| Instrumentation: | Wind Quintet |
| Ingredient: | The Jetsons motif by Hoyt Curtin |
| Performers: | Marcia Kamper (flute), Darci Gamerl (oboe), John Klinghammer* (clarinet), Kate Arceneaux (horn), Adam Trussell (bassoon) |
| Judges: | William Daugherty, John Klinghammer, Thomas Wilkins |
| Chairman: | Ken Bales |
| Top Prize: | Luke Furman, Iron Composer |
The first installment of Iron Composer took place at Analog Arts’ new music festival ARTSaha!, which ran in Omaha from 2004–2008. The theme for the 2007 festival was Futurism, and while brainstorming about what would make for a good secret ingredient, the idea of The Jetsons came up. Hoyt Curtin’s iconic theme song for the animated series is not only instantly recognizable, it’s also musically curious, because of its raised 4th. The possibilities for a composer dealing with this simple motif are endless.
Timothy Vallier, 2nd Prize ($250)
David von Kampen, 3rd Prize ($100)
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Colin Breen (2007) competed as an undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His entry in the competition was Meet George. |
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Mark Diischer (2007, 2nd Prize) competed as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He now lives in Minneapolis as a freelance musician. |
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Luke Furman (2007, Winner) studied composition under Lance Hulme, Marvin Lamb, and Konstantinos Karathanasis at the University of Oklahoma. He won the original Iron Composer competition with his piece Propeller Z. |
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David Von Kampen (2007, 3rd Prize) is a DMA candidate in music composition and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kansas. He previously studied at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been commissioned by the Vancouver Chamber Choir. |
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Timothy Vallier (2007) is a composer, media specialist, vocalist and technology enthusiast. After earning degrees at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, he began his doctoral studies at SUNY Stony Brook. |
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William Dougherty (2007) is the Ellis and Nelle Levitt Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Drake University. His orchestral and band works are published by MMB Publishers and much of his solo and chamber music is published by Heilman Music. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in music theory from The Ohio State University. |
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John Klinghammer (2007) currently holds the position of Assistant Principal/Eb clarinet with the Omaha Symphony. Before arriving in Omaha, he served a one-year stint as 2nd/Bass clarinet with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He has also been principal clarinet of the Des Moines Symphony, and a member of the National Repertory Orchestra. |
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Thomas Wilkins (2007) is Music Director of the Omaha Symphony, Resident Conductor of the Detroit Symphony, and Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He continues to make frequent appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, and the New Jersey Symphony. |
Luke Furman, Propeller Z (1st Prize)
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Mark Diischer, Jetting Atmospheres (2nd Prize)
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David von Kampen, In the Sky (3rd Prize)
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Colin Breen, Meet George
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Timothy Vallier, Glass Factory
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Scenes from Iron Composer 2007:
Iron Composer winner Luke Furman
Judges
Emcee Hal France
The first year of Iron Composer was made possible by University of Nebraska at Omaha professor Ken Bales, who had just received an award from the Robert M. Spire Endowment of the Nebraska Fund. The competition was only open to Nebraska residents between the ages of 18 and 26.
In hindsight, it is hard to believe that the work of the finalists was programmed as the first half of a program anchored by wind quintet, featuring works by Ligeti, Feldman, Bresnick, and Radiohead. Hal France was even going to narrate Berio’s Opus Number Zoo, and the evening was going to conclude with an open-ended, spatialized performance of Harold Budd and Brian Eno’s ambient music.
As the first half of the program progressed, Analog directors Joe Drew and Dolf Kamper realized how interesting the Iron Composer format was. Rather than cut it short, they let the judges’ comments and the interactions with the finalists go well into overtime, as they furiously crossed off pieces in the rest of the program. Only the Berio and a new work by Ken Bales were performed after a short break, and Iron Composer became its own separate event.
Here is what the original program looked like:
Performances and judging of submissions by Iron Composer Finalists Colin Breen, Luke Furman, Mark Diischer, David von Kampen, Timothy James Vallier
| John CAGE/Lou HARRISON/Virgil THOMSON | Party Piece No. 8 |
| Henry COWELL | Floating (arr. Drew) |
| CAGE/HARRISON/THOMSON | Party Piece No. 6 |
| György LIGETI | Six Bagatelles |
| CAGE/HARRISON/THOMSON | Party Piece No. 5 |
| Martin BRESNICK | Just Time |
| Radiohead | Creep (arr. D. Kamper) |
| CAGE/HARRISON/THOMSON | Party Piece No. 9 |
| Luciano BERIO | Opus Number Zoo |
| CAGE/HARRISON/THOMSON | Party Piece No. 11 |
| Wayne SHORTER | Footprints (arr. D. Kamper) |
| Kenton BALES | Dancing on Tuesday (world premiere) |
| Morton FELDMAN | Samoa |
| Duke ELLINGTON | Mood Indigo (arr. Drew) |
| Harold BUDD/Brian ENO | Ambient 1&2: Music for Airports/The Plateaux of Mirror (arr. Drew) |
