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ANDY TEIRSTEIN
Bio
Compositions
Acclaim
Bio
Composer Andy Teirstein's work is inspired by the rich and diverse folk roots of modern culture. His music has been described by The New York Times and The Village Voice as "magical," "ingenious," and "superbly crafted." A student of Leonard Bernstein, Henry Brant, and David Del Tredici, Teirstein writes music for the concert hall, film, theater, and dance. He is the recipient of the 2008 New York Foundaton for the Arts Music Composition Fellowship, and the American Composer Forum Continental Harmony commission, among other awards. Teirstein has composed several film scores, including "Men", for BBC and "Margaret Sanger", for PBS, and was a music consultant/composer for the critically acclaimed documentary series "The West", Produced by Ken Burns and Insignia Films, also aired on PBS. A prolific writer for the theater, Teirstein has scored, arranged, and directed a number of musical theater pieces, including "Papushko", which won a Richard Rodgers Development Award; "Winter Man", recipient of the NEA Opera/Musical Theater Award (1993,1991), which he scored, arranged, and co-wrote with Cheyenne poet Lance Henson and which was presented by La Mama Experimental Theater Company in February 1995, and "Skels", which also recieved an NEA Opera/Musical Theater Award in 1994. "The Wild", a music/theater/dance work written, composed, and directed by Teirstein, premiered at La Mama in June, 1996.In recent years, Teirstein's eclectic background which includes acting, clown work, and performance art in addition to musical composition and performance has led him to extremely successful collaborations with a number of choreographers. These include Donald Byrd, Stephen Petronio, Phyllis Lamhut, Liz Lerman, Sara Pearson, Nina Wiener, Patricia Nanon, and Randy Warshaw. The Village Voice has said that Teirstein's music seems to speak in celestial accents of some utopia whose chief industry is dancing. His work has been heard at The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, Lincoln Center, and P.S. 122, as well as abroad in France, Italy, Holland and Belgium. His recent score for Liz Lerman/The Dance Exchange, commissioned by The University of Arizona, was a polychoral work with recorded and live musicians, and premiered in March, 2000 at Centennial Hall in Tucson.Teirstein received a BA in music from Bennington College, where he studied composition with Henry Brant. In 1984 he received an MFA as a member of the first class of the New York University Musical Theater Program, where he studied with Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and others. He has expanded his musical background and instrumental expertise by learning Irish fiddle tunes in the pubs of Ireland; traveling around the United States and Mexico, studying with Hopi and Cheyenne Indians, performing as a musical clown with a Mexican circus; and journeying to Rumania and Bulgaria on an Artslink Fellowship to collect traditional music. Teirstein's first orchestral work, "Scarecrow", was performed in Bennington, Vermont by the Sage City Symphony. His CD "Mannahatta", a collection of chamber works and music for dance, was released in August 1992, and is regularly featured on National Public Radios New Sounds program. His viola concerto, "Maramures", was recorded by the Czech Radio Symphony in Prague with soloist Karen Dreyfus, ( Masterworks Recordings) , and by soloist Danelle Farina with the Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra (Naxos of America). Teirstein has received numerous grants, awards and honors, including a Meet the Composer Choreographer/Composer Commission; three NEA Opera/Musical Theater Awards; Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust Awards; two New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships; a MacDowell Fellowship; and numerous ASCAP awards. He is currently Associate Arts Professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Teirstein's newest CD, "Open Crossings," was released by Naxos Records in August, 2009.
