The Music of Nancy Bloomer Deussen

The late Nancy Bloomer Deussen [2/1/1931 - 11/16/2019] was a prominent San Francisco Bay Area composer and co-founder of the Bay Area chapter of The National Association of Composers,USA. She has been a dedicated champion of more accessible contemporary music, a viewpoint amply demonstrated in all of her works. A composer who is well-loved by audiences, Bloomer Deussen has received numerous commissions from such performing ensembles and soloists as The Oakland Chamber Orchestra,The Walnut Street Chamber Ensemble (PA), The Baton Rouge and Augustana Concert Bands, The Santa Clara Chorale, De Anza College Chorale and Women's Chorus, The Women's Caucus in the Arts, Opus 90 Chamber Ensemble, The Gabrieli Brass, The Mission Chamber Orchestra, Sempervirens Environmental Club, Mu Phi Epsilon Ann and Lee E Mueller Chamber Music Commission, Jim and Pat Watt & and others.

Her works encompass a wide spectrum of performers and include works for band, chorus, orchestra (full, string and chamber), many chamber music combinations, recorder consort, flute, clarinet and violin solo, piano solo, brass ensemble and solo voice and piano. She has received numerous performances by such orchestras and ensembles as The Marin Symphony Orchestra,The New England Philharmonic, The James Madison University Symphony, the Redlands Symphony, The Diablo Symphony, the Lowell Philharmonic (MA), The Iowa State University Orchestra, Kenyon College Orchestra (Ohio), The Mission Chamber Orchestra, The Vermont Youth Symphony, The Sandusky Music Festival(Ohio) and numerous chamber ensembles, brass ensembles, bands and soloists across the country.

Ms Bloomer Deussen is the recipient of a number of awards which include: First Prize Winner of the Mu Phi Epsilon Original Composition Contest (for chamber works) in 1987 for "Woodwind Quintet", The Bay Area Composer's Symposium Performance Award for her orchestral work "Reflections on the Hudson" in 1994, The Britten on-the -Bay First Prize for "Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano" in 1996 and the Mu Phi Epsilon Original Composition Contest (for large works) for "Concerto for Clarinet and Small Orchestra" in 1999.

She has also been named as one of the first five "Honored Artists of The American Prize" for 2014, awarded to "individuals who have proven themselves to be musicians of sustained excellence over a number of seasons."

Original Compositions

Click on the note () icon to hear that selection in MP3 format.
Click on the individual titles for rental pricing, instrumentation, and order details.
MP3 Title
  American Hymn  (A moving and patriotic work.)   
  Ascent To Victory  (Composed to honor the Special Olympians.)   
  Carmel By-The-sea  (A musical portraint of this beautiful California town.)   
  A Field in Pennsylvania  (A tribute to the heros of Flight 93 the morning of 9/11.)   
  Reflections On The Hudson  (A portrait of the Hudson River and the images it invokes along its journey.)     
  Regalos  (A love letter to Mexico and its wonderful folk melodies.)   
  The Transit Of Venus  (Musical impressions of this rare celestial event.)   
  Trinity Alps  (Musical impressions of this magnificent area of California.)   

Detailed listings

AMERICAN HYMN

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description: This work for orchestra is a stirring tribute to America, beginning almost pensively, but building to a stirring climax. World Premiere by The Diablo Symphony conducted by Joyce Johnson-Hamilton on July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 2005. It carries the inscription: "In appreciation of how fortunate I am to be a citizen of this great nation."
Instrumentation:2+Picc/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - Timp, 3-4 perc - Harp, and strings.
Duration:5:25
Rental Fee:$240/+$120/+$60 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).
Notes:This work has been recorded by Robert Ian Winston and The Kiev Philharmonic for ERM Media.

ASCENT TO VICTORY

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description:

Composed in 1997 as a double commssion for the Amercian Composer's Forum and The Mission Chamber Orchestra. The MCO was planning a CD entitled 'Dreams" to honor the Special Olympics. The commission stipulated that the work be a quiet piece but which also depicted a final victory such as the victory of achievement of The Special Olympian. The composer found the concept of a quiet but victorius piece to be extremely challenging and "Ascent to Victory" is the result.

The work begins with the dreaming and contemplated possibilities of the Special Olympian and then proceeds to the actual training section and finally, the victory. The composer states: "When I was composing this work I wanted to make clear that I felt that all who participated were winners - not only those who actually won."

