DAVID SAMPSON

Biography

David Sampson (b. 1951, Charlottesville, Virginia) has emerged as one of the truly unique voices of his generation achieving rapidly growing attention from major orchestras, soloists and ensembles.

Recent major premieres include "Hommage: JFK" commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra; "Monument" commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for the Memphis Symphony; "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" commissioned by the Bergen Foundation and premiered with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; "The War Prayer" for soloists, chorus and orchestra (commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts) premiered by Princeton Pro Musica; and "Triptych" for trumpet and orchestra commissioned by Raymond Mase and the ITG and premiered by Mase at the Aspen Music Festival and with the American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

Other recent works include "Three Portraits" for tuba and orchestra commissioned by Scott Mendoker; "Short Stories" commissioned by Chamber Music America and the Pew Charitable Trusts; "Westfield Fanfare" commissioned by the Westfield Symphony; "Three Arguments" for unaccompanied cello commissioned by Paul Tobias; "Four Winds" commissioned by the Chelsea Chamber Ensemble; "Simple Lives" commissioned by the Colonial Symphony; "Sonata Forty" commissioned by Scott Brubaker and the International Horn Society; and "Distant Voices" commissioned by the American Brass Quintet.

Mr. Sampson is currently working on his third brass quintet, commissioned by the American Brass Quintet and the National Endowment for the Arts, and a recently commissioned work for the Chicago Chamber Players.

Recent recording releases include "The Mysteries Remain" and "Solo" (Raymond Mase, Summit Records); "In Memoriam: WES" (Aspen Wind Quintet, Bay Cities Records); "Morning Music" and "Distant Voices" (American Brass Quintet, Summit Records); "Our Father's Road: Cantata for New Sweden" (Vinland Duo, Composers Guild of New Jersey); and "Reflections on a Dance" (Summit Brass, Summit Records). In January 1998, Dorian Wind Quintet recorded "Short Stories" (Summit Records, October '98 release) and in April 1998 an all-orchestral disc was recorded by Alan Balter conducting the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Summit Records, late fall '98 release).

David Sampson has received major grants from the NEA, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Jerome Foundation, Cary Trust, and the Dodge Foundation, among others. He holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music, Hunter College, Manhattan School of Music, and the Ecoles d'Art Americaines, where his teachers included Karel Husa, Henri Dutilleux and John Corigliano in composition; and Gerard Schwarz, Gilbert Johnson, Robert Nagel, and Raymond Mase in trumpet. His music is published by David Sampson Music, The Brass Press, and Brass Ring Editions. He has recently co-authored a new trumpet method with Raymond Mase which is being published by G. Schirmer. He has served on the Board of the Composers Guild of New Jersey, is a member of Solid Brass, and is the Founding President of the "Hardly Any Sampson" Music Festival.

