flsmp blog

American Composer Timeline

Lee Holley — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:38:00 GMT

Robert Voisey of "Vox Novus" has compiled an extensive list of American composers with links that also give the timeline of the composers. This excellent list can be viewed at http://www.voxnovus.com/resources/American_Composer_Timeline.htm

Vox Novus

Lee Holley — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 08:54:00 GMT

http://www.voxnovus.com/60x60/2005/Concert_Pacific_Rim_Program.htm

One of Sprague's lesser known aleatoric works has been chosen by Vox Novus for performance inclusion in it's "60 X 60" program.

Here are the programs notes:
"An original American composer, Frank Lee Sprague was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and began to compose at the age of eight. He wrote String Quartet in B-flat Major in 1994 and debuted it in Los Angeles to rave reviews. His Symphonic Poem, is his best-known score. Sprague’s other noteworthy works are currently being published, including Concerto for Violin with Orchestra, Guitar Quintet, Symphony No. 2, Pirate Music Suite for Strings, Quartet No. 2, etc. His music is described as lyrical and tonal, with passionate and original writing marked by exclusive modulations and chord techniques. Various works by Sprague have been recorded and performed around the world which landed him acclaimed articles in such periodicals as Washington Post, Playboy Magazine and features on such radio programs as NPR’s All Things considered and All Songs considered. The aleatoric work “Organ Madness” by Frank Lee Sprague was written and recorded using a new technique in which the MIDI information for percussion is applied to a tonal instrument. This is only one of many new innovations the composer has created and applied to his works. The result is a piece with momentum and atonality that propels the listener onward until the short journey ends with a fade."

"Classical" Music

Lee Holley — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 09:39:00 GMT

From the composer: Frank Lee Sprague

The once “modern” techniques of composition (aleatoric, atonal, 12 tone, etc), falsely so called, sometimes employing the addition of a tape machine, electronic media, etc, are now old and belong to the category of abstract works. They could also be placed under the title of experimental.

It seems that when some reviewers whose ears are accustomed to the tired, trite, unmusical and unoriginal non-melodic fare offered in the last century hear anything with a real theme structure that introduces actual melody and development, and brings pleasure and enlightenment to a listener, they are offended and threatened.

I am a Christian composer whose talent comes from God. I compose for the Glory of God in Jesus’ name. I write new and original melodies and harmonies in my serious compositions that have been recognized by true music lovers as beautiful and unique.

As for today's critics of “classical” music who profess to have an ability to advise the public as to the worthiness or originality of a new work; I refer them to the quote from Stokowsky at the bottom of this page.

….”Because he is extremely original,

and to understand originality, the understanding person

has to have originality himself, and as this is a rare matter

of the mind, (this originality), he has suffered like every

person in the realm of science and philosophy.

They have all suffered the difficulty that they are not

understood naturally by persons who are less original than

they are.

That is the price the human mind pays for being original,

for being creative, for producing something which is quite

different from every thing which has been known in that

country before him.”

Leopold Stokowsky

Frank Lee Sprague featured on ACF-LA website

Lee Holley — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:16:00 GMT

The American Composers Forum Los Angeles Chapter has featured information on Frank Lee Sprague's Violin Concerto! Check out http://www.composers.la/hotnews.asp#anchor3

New Work Published for Violin with Orchestra

Lee Holley — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 12:40:00 GMT

Frank Lee Sprague is an American composer with over 1000 works to his credit. Many of his compositions have been debuted and performed in Los Angeles by the best musicians in the world including Ernest Ehrheardt, Karen Elain, Robert Korda, Brian Leonard, and more.

Originally from Wichita Falls, Texas, Frank has spent his life studying, writing, and performing music. His main instrument is the guitar. He has many works for guitar and also guitar with various chamber ensembles.

His newest work is his Concerto for Violin with Orchestra.

This is music by a master craftsman. A composition of great emotional extremes, one that wrings every drop of expression from the music. The first steps on this Sprague pilgrimage lift the heart for the journey to come. Sprague has become among the most esteemed musical figures of his generation. Each work bears the unmistakable stamp of a wildly fertile musical imagination and a distinctive voice forged out of the wide-ranging musical languages.

Frank Lee Sprague is a new breed among American composers. His Violin Concerto is unique and fresh. The work is gorgeous...an unusually beautiful piece. Superbly written, vividly conceived, simply the last word in unobtrusive virtuosity and sumptuous blending of tones. There's so much color and invention packed into this composition and

this world premiere publication offers a musical journey to the performers.

An outstanding contribution to the still far-too-small Sprague library. This irresistible discovery, winningly championed by a new orchestra with this long-overdue first recording of his Violin Concerto, proves Frank Lee Sprague a musical genius of Mozartean universality and range.

Virtuoso compositional skills and an amazing ear...full of passion, joy, sorrow, and love.

An ecstatically beautiful piece. Indispensible. Contact flsmp for info on how to obtain the score and performance rights.