Performance History: Mission Chamber Orchestra(CA) [PREMIERE], California State University at Hayward Orchestra(CA), Women's Community Orchestra(CA), Kona Community Symphony Orchestra(HI), University at Albany Symphony Orchestra(NY), Providence College Orchestra(RI).
Instrumentation:1/1/2/1 - 2/1/0/0 - Timp/perc - and strings, OR 2/2/2/2 - 2/2/0/0 - Timp, 2 perc and strings. Please specify which when ordering.
Duration:8:10
Rental Fee:$260/+$130/+$65 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).

CARMEL BY-THE-SEA

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description:

"Carmel by-the Sea"was originally the middle movement of a larger work entitled "Rustic Sketches" which was composed in 1987 for the Oakland Chamber Orchestra. Originally titled "At Water's Edge," this work is a musical watercolor which depicts the beautiful seaside town of Carmel by-the-Sea, CA.

Performance History: Nova Vista Symphony(CA), Contra Chamber Orchestra(CA), Sandusky Music Festival-Sandusky, Ohio, Lowell Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra(MA), Mission Chamber Orchestra.
Instrumentation:2/2/2/2 - 2/1/0/0 - perc - and strings.
Duration:9:20
Rental Fee:$260/+$130/+$65 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).
Notes:This work has been recorded by Sean O'Boyle & The Tasmanian Symphony for ABC Classics.

A FIELD IN PENNSYLVANIA

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description: In moving tribute to the passengers and crew of UA Flight 93 that crashed near Shanksville, PA, Nancy Bloomer Deussen brings us a work of passion, reflection and triumph.
Instrumentation:2+picc/2+E Hn/2+B Cl./2 - 4/3/2/1 - Timp, 3 percussion and strings.
Duration:7:10
Rental Fee:$240/+$120/+$60 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).

REFLECTIONS ON THE HUDSON

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description: The work was composed while the composer sat on a park bench overlooking the Hudson River in Manhattan. It depicts both internal reflections as well as actual reflections in the water. It has no specific program and its meaning can be found in the feelings it produces in the listener.
Performance History: Performance history: The Nova Vista Symphony(Los Altos, CA) 1994 - Won the Bay Area Composer's Symposium Orchestral Award sponsored by The Marin Symphony. The Hewlett Packard Orchestra(five performances), The New England Philharmonic, The Knox County Symphony, Sandusky Music Festival, The James Madison University Symphony, The Redlands Symphony Orchestra, The Diablo Symphony Orchestra, The Vermont Youth Symphony, The Dubuque Youth Symphony, Coastside Community Orchestra, Iowa State University Symphony, Southeast Kansas Symphony, Clemson University Symphony(SC), The University at Albany Orchestra, Mission Chamber Orchestra(CA), Baytown Symphony Orchestra(TX), Kona Community Orchestra(HI).
Instrumentation:2[1 d picc]/2[1 d E Hrn]/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - Timp/perc - Harp, Celeste and strings.
Duration:10:30
Rental Fee:$260/+$130/+$65 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).

REGALOS

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description: This work for orchestra is a wonderful montage of "south-of-the-border" dances and moods. Great for any pops concert, but absolutely perfect for "Cinco de Mayo", or a youth/educational concert showing various musical styles.
Instumentation:2[1 d picc]/2[1 d E Hrn]/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - Timp, 3-4 perc - [opt] Harp, and strings.
Duration:4:50
Rental Fee:$200/+$100/+$50 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).

THE TRANSIT OF VENUS

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description: A musical Impression of the rare celestial event as observed by the composer at the NASA complex in Sunnyvale, CA. Premiered by Emily Ray and The Mission Chamber Orchestra.
Instrumentation:2/2/2/2 - 2/2/0/0 - Timp, 3 percussion, harp and strings.
Duration:9:45
Rental Fee:$260/+$130/+$65 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).
Notes:First Prize Winner (2014) of the biennial award in Music Composition of the National League of American Pen Women

TRINITY ALPS

by Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Description: A musical picture of California's 2nd largest wilderness area of mountains, glaciers, deep forests, and hiking trails to total solitude and grandeur. Premiered by Emily Ray and The Mission Chamber Orchestra.
Instrumentation:2(2 dbl picc)/2/2/2 - 2/2/0/0 - Timp, 2 percussion and strings.
Duration:10:30
Rental Fee:$260/+$130/+$65 - ($1st perf/+$2nd perf/+$3rd perf or more each).
Notes:Winner of the 2010 Holyoke Orchestral Competition.
Notes:Finalist in the 2012 American Prize for Orchestral Composition.

« Return to Top »

Thank you for visiting Robert Wendel Music!