Jonathan Russell (composer)

{{Infobox musical artist

| genre = Classical

| occupation = Composer

| instrument = {{hlist|Bass clarinet|clarinet}}

| years_active =

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Edmund Welles|Sqwonk{{LCAuth|no2010099666|Sqwonk||}}}}

| label = {{hlist|SNOtone||Innova|EMI|MSR Classics}}

| notable_instruments =

|website=http://jonrussellmusic.com}}

Jonathan Russell (born 1979) is an American composer of classical music, clarinetist, and bass clarinetist. Russell was the founder of the Switchboard Music Festival, which will hold its 10th anniversary in the summer of 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amoeba.com/blog/2017/05/people-s-republic-of-northern-california/san-francisco-s-switchboard-music-festival-featuring-kronos-quartet-june-10.html|title=San Francisco's Switchboard Music Festival Featuring Kronos Quartet, June 10|website=Amoeblog|language=en-us|access-date=2018-02-03}}{{Cite news|url=http://thebaybridged.com/2016/06/16/tyondai-braxton-ex-battles-leads-saturdays-switchboard-music-festival/|title=Tyondai Braxton (ex-Battles) leads Saturday's Switchboard Music Festival - The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music|last=Van Houten|first=Ben|date=2016-06-16|work=The Bay Bridged - San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203125026/http://thebaybridged.com/2016/06/16/tyondai-braxton-ex-battles-leads-saturdays-switchboard-music-festival/|url-status=dead}} His primary teachers have included Paul Lansky, Barbara White, Steve Mackey, Elinor Armer, and Eric Ewazen.

Career

= Composer =

Russell has been commissioned by, worked with, and written for ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, Prism Quartet, Symphony Number One, Empyrian Ensemble, Wild Rumpus, Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, and the JACK Quartet.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/22/arts/music/classical-opera-listings-for-may-22-28.html|title=Classical & Opera Listings for May 22–28|date=2015-05-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/nyregion/events-in-new-jersey-for-april-13-19-2014.html|title=Events in New Jersey for April 13-19, 2014|date=2014-04-10|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

The Imani Winds has a long-term relationship with Mr. Russell through the wind quintets Legacy Commissioning Project, which has led to three large scale arrangements of orchestral works for woodwind quintet.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imaniwinds.com/legacy-commissioning-project/|title=Legacy Commissioning Project|website=Imani Winds|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-03}}

= Clarinet and bass clarinet =

== Soloist ==

A frequent composer for various clarinets, Russell frequently solos as a bass clarinetist, performing his own and other works. Among his own works, he premiered his Sonata for Bass Clarinet and Piano with pianist Kate Campbell which Campbell herself commissioned.{{Cite web|url=https://jonrussellmusic.com/works/sonata-for-bass-clarinet-and-piano/|title=Sonata for Bass Clarinet and Piano {{!}} Jonathan Russell|website=jonrussellmusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-03}} Mr. Russell's performance of Debussy's Premiere Rhapsody was noted for giving, “increasing energy, leading to a smashingly tangy conclusion from a lurking opening. Russell is a real virtuoso with true command over his instrument’s range of expression…”{{Cite news|url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/arts/2014-03-28/peninsula-symphony-rises-to-musical-challenge/1776425120491.html|title=Oeninsula Symphony Rises to Musical Challenge|last=Bratman|first=David|date=March 28, 2014|work=The San Mateo Daily Journal|access-date=2018-02-03|archive-date=2015-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920163939/http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/arts/2014-03-28/peninsula-symphony-rises-to-musical-challenge/1776425120491.html|url-status=dead}}

== Sqwonk ==

Along with his partner Jeff Anderle, the bass clarinet duo Sqwonk performed in the San Francisco area.{{Cite web|url=http://therehearsalstudio.blogspot.com/2016/07/jonathan-russell-provides-engaging.html|title=The Rehearsal Studio: Jonathan Russell Provides Engaging Music for the Latest Garret + Moulton Premiere|last=Smoliar|first=Stephen|date=2016-07-29|website=The Rehearsal Studio|access-date=2018-02-03}} The ensemble has self-released several albums of original music for bass clarinet duo as well as works for small ensemble.{{Cite news|url=https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/sounds-heard-sqwonk-black/|title=Sounds Heard: Sqwonk—Black|date=2010-07-13|work=NewMusicBox|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}

== Edmund Welles ==

Sqwonk members Anderle and Russell join with Cornelius Boots and Aaron Novik to form quartet Edmund Welles: The Bass Clarinet Quartet which themselves also have their own discography.{{cite web|title=Edmund Welles: the bass clarinet quartet|url=http://www.chamber-music.org/pdf/encore/Boots.pdf|website=Chamber Music America|accessdate=26 April 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195712/http://www.chamber-music.org/pdf/encore/Boots.pdf|url-status=dead}}

