Music – Page 17 – Holland Hopson

September 20, 2021

Avaloch Farm

I had a great residency working with Lynn Bechtold and Mioi Takeda of the Miolina violin duo at Avaloch Farm Music Institute.

We nailed down the big picture outlines of a new work for violin duo and live electronics. In fact, we pulled it into shape enough to present it on an informal concert for other residency artists.

We also arranged five of my original tunes for violin duo and banjo.

It was great to meet the other residents: Palaver Strings, Hint of Lime Brass, the Johnston brothers guitar duo and others. Also fun to walk the grounds (so many mushrooms!) and to try tomato wine from a local vineyard.

August 26, 2021August 25, 2021

Howling Cats

Fanfare Magazine published a review of the Amernet String Quartet’s recording Alabama String Quartets that includes my composition Follows from Hummingbird. The reviewer states:

For anyone looking for new string quartet repertoire, this album is a gold mine.

What’s surprising here is how few of the works sound clichéd; a good number of composers have their “own” voice.

and also mentions

…the huge swooping portamentos (hummingbirds?) in Hopson’s piece [Follows From Hummingbird] that go on and on for nine bloody minutes (I nicknamed it “Howling Cats”)…

Nine bloody minutes of howling cats, indeed. This quote has promptly found a place of pride in my press kit!

August 25, 2021

Foxy Digitalis Mix 14

The fine folks at Foxy Digitalis have been asking artists to post mixes. Recently it was Eric Hardiman’s turn, and he posted 33(!) tracks from Tape Drift Records and related artists including my piece “Just Like Today Only Slower” from Tell A Gossip.

July 16, 2021

From Adams to Zappa

Parma Recordings presents the Madison New Music Ensemble directed by Joseph Koykkar in a live-streamed online concert of contemporary music that will also feature cellist Craig Hultgren performing my piece Snakeskin (Verso) for cello and live electronics.

Friday July 23 9pm EDT
https://www.parmarecordings.com/event/madison-new-music-ensemble-live-stream-07-23-21/

Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za3D7M0zHy0

Other composers include John Adams, Joseph Koykkar, Kirstin Volness and Frank Zappa.