Short bio Derek Bermel
Full biography Derek Bermel
Derek Bermel is an American composer , clarinetist, and conductor who has been widely praised for his distinct musical voice that blends various genres and styles. He has an extensive and diverse body of work, ranging from orchestral works and chamber music to solo pieces and operas.
Bermel's music has been described as colorful, vibrant, and full of energy, often featuring rhythms and melodies drawn from jazz, blues, folk, and various world music traditions. He is known for his ability to create compelling and innovative musical narratives that push the boundaries of traditional classical music.
Bermel has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Rome Prize in Composition, Guggenheim Fellowship, and Fulbright Fellowship, among others. He has also served as the Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra and has been in residence with several major orchestras and music institutions around the world.
In addition to his career as a composer , Bermel is also an accomplished clarinetist and conductor. He has performed with many leading orchestras and ensembles around the world and has recorded several albums as a soloist and chamber musician.
Overall, Derek Bermel is a highly regarded composer and musician who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His innovative and eclectic style has earned him a devoted following among audiences and critics alike, and he continues to be a major force in the contemporary music scene.
Compositions featuring Derek Bermel
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intonations, for string quartet | 18:53 min | Chamber Music | 2016 |
| 2 | A Short History of the Universe (as related by Nima Arkani-Hamed), for clarinet quintet | 16:50 min | Chamber Music | 2013 |
| 3 | Ritornello, concerto grosso for electric guitar & string orchestra | 13:51 min | Concerto | 2011 |
| 4 | Mar de Setembro, for voice & orchestra | 12:34 min | Vocal Music | 2011 |
| 5 | Canzonas Americanas, for voice & orchestra | 17:46 min | Vocal Music | 2010 |
| 6 | A Shout, a Whisper, and a Trace, for orchestra | 16:29 min | Orchestral | 2009 |
| 7 | Etudes for violin | 13:17 min | Chamber Music | 2009 |
| 8 | Elixir, for clarinet & orchestra | 7:20 min | Orchestral | 2006 |
| 9 | Twin Trio, for flute, clarinet & piano | 12:25 min | Chamber Music | 2006 |
| 10 | Migration Series, for jazz ensemble & orchestra | 29:30 min | Concerto | 2006 |
| 11 | Fetch, for speaker & piano | 7:42 min | Vocal Music | 2004 |
| 12 | Thracian Sketches, for viola & percussion | 8:07 min | Chamber Music | 2003 |
| 13 | Thracian Echoes, for clarinet & orchestra | 19:23 min | Orchestral | 2002 |
| 14 | At the End of the World, for voice & orchestra | 4:16 min | Vocal Music | 2002 |
| 15 | Three Rivers, for orchestra | 11:28 min | Orchestral | 2001 |
| 16 | Soul Garden, for viola, cello & string quartet | 12:43 min | Chamber Music | 2000 |
| 17 | Natural Selection, for voice & orchestra | 13:15 min | Vocal Music | 2000 |
| 18 | Spider Love, for voice & piano | 2:42 min | Vocal Music | 1999 |
| 19 | Coming Together, for clarinet & cello | 5:32 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 20 | Hot Zone, for orchestra | 7:58 min | Orchestral | 1999 |
| 21 | Voices, for clarinet & orchestra | 18:39 min | Orchestral | 1997 |
| 22 | Continental Divide, for orchestra | 8:51 min | Orchestral | 1996 |
| 23 | Turning, variations for piano | 17:02 min | Keyboard | 1994 |
| 24 | SchiZm, for clairnet & piano | 8:02 min | Chamber Music | 1994 |
| 25 | Dust Dances, for clarinet & orchestra | 9:26 min | Orchestral | 1994 |
| 26 | Theme and Absurdities, for clarinet | 4:18 min | Chamber Music | 1993 |
| 27 | Quartet ("I'm Going Down to the Valley"), for string quartet | 6:55 min | Chamber Music | 1992 |
| 28 | Mulatash Stomp, for clarinet, violin & piano | 5:29 min | Chamber Music | 1991 |
| 29 | Wanderings, for wind quintet | 8:27 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 30 | Sorry-Grateful, for piano (after Sondheim) | 6:59 min | Keyboard | - |
| 31 | Murmurations, for string orchestra | 21:19 min | Orchestral | - |
| 32 | MEDITATION, for piano | 1:10 min | Keyboard | - |
| 33 | Kpanlongo, for chorus (after a Phanti folk song from West Africa) | 2:11 min | Choral | - |
| 34 | Kontraphunktus, for piano | 2:31 min | Keyboard | - |
| 35 | Funk Etudes (3), for piano | 6:06 min | Keyboard | - |
| 36 | Dog, for voice & piano | 4:19 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 37 | Dodecaphunk, for piano | 1:50 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Derek Bermel
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Derek Bermel, Christopher Otto, Wiek Hijmans, JACK Quartet – Intonations(CD, Album) | 2022 | Naxos |
| 2 |  |
Shai Wosner - Bermel, Cheung, Harbison, Wang, Iyer – Variations On A Theme By FDR(5×File, FLAC) | 2022 | New Focus Recordings |
| 3 |  |
Derek Bermel, Luciana Souza, Ted Nash, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Albany Symphony, David Alan Miller – Migrations(CD, Album) | 2019 | Naxos |
| 4 |  |
The Scott/Garrison Duo, Shannon Scott (3), Leonard Garrison, John David Earnest, Murray Gross, Harvey Sollberger, Derek Bermel, Daniel Dorff (3), Paul Schoenfeld, Rajung Yang & Melissa Loehnig Simons – Chimera(CD, Album) | 2016 | Albany Records |
| 5 |  |
Derek Bermel, Alarm Will Sound – Canzonas Americanas(CD, Stereo) | 2012 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 6 |  |
Derek Bermel - Derek Bermel, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose – Voices | Dust Dances | Thracian Echoes | Elixir(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Stereo) | 2008 | BMOP/sound |
| 7 |  |
Soul Garden - Chamber Works(CD, Album) | 2002 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 8 |  |
William Bolcom / Derek Bermel - Christopher Taylor (9) – Twelve New Etudes / Turning(CD, ) | 2000 | Jonathan Digital Recordings |
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