List of works

= Original works =

...and the Beast{{VIAF|180533713}}
...in the fir trees: fireflies{{Cite news|url=http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/string-quartet-smackdown-in-austin/|title=String Quartet Smackdown! In Austin|last=Sigler|first=Andrew|date=2012-11-28|work=NewMusicBox|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}
Bass Clarinet Concerto{{Cite web|url=http://www.towntopics.com/wordpress/2014/10/22/princeton-university-orchestra-unveils-2014-15-ensemble-in-concerto-performance/|title=Princeton University Orchestra Unveils 2014-15 Ensemble in Concerto Performance {{!}} Town Topics|last=Plum|first=Nancy|website=www.towntopics.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-03}}
Bass Clarinet Double Concerto
Claremont Suite{{OCLC|870153244}}
Groove: for Bass Clarinet Solo{{OCLC|819626771}}
Eleven{{OCLC|752588318}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wqxr.org/story/switchboards-new-music-mixtape/|title=A Taste of San Francisco's Switchboard Music Festival|work=WQXR|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}
KlezDuo (2005){{LCAuth|no2010099672|KlezDuo||}}
Lament and Frippery{{Cite web|url=http://wildrumpusmusic.org/jonathan-russell-interview/|title=Wild Rumpus|website=wildrumpusmusic.org|access-date=2018-02-03}}
Light Cathedral{{Cite web|url=http://jonrussellmusic.com/composition/|title=Composition {{!}} Jonathan Russell|website=jonrussellmusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-03}}
Octet{{VIAF|295034143}}
O Cool is the Valley Now
Rain Has Fallen
Repetitive Stress{{Cite news|url=http://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2012/04/switchboard-music-festival-2012-at-brava-theater/|title=Switchboard Music Festival 2012 at Brava Theater|last=Walsh|first=Kelsey|date=2012-04-12|work=I CARE IF YOU LISTEN|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/tangents-guitar-series/living-earth-show-a-striking-vision|title=Living Earth Show: A Striking Vision|last=Cmiel|first=Scott|work=San Francisco Classical Voice|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}
Sonata for Bass Clarinet and Piano{{Cite news|title=Review: Redshift at the Gershwin Hotel|last=Gilman|first=Seth|work=New York Music Culture Examiner|language=en-US}}
String Quartet{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/musical-marathon|title=Musical Marathon|last=Moalem|first=Beeri|work=San Francisco Classical Voice|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}
Supra{{OCLC|869921409}}
Technobabble{{OCLC|234315454}}
Twelve Bean Groove Machine{{Cite news|url=http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/Dialing-it-up-at-the-Switchboard-Music-Festival/|title=Dialing it up at the Switchboard Music Festival|last=Cmiel|first=Matthew|date=2011-04-08|work=NewMusicBox|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://bostonclassicalreview.com/2013/04/boston-new-music-initiative-serves-up-a-bracing-array-of-works/|title=Boston Classical Review » Blog Archive » Boston New Music Initiative serves up a bracing array of works|last=Keebaugh|first=Aaron|website=bostonclassicalreview.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-03}}

= Arrangements =

Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade
Holst: The Planets
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring{{Cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2013/07/classical_review_imani_winds_a.html|title=Classical review: Imani Winds at Kaul Auditorium|last=McQuillen|first=James|date=July 3, 2013|work=The Oregonian|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/imani-winds-emma-willard-school-32412/22453/|title=Imani Winds @ Emma Willard School|last=Dalton|first=Joseph|date=2012-03-25|work=Arts Talk|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2013/04/imani_winds_triumph_in_new_orl.html|title=Imani Winds triumph in New Orleans, tapping jazz and classical styles with soul and savvy|last=Waddington|first=Chris|date=2013-03-09|work=Times Picayune|access-date=2018-02-03|language=en-US}}

Discography

{{Discography list

| Type = Live

| Name = More

| Other info = Symphony Number One

| from Album =

| Released = 2016{{cite web|title=More|url=https://symphonynumber.one/more/|website=Symphony Number One|accessdate=3 February 2018}}{{cite web |last=Woolever |first=Lydia |title=Music Reviews: February 2017 - The latest from PLRLS and Symphony Number One. |work=Baltimore |date=February 8, 2017 |url=http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2017/2/8/music-reviews-latest-plrls-symphony-number-one |accessdate=February 9, 2017}}

| Format = CD

| Label = SNOtone ST03

| Writer =

| Writers = Jonathan Russell, Andrew Posner, Natalie Draper

| Producer = Dan Rorke, Jordan Randall Smith

| Director =

| Chart position =

| Sales =

| Certification =

| Tracks = “Light Cathedral”, “The Pro used Burning”, “Timelapse Variations”

| Bonus tracks =

| Singles =

}}

{{Discography list

| Type = Studio

| Name = The Valley Sings: Choral Music by Composers of the Hudson Valley

| Other info = Kairos

| from Album =

| Released = 2013{{OCLC|819588410}}

| Format = CD

| Label = MSR Classics

| Writer =

| Writers = Aaron Copland, James Fitzwilliam, Craig Fryer, John B Hedges, Edward Lundergan, Panaiotis, Jonathan Russell, Peter Schickele, Peter Sipple, George Tsontakis, and Shirley Hoffman Warren

| Producer =

| Director =

| Chart position =

| Sales =

| Certification =

| Tracks = "Rain Has Fallen", "O Cool is the Valley Now"

| Bonus tracks =

| Singles =

}}

{{Discography list

| Type = Studio

| Name = High Art

| Other info = The Living Earth Show

| from Album =

| Released = 2013{{cite web|last1=Living Earth Show|first1=The|title=High Art|url=https://www.innova.mu/albums/living-earth-show/high-art|website=Innova|accessdate=3 February 2018}}

| Format = CD

| Label = Innova 863

| Writer =

| Writers = Timo Andres, Samuel Carl Adams, Jonathan Russell, Adrian Knight

| Producer =

| Director =

| Chart position =

| Sales =

| Certification =

| Tracks = ”You Broke It, You Bought It”, “Tension Study No. 1”, “Repetitive Stress”, “Family Man”

| Bonus tracks =

| Singles =