Compositions
Recent Music (Partial List)2011Letter from WoodyA 17-minute piece for orchestra, folk singer, and dancer. Based on a letter from legendary folk balladeer Woody Guthrie to Marha Graham dancer Marjorie Mazia2010Restless NationComposed for the Cassatt String QuartetPremiere Feb 25th, 2010 Symphony Space, New York2009Shapes in BrassComposed for choreography by Diane Coburn BruningPremiere: New York University's Tisch School of the ArtsDance Department Theater, November2008Three Movements for String Quartet and Folk MusicianComposed for the Cassatt Quartet2007The Shooting of Dan McGrew A Melodrama for Piano, Chamber ensemble, and narrator, based on the Robert Service poem. (Publisher: Animal Stone Productions, 2007) Turn Me Loose Piano Trio Premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Feb, 2007, by The Alaria Ensemble (Yuri Vodovoz, Vn, Diliana Momthilovna, Vc, Nancy Garniez, Pno.)(Publisher: Animal Stone Productions, 2007)2006Throw PeopleChoreographed by Chris Elam. Premiere May, 2006, PS 122, NYCIncidental music for soprano sax (Peck Allmond), marimba (Diana Herold), Mandolin, harmonicas, and bowed psaltry (the composer).2005Beyond the Mirror Theatrical ScoreBond Street Theater Coalition, Premiere, Theater for the New City, NYC, Feb, 2005Kopanitza Duo for Violin and ViolaPremiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, performed by Yuri Vodovoz, violin, and Andy Teirstein, viola. (Publisher: Animal Stone Productions, 2005)Invention for Six Instruments Instrumentation: Violin, Cello, Flute, Oboe, Mandolin, GuitarPremiered by the Cygnus Ensemble, Elebash Recital Hall, New York City, 3/05(Animal Stone Productions, 2005)The Welcome Table Composition for Viola. Recorded by the composer. Directed/Choreographed by Marta Renzi for Digital Video Disc.Accustomed to TravellingComposed for performance by singer Naaz Hosseini (formerly of Meredith Monks Company, The House,) and violist Andy Teirstein. Choreographed by Jim Martin. Text: Mahmoud DarwishPremiered at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dance Faculty Workshop. Nov, 04Music for Dance (Partial list)Accustomed To TravellingChoreographed by Jim Martin. Premiere November, 2004, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dance Faculty Workshop Performance.Traces oF BrushCommissioned by Temple University for Choreographer Kun yang LinPremiere The Yard, Chilmark, Ma, 2004Men in SuitsCommissioned by Chris Elam. Premiere 2004, PS 122, New York CityHarold and the Purple CrayonChoreographed by Cherylyn Lavagnino. Premiered 2003 New York UniversityWho Will Roll Away the Stone?Commissioned by Mary Seidman. Premiered 2004, Merce Cunningham StudioUneasy DancesCommissioned by The Liz Lerman Dance ExchangePremiere - Danspace, New York City 2002HallelujahCommissioned by The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and the University of Arizona. Premiere - Centennial Hall, Tucson, AZ. March, 2000Par TerreCommissioned by Terry Creach and DancersPremiere - Wave Hill, 1998The BeastCommissioned by Donald Byrd/The GroupPremiere- BAM Majestic Theater, NYC April, 1996Rhapsody for Boy Soprano and StringsCommissioned by Stephen Petronio Danco Co., Inc.Premiere - The Joyce Theater, NYC April, 1996Deadly SinsCommissioned by Phyllis LamhutPremiere-Dance Theater Workshop, NYC March, 1995Music for FilmTHE MINDS JOURNEY - documentary, MUSE Film and Television, 2001A LITTLE TOUR OF MANHATTAN - Producer/Director Alister Sanderson, 2001WELCOME TO WILLIEWORLD - WillieWorld Productions, Dir. Scott Saunders, 2001MEN - BBC, 1997-Choreography by Victoria MarksMARGARET SANGER - documentary for PBS, 1997-8MASTERS OF SPACE - Documentary pilot on Chinese Scroll Painting. RM Prods, 1996THE WEST - PBS Mini-series. Music consultant and contributing composer, 1993-6THORN WEB FOR IRENE - Olga Hiiva, Director, 1994THE SYSTEM WORKS - Dan Walworth, Director, 1989DINOSAUR - Uriel Grunfeld, Director, 1985Original Theater Works (partial list)BEYOND