McCandless, Art Lande, Glen Moore and Chris Lee. I may include some of my chamber music on the new CD, as well as possibly another thing with the incomparable, Nancy King. So, check back now and then.

Atonement for Septet MP3 available soon

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

I will soon have computer renditions of the three movements to "Atonement for Septet" available for download on the music page. This is the piece that was performed in Los Angeles on January 20th, 2008. Many of you have asked to hear the piece. Check back in a few days.

Concert Update

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The new date for the West Coast Composers Forum chamber music concert in L.A. is January 20th, 2008. This coincides with the NAMM show, allowing many of my musician friends residing outside of the Northwest to check out what I've been up to.