Vist her web site for more information.

 Annual Updates

2010

NEWS

The composer writes, “The compositional high point of 2009 was “Marvelous Melodious Meier Music, an evening of her chamber music at the Feddersen Recital Hall of Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA, on February 7, 2009. Originally conceived as a retrospective, recent works dominated the concert in its final form. Two compositions were premieres (Requiem for the Soldier in the Unseen Coffin – brass quintet (2008), John Hanpadungvongs, first trumpet; Dustin Barr, second trumpet; Austin Andrade, French horn; Jeffrey Slagle, trombone; Zack Marty, tuba; and Scenes From a Life – piano trio (2007), 1. “Lovely and Loving,” 2. “Unknown and Mysterious,” 3. “Relaxation and Revelry,” violinist Elise Doran, cellist Ann Sherrill, with the composer as pianist). Other instrumental works performed were Glimpses of Grace, Sally Through the Rye, Jelly Suite, Fountains Water the Garden, Morning in the Garden, Sakura Rhapsody, Double Rejoicing, and Kartonyal Processional. Vocal and choral compositions performed were Life’s Best Gifts, Celebration, Sorrow, Strength, After Great Pain, and Lifelong.

PERFORMANCES

Romantic Passacaglia on a Twelve Tone Theme was performed March 15, 2009, by organist Frances Nobert, Madonna della Strada Chapel, Loyola University, Chicago, IL. Soprano Valerie Miller and pianist Dolly Kessner presented two songs from Life’s Best Gifts October 23 at the Pasadena (CA) Library and October 24 at the Santa Monica (CA) Library. One of them has been performed a number of times, but for “Rain Song,” the fourth song in the cycle, this performance was a premiere.

RECORDINGS

The live performance of Marvelous Melodious Meier Music was recorded and is available on CD at meiermusic.com.

2009

The composer writes, “The big news for this year is the June 1, 2008, release of my CD
--- but Joy Comes in the Morning: Choral Music of Margaret S. Meier by Albany Records . The album features my cantata A SOCSA Quilt, performed by the Ars Brunesis Choir and the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra. This is about the horror of childhood sexual abuse and the hope and joy experienced in recovery and healing. The CD also has two a cappella choral pieces written expressly for the album: After Great Pain (text by Emily Dickinson) and Lifelong (text by Christina Rosetti), performed by the international award winning Chamber Singers of Mt. San Antonio College under the direction of Bruce Rogers. The Chamber Singers, with brass quintet, complete the album with Te Deum; composed in 1987, this is an English translation of the 1500 year old Latin text.”

PREMIERES

Jelly Suite received its west coast premiere June 1, 2008, at a Mt. SAC Chamber Winds concert, presented by flutist Karin Kantenwein, clarinetist Margaret Worsley, bassoonist Cameron Dominguez, and the composer as pianist.

PERFORMANCES

Pianist Rebecca Rollins presented Morning in the Garden, June 22, 2008, Contrapuntal Hall, Brentwood, CA.   

PUBLICATIONS

For the Slow Footed Organist with Rather Nimble Fingers; organ solo, 12 hymn variations and arrangements for the in-between seasons; self-published.

2008

 
Margaret Shelton Meier received her 18th composition award from the ASCAP Standard Awards Panel (1990 through 2008). Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Brandon, accompanied by the composer at the piano, premiered three of the four songs in the song cycle Life’s Best Gifts at a Los Angeles National Association of Composers, USA (NACUSA) House Concert on December 3, 2006. The texts are poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, known as the “Father of African American Poets.”

Premieres

Organist Wilbur Held introduced Variations on ‘Southwell’ February 27, 2007, at a Pomona Valley (CA) Musicians’ Club concert; on the same program soprano Woo Young Lee sang the two Mary Magdalene songs from Meier’s Three Marys in Four Songs, accompanied by the composer. The same program was repeated March 10 as part of the Mt. San Antonio College Music Department Showcase. 

Performances

Organist Frances Norbert presented Romantic Passacaglia as part of a concert titled “Music She Wrote,” March 19, 2006, at Trinity Church-Episcopal, New Orleans, LA; and on June 19 at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale, AZ. Mezzo-soprano Eileen Squillo and pianist Louise Earhart performed the Christmas song “Mary, Mother of Jesus,” from Three Marys in Four Songs on a December 2 Dominant Club Rancho Boca de Santa Monica concert.

Publications

Hymns for the “In-Between Times”; arrangements of a wide variety of 12 non-seasonal hymns for organ that can be easily adapted for piano; available through the composer’s web site: www.meiermusic.com.