THE MIRROR Music, Theater for the New City, NYC 2005SOON OF A MORNIN, Music Director, Arranger. The Lions Theater, NYC 2005THE ALAMO PIECE - Music - INTAR Theater, NYC 2002THE WILD - Book, Music - La MaMa E.T.C., NYC, 1996Loosely based on the journals of Thoreau and Defoes Robinson Crusoe. FLOATING RHODA AND THE GLUE MAN - Music - Home for Cont. Theater, 1995Book by Eve Ensler WINTER MAN - Book, Music - La MaMa E.T.C., 1995Winner of 1993 and 1991 NEA Opera-Musical Theater FellowshipsCOYOTE ROAD - Music - Premiere-Mad River Theater Works, Ohio, 1992PAPUSHKO - Book, Music, and Lyrics - Premiere at the Collonades Theater, NYC, 1984A full-length original musical with a cast of 11. Winner of the 1984 Richard Rodgers AwardOrchestral MusicLANDSCAPE CHANGING - American Composers Forum Continental Harmony Commission. Wa, 2000MARAMURES - Viola Concerto. Recorded by the Czech Radio Symphony for Master Musicians, 1997SCARECROW - Premiered by the Sage City Symphony, Vermont, 1979Recordings (Partial list)WELCOME TO WILLIEWORLD, Animal Stone Productions, 2001WINTER MAN Animal Stone Productions, 2000MARAMURES, on MMC Orchestral Miniatures, Vol. IV. Released January 1999RHAPSODY FOR BOY SOPRANO AND STRINGS 1996THE BEAST 1996MANNAHATTA Animal Stone Productions 1993Acting/Performance (Partial list)WOODY GUTHRIES AMERICAN SONG Actor/Musician - English Theater, Vienna, Austria 95SOPHIE'S CHOICE - Feature Film. "Bert" (small principle) 1982SEARCH FOR TOMORROW - Daytime serial-Appeared in five episodes, 1982BARNUM - Member of original Broadway cast, 1980-82
Acclaim
"It all works, reminding us that political heat placed beneath art can sometimes burn it to a crisp. 'Winter Man' employs the cool hand of technique. Audience members leave the theater moved and troubled precisely because they have been made to see clearly."Bernard Holland, THE NEW YORK TIMES"...rhythmically hypnotic, richly melodic...Teirstein's almost singable Quartet for Strings and Marimba is one of the finest pieces of music for dance I've heard..." Burt Supree, THE VILLAGE VOICE"Teirstein did well in merging music, movement and text into a sensate whole. The sense of inner discovery was heightened with each increment of performance."OFF-OFF BROADWAY REVIEW"The jazz rhythms of Mr. Teirstein's magically atmospheric score..."Anna Kisselgoff, THE NEW YORK TIMES"Andy Teirstein's vivid score is first rate..."Jennifer Dunning, THE NEW YORK TIMES"...seems to speak in celestial accents of some utopia whose chief industry is dancing."Deborah Jowitt, THE VILLAGE VOICEMr. Petronio is as lucky in his composer, Andy Teirstein, as he is in his dancers. Much of the satisfyingly thick texture of the group section of Drawn That Way comes from the blend of string music and the shifts from dark, earthy urgency to the floating purity of the voices.Jennifer Dunning, THE NEW YORK TIMESThe score [for Donald Byrds The Beast is often touching. The musical feel is mostly early Kurt Weill or Paul Dessau as played by the band at any Viennese cafe.Octavio Roca, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLEAndy Teirsteins score is an effective anthology that begins with cantorial pronouncements, skims through Eastern European klezmer intonations and even takes a detour into a little scat singing...Debra Cash, THE BOSTON GLOBE"In Andy Teirstein's splendid score mingle the principal currents of Australian culture:subtly altered British Isles folk gives way to the sounds of the aboriginal didgeridoo. Sometimes your ear gets signals of city life; sometimes barking and howling pierces through a shimmer of music to carry us to the vastness of the bush."Deborah Jowitt, THE VILLAGE VOICE"...glimmering, restless score..Faust's concentration paralleled the sudden quiet and edgy undercurrentof Teirstein's aural environment."Robert Sandla, THE NATIVE"...a tumultuously exhuberant score by Andy Teirstein"Jennifer Dunning, THE NEW YORK TIMES
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