List of Compositions & Representative Performances

bullet"Title TBA" (2001) work for full orchestra. Commissioned by Colonial Symphony.
bullet"Title TBA" (2000) work for string orchestra. Commissioned by Colonial Symphony.
bullet"Title TBA" (2000) work for mixed ensemble. Commissioned by Chicago Chamber Players.
bullet"Title TBA" (1999) work for brass quintet. Commissioned by American Brass Quintet and National Endowment for the Arts.
bullet"Title TBA" (1999) orchestral fanfare. Commissioned by Colonial Symphony.
bulletSERENADE (1998) flugelhorn and orchestra. Premiered by Colonial Symphony with soloist Chris Gekker, April 1998.
bulletMONUMENT (1997) for orchestra. Memphis Symphony, 1997; Akron Symphony, 1997; Recorded Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Summit Records, release 1/99).
bulletHOMMAGE: JFK (1995). Commissioned National Symphony Orchestra. Recorded Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Summit Records, release 1/99).
bulletSHORT STORIES (1994) for wind quintet. Aspen Wind Quintet, 1994. Commissioned by CMA/Pew Charitable Trust. Recorded Dorian Wind Quintet (Summit Records, release 12/98).
bulletCONCERTO FOR CELLO AND ORCHESRA (1994). New Jersey Symphony, Paul Tobias, soloist, 1995.
bulletTHREE ARGUMENTS (1993) for unaccompanied cello. Paul Tobias, 1993, Leonard Rose Memorial Concert.
bulletWESTFIELD FANFARE (1993) for thirteen brass and percussion. Westfield Symphony, 1994.
bulletSHOUT FOR JOY (1992) for Brass Quartet, Organ and Choir. Northeast Region II AGO Conference, Newark Cathedral, 1993.
bulletWITHOUT WARNING (1992) for Piano. Ron Levy, Weill Hall, 1993.
bulletSONATA FORTY (1991) for horn and piano. Scott Brubaker, Weill Hall, 1992.
bulletFOUR WINDS (1991) for wind quartet. Chelsea Chamber Players, Weill Hall, 1992. Plus numerous touring performances.
bulletSOLO (1991) for unaccompanied flugel horn. Int'l Trumpet Guild Convention, 1992. Recorded by Raymond Mase, Summit Records, 1993.
bulletTRIPTYCH (1991) for solo trumpet and orchestra. Aspen Music Festival 1993, American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall 1995, etc. Recorded Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Mase, soloist (Summit Records, 1/99 release).
bulletSIMPLE LIVES (1990) for orchestra. New Jersey Symphony 1993, Colonial Symphony 1991, etc. Recorded Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Summit Records, 1/99 release).
bulletDISTANT VOICES (1990) for brass quintet. American Brass Quintet, Aspen Music Festival, 1991, plus over sixty touring performances by ABQ. Recorded by American Brass Quintet, Summit Records.
bulletTHREE PORTRAITS (1990) for tuba and chamber orchestra. Commissioned by Scott Mendoker. Recorded Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Scott Mendoker soloist (Summit Records, 1/99 release).
bulletOUR FATHERS ROAD: CANTATA FOR NEW SWEDEN (1989) for narrator, soprano, and ensemble. Vinland Duo, 1989. Recorded by Vinland Duo.
bulletREFLECTIONS ON A DANCE (1988) for fourteen brass and two percussion. Summit Brass Ensemble, Keystone Festival, 1988. Recorded by Summit Brass.
bulletTHE FIGURED WHEEL (1988) for soprano and ensemble. Fiati Chamber Players, Merkin Hall, 1989.
bulletTHE SONG MY PADDLE SINGS (1987) for a cappella chorus. Westminster Choir, 1988.
bulletIN TIME (1988) for bass trombone, piano and percussion. David Titcomb and friends, Merkin Hall, 1988.
bulletPOINTS (1983 rev 1987) for brass octet and percussion. Solid Brass, Alice Tully Hall, 1987.
bulletTHREE CHRISTMAS SCENES (1987) for flute, oboe, horn, cello, piano and chorus. Westminster Singers, 1988.
bulletMORNING MUSIC (1986) for brass quintet. American Brass Quintet. Premiere Aspen Music Festival 1987, over 80 touring performances by ABQ. Recorded by ABQ for Summit Records.
bulletECHOES AND OTHER GHOSTS (1986) for brass quintet. Cathedral Brass Quintet.
bulletFOUR SCENES AND AN EPILOGUE (1984) for soprano, string quartet, and harp. Carolann Page, Atlantic String Quartet, 1984.
bulletBEHOLD HOW GOOD AND LOVELY IT IS (1984) for chorus and organ. Delbarton Singers, 1984.
bulletTHE WAR PRAYER (1984-5) one-act opera for six soloists, SATB chorus, and chamber orchestra. Text by Mark Twain. Premiered 1995 by Princeton Pro Musica.
bulletNINE TIMES MIME (1983) for oboe, harp, and percussion. Paula Ann Page, Tom Fay and members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, 1983.
bulletTRUMPET AND DESCANTS ON CHRISTMAS HYMNS (1983). Published and performed throughout US.
bulletWINTER CEREMONY (1983) for two trumpets and percussion. Numerous performances by various brass ensembles.
bulletTHE BIRTHDAY (1982) for soprano, oboe, cello and harp, Carolann Page and members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, 1982.
bulletFLIGHT (1982) for three trumpets. Published in ITG Journal. Performed world-wide.
bulletPEACE (1981) for a cappella chorus. Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, 1981.
bulletIN MEMORIAM: W.E.S. (1981) for woodwind quintet. Aspen Wind Quintet, multiple touring performances. Recorded by Aspen Wind Quintet.
bulletTRUMPET DESCANTS ON FESTIVE HYMNS (1981). Published, performed extensively.
bulletTHE NOTES FIT TO PRINT (1980) for orchestra. Delbarton School Orchestra, 1981.
bulletCUTTINGS (1980) for Piano.
bulletTHE ENDLESS INSTANT (1980) for clarinet and percussion, unperformed.
bulletLITANY OF BREATH (1980) for solo trumpet. Published in ITG Journal and performed extensively.
bulletFLASHBACK (1980) for percussion quartet. Raymond DeRousche, SUNY Purchase, 1984.
bulletPASSAGE (1979) for viola and flugelhorn, Allen Dean, Banff Music Center, 1988.
bulletPERMIT ME VOYAGE (1978) for viola and piano. 2nd Place Winner 1978 NAMC competition.
bulletO BLESSED FACE (1978) for flute, harp, organ and chorus. Published. Numerous church performance use.
bulletTHE MYSTERIES REMAIN (1978) for trumpet and piano. Charles Schleuter (then principal Boston Symphony) 1984. Recorded by Raymond Mase (Summit Records).
bulletFANFARE FOR CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL (1978) for double brass quintet. Published and performed world-wide by numerous ensembles.
bulletTHE SKEIN (1973) for soprano and piano. Carolann Page, Curtis Institute, 1973.