Premiere Commission Recordings is the official label of Premiere Commission, Inc. The label is devoted to releasing new recordings that highlight the works of important and innovative composers from the past and present.
Upcoming releases include a world premiere recording devoted to the work of award-winning composer Lisa Bielawa and the release of a new CD featuring Grammy Award-winning composer William Bolcom's New York Lights and Philip Glass's Suite from "Dracula".
In 2006, Orange Mountain Music released Bruce Levingston's CD "Portraits" featuring the world premiere recording of Philip Glass's A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close originally commissioned by Premiere Commission, Inc. The recording, which includes Glass's musical forebears Messiaen, Ravel and Satie, received international critical acclaim. To read the full program notes please click here (or print notes below). It is available on this site through paypal.
The idea for A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close occurred to me just before I played a concert in The Rockefeller University's Caspary Hall. Outside the hall's foyer hangs one of artist Chuck Close's iconic renderings of Philip Glass. As I looked at it, I kept thinking about how Chopin and Liszt had been drawn and painted by the great artists of their day such as Delacroix and Ingres and also how many of the Romantic composers had in turn brilliantly portrayed their friends and contemporaries through their music. I thought, "Glass has to compose a portrait of Close." About a month later, a fortuitous meeting occurred. I met both Chuck Close and Philip Glass at a reception in New York. I immediately told Glass about seeing his portrait at the hall and my idea for a portrait of Close. He seemed genuinely moved and immediately accepted the project.
TRACKS:
1. A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close - Movement I
2. A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close - Movement II
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3. La vallee des cloches
4. Alborada del gracioso
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5. L'echange
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6. Regard de la Vierge
7. L'Alouette Lulu
8. Sarabande No. 2
9. Gynossienne No. 4
10. Gymnopedie No. 1
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