Alexandra du Bois

Origin| Virginia Beach, Virginia
Genres| Classical
Contemporary classical
Occupation(s)| Composer, musician
Instrument(s)| Violin, piano
Years active| 1999–present
Website| www.AlexandraduBois.com

Musical artist

Alexandra du Bois (/duː ˈbwɑː/; born August 16, 1981) is an American composer, violinist and educator who has received international critical acclaim for her chamber, orchestral and vocal compositions. She currently lives in New York and Vermont.

## Biography

[edit]

Born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1981, du Bois later moved to rural, south-eastern Virginia with her parents at the age thirteen. After moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, she began her formal training in composition with Osvaldo Golijov, Howard Frazin, and David Patterson and continued her training on violin with Lynn Chang and Sophie Vilker. At age sixteen, she began studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the Longy School of Music. She credits the solitude of the ocean and rural farmland as a child to her first impetus to start composing.[1]

A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree, respectively, du Bois began her earliest musical training on the violin at age two with Suzanne Schreck. While at Indiana University, she studied under the direction of composers Sven-David Sandström, Claude Baker and Don Freund and violinists Federico Agostini and Henryk Kowalski; at Juilliard, du Bois' sole teacher in composition was Christopher Rouse.[2]

Du Bois has previously been composer-in-residence at Carnegie Hall through The Weill Music Institute's Professional Training Workshop: Kronos: Signature Works,[3] Dartmouth College, Mammoth Lakes Music Festival, and Merkin Concert Hall through the Zoom: Composers Close Up series. In 2010, du Bois was composer-in-residence with Southwest Chamber Music throughout L.A. and Vietnam[4] which preceded an artist residency at the Harrison House in Joshua Tree.[5]

## Du Bois' music

[edit]

Alexandra du Bois in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010
(bottom right)

The music of du Bois appears to consistently attract commissions of commemorative connotation; in honor of the 35th anniversary of the University Chorus at the University of Massachusetts – Boston in 2000, du Bois was commissioned to write Our Eyes for double a cappella choir; in honor of Kronos Quartet's 30th anniversary in 2003, du Bois was commissioned to write her first string quartet. Chosen from among the work of more than 300 composers from 32 countries as the inaugural recipient of the Kronos: Under 30 Project,[6] du Bois wrote String Quartet: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind for Kronos Quartet which she cites as a protest to the U.S . led invasion of Iraq.[7][8] New York City's Kaufman Center commissioned du Bois' Cloud Watching in honor of their 50th anniversary in 2004; The Beaux Arts Trio commissioned her first piano trio (L'apothesose d'un reve) in honor of their 50th anniversary in 2004;[9] Bargemusic commissioned Soleil sur Mer as part of their 30th anniversary celebration in 2007;[10] during the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the city of Hanoi in 2010, du Bois' Within Earth, Wood Grows for chamber orchestra was premiered at the Hanoi Opera House by Southwest Chamber Music on March 19, 2010. Du Bois was Composer-in-Residence with Southwest Chamber Music in connection with their Ascending Dragon Music Festival.[11]

In July 2011, Du Bois was commissioned by cellist Wendy Sutter (of Songs and Poems by Philip Glass) for a multi-movement cello work,"[2] the Savannah Music Festival for a second chamber work commission featuring violinist Daniel Hope, Present Music and PALS Children's Chorus for choral/instrument works, and the Anchorage Symphony and Cabrillo Festival Orchestra for orchestral works. Alexandra du Bois' compositions have been performed on five continents at venues including Carnegie Hall, New York; Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; Barbican Hall, London; Théâtre de la Ville, Paris; Kursaal Centre, San Sebastian; Smetana Hall, Prague; Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos Aires and Hanoi Opera House, Hanoi, Vietnam, De Oosterpoort, Groningen and Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, Eindhoven.

On March 12th, 2020, Du Bois's work "Heron. Rain. Blossom." had its world premiere at the Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center in New York.[12] The work was held at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when many theaters were closing down and going dark. Subsequently, this was the last live performance, at Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center, until the end of the pandemic lockdown and a long hiatus from live performances.[13]

### Night Songs

[edit]

Du Bois' third string quartet, Night Songs (Nachtliederen), also commissioned by Kronos Quartet, was composed from inspiration received from the letters and diaries of Holocaust victim Etty Hillesum.[14] As explained by NewMusicBox.com, "The music born of this was starkly touching, conveying the complexity of individual human darkness rather than the epic turmoil of nations in a time of genocide."[15] Du Bois stated of the nature and title of the same composition: “Night can represent the darkness of that time, of humanity, but it also represents the unconscious. Etty Hillesum was always uplifting—she was almost always singing a song. She had an incredible sense of inner light.”[14] In 2004, du Bois received a grant from The Netherland-America Foundation and traveled throughout the Netherlands and Poland to retrace Hillesum's footsteps in preparation for writing the quartet. Kronos Quartet presented the New York premiere of du Bois' third string quartet alongside the world premiere of Henryk Gorecki's third string quartet ("...songs are sung") at Carnegie Hall on March 24, 2005.[15]

