David Bennett ThomasComposer, Pianist, Educator: Classical, Jazz, Choral, Chamber, etc... “The chamber works of David Bennett Thomas may be categorized as neo-Romantic, neo-tonal, or even as a kind of sophisticated ‘fusion classical’ but these terms by themselves are inadequate to describe the complex mixtures of elements in his music. His strongest pieces reveal both modernist influences and contemporary applications, though blended to sound original and whole, not like self-concious parodies or pastiches. Thomas is shrewd enough not to wear his influences on his sleeve, and these presumed sources are reworked with jazz harmonies and influences in an idiosyncratic but distinctive post-modern approach.” Choral Videos
Jazz Videos
Videos With ScoresIt is recommended that you view the following videos in full screen, and in high definition. To do so, once in YouTube, select 720p at the bottom right hand corner of the window instead of 360p. Instrumental:
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Music Theory Videos
Interview with David Bennett ThomasPLAYER Click above to listen to a half-hour interview, with musical excerpts, as David is interviewed by Gene Shay as part of the Opus 101 program of the Philadelphia Chapter of The American Composer's Forum. Click here to visit the website of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Composers Forum. |
NewsThomas recently composed a new piece for Salt Lake Choral Artists (Brady Allred, director) which was premiered at the World Choral Symposium in Argentina, and performed at the International Choral Competition in Arezzo, Italy, where the chorus won five prizes. A new piece for bass clarinet and bassoon is in the works for the the British ensemble Cuillin Sound. The Dolce Suono Ensemble will be recording Thomas' recent piece "Tale" for flute, viola, and cello for a new CD release of Thomas chamber music. Thomas' latest recording is a new CD of jazz compositions for Vectordisk inspired by lines from James Joyce's "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." Thomas is joined John Swana, Ron Kerber, Kevin Hanson, Micah Jones, Erik Johnson, and Arturo Stable. It is being played across the US on many jazz and NPR stations. Click to listen. Read a review on All About Jazz. The Vista Trio has been performingThomas' "Short Suite" for alto flute, english horn, and bass clarinet on many music festivals and concert series throught England. Cellist Jeffrey Solow performed "Sonata for Cello Solo" on his China tour this year. The Gregg Smith Singers recently premiered a new work for chorus and organ in New York City, on Emily Dickinson's poem "To Know Just How He Suffered Would Be Dear." Thomas recently traveled to Santiago, Chile to work with the students and faculty at the ProJazz school. Thomas' Conversation Pieces for two bass clarinets is included in Harry Sparnaay's new book on bass clarinet literature, available through www.periferia music.com. Coro de Cámara Ainur will perform "In Time Of Silver Rain" on the Canary Islands, Spain, in the Fall 2012. A new choral work commissioned for the choir at North Andover High School, Massachusetts, was recently premiered at Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City. De Profundis, for SATB Chorus, will be premiered this year by The New Carillon Ensemble, conducted by Arthur Krieck. New York City. David recently traveled to London to record Paths, with Carla Rees (alto flute) and David Black (guitar) of rarescale, for their forthcoming CD. David's Mass was recently aired on the program Classical Discoveries, www.wprb.com. "Short Suite" was aired on the program "Now Is The Time," on WRTI, Philadelphia. A new album - Piano Works 2001-2009 -is now available. It includes the four piano sonatas, Four Etudes, and Conundrum (for two pianos). The performances are by Charles Abramovic, Matthew Bengtson, Carl Cranmer, and Gary Gress. Piano Sonata #2 was recently aired on WPRB, Princeton. A premiere performance of Conundrum for two pianos recently took place at the joint recital of Terry Klinefelter and Igor Resnianski, at West Chester University. David recently traveled to Israel for a performance of "Imagined Corners" for chorus, alto flute, and harp, with Naked Voices; Tamir Chasson, director.
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