Mary Jane Leach
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Postminimalist composer. Mary Jane Leach (b. 12 June 1949)
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Biography
MARY JANE LEACH is a composer/performer whose work reveals a fascination with the physicality of sound, its acoustic properties and how they interact with space. In many of her works Leach creates an other-worldly sound environment using difference, combination, and interference tones; these are tones not actually sounded by the performers, but acoustic phenomena arising from Leach's deft manipulation of intonation and timbral qualities. The result is striking music which has a powerful effect on listeners.
Critics have commented on her ability to "offer a spiritual recharge without the banalities of the new mysticism" (Detroit Free Press), evoking "a visionary quest for inner peace" (Vice Versa Magazine), and "an irridescent lingering sense of suspended time." (Musicworks Magazine)
Leach's music has been performed throughout the world in a variety of settings, from the concert stage to experimental music forums. In recent years Leach has received considerable acclaim for her choral music, which is featured on two CD releases on the XI and New World labels. Drawing on inspirations as diverse as Monteverdi, Bruckner, and 14th century Ars Nova, these pieces "enliven a choral repertoire starved for good contemporary work." (Village Voice). Several are published by C.F. Peters.
Leach has been commissioned by many notable ensembles, including Relâche, The Downtown Ensemble, Newband, and the New York Treble Singers, and by soloists such as Sarah Cahill, Guy Klucevsek, Shannon Peet, and Libby Van Cleve. She has received commissioning awards from the American Composers Forum, the NEA, Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, and many other funders.
Recordings of her work are on the New World, XI, Lovely, and Aerial compact disc labels. Writing about her work has appeared in: American Music in the Twentieth Century by Kyle Gann, La musica minimalista by Paolo Coneteni and Giovanni Antognozzi, The New Generation of Mystery/Kunstler des XXI Jahrhunderts by Maria de Alvear, and Het Tweede Thema of de Verwaarloosde Geschiedenis van de Componerende Vrouw by Simonne Claeys. She has been featured in articles in Pulse!, Option Magazine, Kölnische Rundschau, and on German television.
In 1995 Leach was selected for a prestigious grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, which was established by Jasper Johns and John Cage to support innovative artists in the performing arts. She has recently moved out of New York City to upstate New York where she has bought an old church (with good acoustics), where she lives and presents concerts.
Major Works
"The Crane Dance (2002) 5:00, for soprano soloist and 8 women's voices a cappella
"The Sacred Dance" (1999) 5:45, for soprano and string quartet
"Ceremony of the Bull" (1998) 9:00, for mixed chorus (SSAATB) and string quartet
"Call of the Dance" (1997) 10:00, for soprano soloist and 8 women's voices a cappella (SSSSAAAA)
"O Magna Vasti Creta" (1997) 9:15, for 8 women's voices (SSSSAAAA) and string quartet
"Song of Sorrows" (1995) 8:00, for mixed chorus a cappella (SSAATB)
"Windjammer" (1995) 10:15; for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon
"Tricky Pan" (1995) 9:30, for solo countertenor and 8 taped tenors/countertenors, text by Solage
"Xantippe's Rebuke" (1993) 9:20, for solo oboe and 8 taped oboes
"Ariadne's Lament" (1993) 8:15, for 8 women's voices a cappella (SSSSAAAA)
"Feu de Joie" (1992) 8:50, for solo basson and 6 taped bassoons
"Kirchtraum" (1992) 23:00, hörspiel (sound piece) for radio (WDR)
"Bare Bones" (1989) 8:15, for 4 trombones or bass trombones
"Bruckstück" (1989) 12:45, for women's chorus a cappella (SSSSAAAA)
"Pipe Dreams" (1989) 23:30, for organ
"Mountain Echoes" (1987) 11:05, for 8 womenâs voices a cappella (SSSSAAAA)
"Ariel's Song" (1987) 10:50, for 8 womenâs voices a cappella (SSSSAAAA)
"Lake Eden" (1986) 20:00, for open instrumentation
"Green Mountain Madrigal" (1985) 8:45, for 8 womenâs voices a cappella (SSSSAAAA)
"Trio for Duo" (1985) 10:10, for live alto flute and voice and taped alto flute and voice
"4BC" (1984) 18:45, for 4 bass clarinets
"Note Passing Note" (1981) 14:15, for solo womanâs voice and 2 taped womenâs voices
Publications
Recordings
"Downtown Only" (2002) The DownTown Ensemble; Lovely Music LCD 3081 (Bare Bones)
"Ariadne's Lament" (1998) New York Treble Singers, Cassatt String Quartet, Rooke Chapel Choir, Arlene Travis, David Lee Echelard, Libby Van cleve, Klyph Johnson, Patrick Burton; New World 80525-2 (O Magna Vasti Creta, Call of the Dance, Windjammer, Tricky Pan, Ariadne's Lament, Song of Sorrows)
"Aerial, Issue #6" (1994) Libby Van Cleve; The Aerial AER 6 (Xantippe's Rebuke)
"Celestial Fires" (1993) New York Treble Singers, Shannon Peet, Barbara Held, Mary Jane Leach; XI 107 (Bruckstück, Feu de Joie, Green Mountain Madrigal, Mountain Echoes, Trio for Duo, Ariel's Song)
"¿Who Stole the Polka?" (1992) Guy Klucevsek; Wave/Eva WWCX 2037 (Guy de Polka)
External Links