## Compositions

[edit]

Chamber

* (1999) Mirrors:trio for violin, cello and double bass
* (1999) Sonata for violin and piano ("The Storm")
* (2001) String Quintet: A Requiem for the Living for two violins, viola and two double basses'[14]
* (2003) String Quartet: Oculus pro oculu totum orbem terrae caecat
(An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind)[16]
* (2003) Tempête de Sable (Storm of Sand) for clarinet, violin and viola
* (2003) String Quartet No. 2: Quartet of Images (quartet satz)
* (2003) Sonata for cello and piano
* (2004) Piano Trio: L'apothéose d'un rêve (Apotheosis of a Dream)[17]
* (2005) String Quartet No. 3: Night Songs (Nachtliederen)[18]
* (2006) Bruciare Distante (Burning Distant) for piano, violin, two cellos and double bass
* (2007) The Speaking Tide for piano, bass clarinet and cello
* (2007) Soleil sur Mer (Sun on Sea) for piano, clarinet and cello[19]
* (2008) Dopo il duol, dopo il mal (After Sorrow, After Woe) for alto flute, harp and hand percussion[20]
* (2009) Chanson d'orage (Thunderstorm of Song) for two violins[21]
* (2010) Interstices of Aurorae for clarinet and cello
* (2013) Indlovu: Piano Quintet “The Elephant” for piano, violin, cello and double bass[22]
* (2014) As Long As Thy Grief Lives for mezzo-soprano, duduk, piano and cello
* (2015) Interstices of Aurorae for clarinet and cello arr. for violin and cello
* (2015) Nonet for strings and winds: Hope Dies Last[23]
* (2016) String Quartet No.4 "Obala More" [24]
* (2017) Bells from the Abyss for violin and piano[25]
* (2018) quintet: quiescence for bass clarinet, piano, and strings[26]
* (2019) String Quartet No. 5 "Behind Rainbows" [27]
* (2020) für pamuk for piano trio [28]
* (2020) Heron. Rain. Blossom. for flute, clarinet, viola, and cello[29]
* (2022) String Quartet No. 6 “Strolling in the Ultimate”[30]
* (2022) WHO IS CALLING? for Kronos Quartet[31]

Choral/Vocal

* (2000) Our Eyes (a cappella)
* (2001) Júdica Me (a cappella)
* (2008) In Beauty, May I Walk (a cappella)
* (2009) In Beauty, May I Walk for women's choir, children's choir, clarinet, string quartet and double bass[32]

Orchestral / Large ensemble

* (2001) Four Songs for mezzo-soprano and orchestra
* (2004) Luminocity for mixed, amplified ensemble
* (2007) A Requiem for the Living for string orchestra
* (2009) Fanfare for Change (2-2-2-2; 4-3-2-1; timp.; strings)
* (2009) In Beauty, May I Walk for women's choir, clarinet, string quartet and double bass
* (2010) Within Earth, Wood Grows for large chamber orchestra and Vietnamese Dan Bau[33]
* (2011) Prologue: The Quechol's Cry for children's choir, prepared piano and string quartet
* (2012) Beneath Boundaries for symphony orchestra (2-2-3-2; 4-3-4-1; timp.; strings)[34]
* (2014) Noctilucent Song for string orchestra[35]

Voice and piano

* (1999) El Regreso (The Return) (mezzo-soprano)
* (2000) Corazón Nuevo (New Heart) (tenor)

Solo

* (2001) Preludes to Solitude (guitar)
* (2004) Imaginary Pieces (piano)
* (2007) Prelude (organ)
* (2015) Solo Cello Suite: Out of Blue (cello)
* (2017) Fjord (solo piano)[36]
* (2019) Oh Monarch, How Beautiful You Are (solo piano)[37]
* (2020) Lakagígar (solo electric guitar)[38]

Choreographed works

* (2006) Bruciare Distante (Burning Distant)(Collin Baja)[39]
* (2007) The Speaking Tide (Spenser Theberge)[40]

Arrangements

* (2006) I Wonder As I Wander[41]
* (2006) Lamentu di Maria (Anonymous)
* (2007) Night Songs (Nachtliederen) Excerpts for Woodwind Quintet
* (2007) Bryant Medley[42]
* (2016) Bugaršćica for string quartet and optional double bass with low-C extension[43]

