The Music of Albert Biales

Dr. Albert Biales [ b. 1929 ] has created works for a variety of media, including works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, jazz ensembles, choruses, solo voice, and piano. "Mozart in Manhattan," his third opera, received its premiere in 2007 He has had a distinguished career as an educator, research scholar, and performer. He taught a variety of courses in the areas of music history and theory at the College of St. Catherine, where he served as department chairman for nineteen years. Dr. Biales has edited and published editions of the sacred and secular music of Giovanni Priuli, a Venetian composer of the seventeenth century. He has performed as a professional trumpeter in orchestras and in jazz and commercial groups. He received the Ph.D. degree from The University of California at Los Angeles in 1962. He was a recipient of a Fulbright Grant for study in Germany, a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar grant, and financial support for his operas from the Argosy Foundation, The Twin cities Opera Guild, and the Aaron Copland Composer Assistance Fund.


Original Compositions

REFLECTIONS ON THREE STAGE DESIGNS BY MARC CHAGALL

by Dr. Albert Biales
 
Description: "Reflections on Three Stage Designs by Marc Chagall" is based on the reproduction of Chagall's designs contained in the book: Marc Chagall Drawings and Watercolors for the Ballet, Tudor Publishing Co. New York, 1969. Although the stage designs are for Stravinsky's Firebird Ballet, I have made no reference to Stravinsky's work, since my composition is not consciously based on the style or content of the great composer's music. The colors of Chagall's designs are reflected in the emphasis on a rich harmonic and instrumental pallet. Although the work is tonal, it often employs free dissonant relationships in the creation of colorful harmonic structures. Stylistically, the music has a direct appeal to audiences and performers. It is moderate in its technical demands. "Reflections" can be successfully performed by a small "chamber" orchestra well as a full symphonic ensemble.
Individual Movements:

  1. THE ENCHANTED FOREST

  2. THE ENCHANTED PALACE

  3. RED AND WHITE (STELLAR SPHERES)
Instrumentation:2/2/2/2 - 2/2/0/0/ - timpani, 2 percussion, harp, piano and strings.
Duration:14:30
Cost:$250 Rental Only.

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