Larry Baker

Larry Baker, born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1948, taught theory and composition at the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1973 until 1993.  He also directed the CIM Contemporary Music Ensemble and led the New Music Ensembles Performance Group and Reconnnaissance, conducting and recording numerous premieres in Cleveland and throughout the eastern United States.  Baker is the recipient of several awards, including fellowship grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (3), The Bascom Little Fund (4), The American Music Center, The Ohio Arts Council (3) and ASCAP (since 1974);  in 1983 he was awarded the Cleveland Arts Prize in Music.

Performances of his music include TARANTULA by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Marimba Soloist, Timothy Adams, Jr., HAYDN’S HEAD by Lyric Opera Cleveland and SCARLET DANCES by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony.  His BEFORE ASSEMBLAGES III was recorded by the Indiana Chamber Orchestra and MELOSIS was commissioned and recorded by the Tower Brass Quintet.  RAINMUSIC-EXPANDED was recorded by the CIM Contemporary Music Ensemble.  RAINMUSIC was recorded by Cornelia Monske in Germany and released in 2005.  WITH was recorded by Karel Paukert and released by the Cleveland Museum of Art and Azica Records.  COIL and WHITE WILLOW BOAT was recorded by Wisconsin Flutist, Timothy Lane for Tonheim Recordings in 2009.  In 2010, German Percussionist, Johannes Fischer (2007 ARD Prize Winner) performed RAINMUSIC at the Musical Olympus Gala at Carnegie Recital Hall.  Recent commissions include THE UNREASONING MASK for the Students of Hamburg University.

Mr. Baker studied Composition with Spencer Norton and Piano with James Mathis at the University of Oklahoma.  He also studied Composition with Donald Erb at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

EVENTS

October 11, 2015 – 3:00 – Cleveland Composers’ Guild Concert, Cleveland State University, Drinko Hall – Premier of BURN GREEN

December 4, 2015 – 7:30 – Kent State New Music Ensemble – BURN GREEN

Februrary 7, 2016 – Haas Fine Arts Center- University of Wisconsin, Eau Clair – Tim Lane , Flute – WHITE WILLOW BOAT

April 29, 2016 – University of Georgia – Lineage Percussion Trio – BURN GREEN

CATOLOG OF WORKS

Dramatic
HAYDN’S HEAD – Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, 2 Baritones – Violin, Cello, 2 Clarinets, Piano

Chamber Ensemble

BURN GREEN – Marimba trio

CHAIRS – Actor, Soprano, Chamber Ensemble no

MELOSIS – Brass Quintet

RAINMUSIC-EXPANDED – multiple keyboards

TIME AS ANOTHER – Flute, Bassoon, Piano

TRACINGS – Flute Quartet

TRIO (written for Northcoast Trio) – Clarinet, Violin, Piano

THE UNREASONING MASK (written for the students of Hamburg U.) – Flute, Clarinet, Marimba

Orchestral

SCAFFOLDS – Solo Percussion & Full Orchestra

SCARLET DANCES – Chamber Orchestra

TARANTULA (written for Timothy Adams, Jr.) – Solo Marimba & Chamber Orchestra

Solo Instrument

CIRCUMZENITHAL ARC – Marimba

COIL (written for Tim Lane) – Flute

FOLD (written for J. W. Turner) – Cello. YouTube with WHEN AIR IS NOT ENOUGH

IMAGINARES (written for Karel Paukert) – Organ

• COLLECT
• CALL
• CAVERN
• CURRENT
• CHRISTMAS
• CREASE

RAINMUSIC – solo keyboard

VARIATIONS ON A HORSE (written for Cornelia Monske) – Marimba

WHEN AIR IS NOT ENOUGH – Cello, Flute or various Instruments

WITH (written for Karel Paukert) – Organ

YES A DANCE NOT (written for Tim Lane) – Flute & Piano