Film

* (2010) Patent Leather Scars by Yusef Miller; du Bois' The Speaking Tide licensed for soundtrack on complete version of film
* (2013) A Gathering of Shifts by Pierre St. Jacques[44]
* (2014) Exploration of Dead Ends by Pierre St. Jacques[45]

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## References

[edit]

1. ^ Whirty, Ryan (Spring 2004). "Inspiration: Variations on a Theme". Indiana University. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
2. ^ a b du Bois, Alexandra (2004). "Alexandra du Bois Biography". www.AlexandraduBois.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
3. ^ "Kronos: Signature Works". Carnegie Hall. April 22, 2007. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
4. ^ "Southwest Chamber Music Presents Alexandra du Bois and Kurt Rohde". Meet The Composer.org. 2011. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
5. ^ "Alexandra du Bois, Composer in Residence". Harrison Documentary. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
6. ^ "Under 30 Project Recipients". Kronos Quartet. 2008. Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
7. ^ Tcherepnin, Sergei (November 2008). "Thirty Days at the Stone: Highlights from a Month Curated by J. G. Thirlwell". The Brooklyn Rail. Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
8. ^ "NEW MUSIC: Where did that come from? And where the hell's it going?". The Independent on Sunday. January 30, 2005. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
9. ^ "Staying Power". Strad Magazine. March 2005. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
10. ^ "30th Anniversary Commissioning Project". Bargemusic. 2007. Archived from the original on August 4, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
11. ^ "Ascending Dragon". Southwest Chamber Music. 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
12. ^ "Heron. Rain. Blossom. (2020) for flute, clarinet, viola, and cello". Alexandra du Bois. March 12, 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
13. ^ "Quarantine-Hall". The Brooklyn Rail. March 12, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
14. ^ a b c "Kronos Quartet News". Kronos Quartet. May 19, 2009. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
15. ^ a b Sheridan, Molly (April 13, 2006). "New York: Alive And Mixing". New Music Box. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
16. ^ du Bois, Alexandra (August 3, 2009). "New and News". MySpace.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
17. ^ Sanders, Martijn (2006). "2006 Concertgebouw Prize". BeauxArtsTrio.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
18. ^ "Artistic Partnerships". OSL Music. 2008. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
19. ^ Schweitzer, Vivien (August 31, 2007). "For Floating Concert Hall, a Gently Rocking Trio". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
20. ^ "NME Awards". NME.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
21. ^ Hilferty, Robert (March 16, 2009). "Music Around the Clock in the Garden of Evil". The Hilferty Harangue. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
22. ^ "The Elephant". 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
23. ^ "Hope Dies Last". 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
24. ^ "String Quartet No.4". 2015. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
25. ^ "Bells from the Abyss". 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
26. ^ "quintet: quiescence". 2018. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
27. ^ "String Quartet No.5". 2019. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
28. ^ "für pamuk". 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
29. ^ "Heron. Rain. Blossom". 2020. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
30. ^ "String Quartet No. 6". 2022. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
31. ^ "WHO IS CALLING?". 2022. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
32. ^ "Alexandra du Bois world premiere". PresentMusic.org. November 22, 2009. Archived from the original on April 23, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
33. ^ Swed, Mark (March 19, 2010). "Critic's Notebook: Musical détente at Hanoi Opera House". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
34. ^ "Beneath Boundaries". 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
35. ^ "Noctilucent Song". 2015. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
36. ^ "Fjord". 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
37. ^ "Oh Monarch, How Beautiful You Are". 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
38. ^ "Lakagígar". 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
39. ^ "Press Release" (PDF). Juilliard. July 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
40. ^ "Juilliard Dance Division". Juilliard. October 26, 2007. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
41. ^ "In the Spirit: Maya". CD Baby. 2007. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
42. ^ "Felice and Boudleaux Bryant Honored at Blair". Vanderbilt University. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
43. ^ "Bugaršćica". 2016. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
44. ^ "A Gathering of Shifts". 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
45. ^ "Exploration of Dead Ends". 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.

## Further reading

[edit]

* NPR Radio – Alexandra du Bois commentary (2003)
* The Hilferty Harangue – Concert Review (2009)
* Strings Magazine – article[permanent dead link]
* Present Music: Meet composer Alexandra du Bois (2009)
* ThirdCoast Digest: photographic & audio slideshow (2009)
* Video Interview with Martin Perlich (2009)
* LA Times: Du Bois and the Ascending Dragon Music Festival (2010)
* LA Times: Faces to Watch in 2010 – Music

## External links

[edit]

* Alexandra du Bois website
* Alexandra du Bois on Facebook
* Alexandra du Bois, Listen on Soundcloud
* Listen to Performances

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

Other|

* SNAC