Michael Abels

See also: American composers|Modern composers|

Born: 8 October 1962, Phoenix, AZ (USA)
Died: Living

(this composer submitted by Kurt Brown <kpbacm.org>)
FREE Classical MP3! Download 25 tracks from eMusic
— Vast collection — No Restrictions — Own Your Music!
Reactions
[Be the first to write a reaction.]
Contributions by: kpb |

Sheet music

Find scores by Michael Abels at Sheet Music Plus

Music

(From his biography on his web site.)

With a "keen ear for musical color and a deft ability to adapt structural elements from popular music into the symphonic idiom" (Houston Chronicle), Michael Abels has gained widespread recognition for his orchestral pieces Global Warming and Frederick’s Fables. Global Warming has been given nearly 100 performances by orchestras including Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore, Louisville, Columbus, Indianapolis, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, Phoenix, West Virginia, New Mexico, Tucson, Savannah, Dayton, and Toledo as well as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Dance for Martin’s Dream, a piece expressing both sorrowful and joyous moments in the composer’s experience with Martin Luther King’s legacy, was commissioned by the Nashville Symphony and performed in Nashville in January 1998. Dance for Martin’s Dream has also been performed by the Cleveland Orchestra and several others.

His most recent orchestral work, Tribute, was commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra, and was premiered November 8th, 2001 under the direction of Marin Alsop. Inspired by the heroes of the September 11th attacks, Tribute was the first piece performed by the NSO written after those tragic events.

Other works include American Variations on "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" for trumpet and orchestra premiered by Doc Severinsen and the Phoenix Symphony, and More Seasons, performed by the St Paul Chamber Orchestra and others. Abels has also arranged gospel music for Reverend James Cleveland. Some of his arrangements for gospel choir and orchestra are heard annually on the PBS special Atlanta Symphony Gospel Christmas. The Abels gospel arrangements are regularly performed by orchestras throughout the United States.

Frederick’s Fables -- four pieces, based on the collection by Leo Lionni, entitled "Frederick," "The Greentail Mouse," "Theodore and the Talking Mushroom," and "Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse" -- was commissioned by Philip Brunelle’s Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota. Parts I and II were premiered with James Earl Jones as narrator in October 1994. Parts III and IV were also premiered by the Plymouth Music Series with Garrison Keillor narrating. Frederick’s Fables has since been performed by the Philadelphi a Orchestra with Martin Bookspan, and by other ensembles. Abels himself has narrated the piece at Kennedy Center for the National Symphony (DC), and also for the Springfield (MA) Symphony.

His 40-minute opera Homies & Popz, was commissioned by Los Angeles Opera, and premiered in May 2000 at high schools throughout Los Angeles County. It tells the true story of the Compton Homies & the Popz, a cricket team organized by noted activist Ted Hayes to provide an alternative to gangs for inner-city youth and homeless adults.

Below is a list of works for Michael Abels. Click the title of a composition to see more details.
Opus Title [subtitle] Key Date
Not (yet) classified
Hit and Run ??
Independent Party ??
River of Jewels ??
Zoom In ??
Four Carols 1989
Almighty God 1991
Global Warming 1991
I'm Determined 1991
Circular Psalm 1992
How Great Thou Art 1992
How Majestic 1992
If We Could See 1992
More Abundantly 1992
Walk With Me 1992
What a Mighty God 1992
American Variations on Swing Low Sweet Chariot 1993
Goin Home 1993
Love Lifted Me 1993
Angels We Have Heard on High 1994
Frederick's Fables 1994
Mary Had a Baby 1994
Silent Night, Joyful Night 1994
A World of Carols 1995
Dance for Martin's Dream 1997
More Seasons 1999
Homies & Popz 2000
Fairest Lord Jesus 2001
Holy Holy Holy 2001
Jesus is Real 2001
Tribute 2001

Biography

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Michael Abels grew up in rural South Dakota where he began piano lessons at an early age. He attended the University of Southern California, studying with James Hopkins and Robert Linn. In 1984, he was named Outstanding Senior among student composers for his composition Queries, scored for two pianos and prepared piano. In 1985-86, he studied West African music with Alfred Ladzekpo at the California Institute for the Arts. Aside from his activities as a composer and arranger, Abels is an amateur triathlete.

In association with Amazon.com

Classical Music : Search

Classical HeartbreakersClassical Music : Classical Heartbreakers
from: EMI Classics


List Price: $19.98
Amazon.com's Price: $11.97
You Save: $8.01 (40%)
Prices subject to change.
Pure Cinema ClassicsClassical Music : Pure Cinema Classics
from: EMI Classics


List Price: $23.98
Amazon.com's Price: $14.97
You Save: $9.01 (38%)
Prices subject to change.
Classic Chillout, Vol. 2Classical Music : Classic Chillout, Vol. 2
by: Various Artists


List Price: $19.98
Amazon.com's Price: $11.97
You Save: $8.01 (40%)
Prices subject to change.
Witness: What a Mighty God - Spirituals and Gospels for ChorusClassical Music : Witness: What a Mighty God - Spirituals and Gospels for Chorus
from: Clarion


Amazon.com's Price: $19.49
Prices subject to change.

page 1 of  2
 1  2 
 

Concerts

[You can submit announcements for concerts with music from Michael Abels.]

Events

[If you know of an event (date and year) for Michael Abels, then let me know, and I will add it.]

Links



Page views for Abels: 95 each month.
© 2003, Jos Smeets — Quixote; Last update: 14 April 2003, 20:10:26

Over 150,000 page views each month! Want to advertise?

Upcoming concerts: [→ more]

– Sat 17 May: 2nd Symphony Lobgesang Alcobaça, Portugal
– Sat 17 May: Second Symphony: Lobgesang Alcobaça, Portugal
– Sun 18 May: El Nino Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington DC, USA
– Sun 18 May: 2nd Symphony Lobgesang Aual Magna, Lisbon, Portugal
– Sun 18 May: Second Symphony: Lobgesang Aual Magna, Lisbon, Portugal
– Sun 18 May: "Kurt Weill, Thomas Bagwell & Diane McNaron" Artburst at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Homewood, Alabama, USA
[→ submit concert announcements]

Today (15 May): [→ more]

Birthdays:
Tommy Fowler
Clermont Pépin
Lars Erik Larsson
Stephen István Heller
Michael William Balfe
Dying days:
Marius Constant
Italo Montemezzi
Andrey Schulz-Evler
Karl Friedrich Zelter
Events:
– (2005) Vincent Ghadimi: Premiere of the opera " Decamero lala" for Orchestra and children choir, in the "Palais des Beaux-Arts", Brussels, Belgium, conducted by the composer. (Songs with piano version edited by lantromusic, including a book with pictures for children).
– (1958) John Cage: Premiere of Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, in New York, USA.
– (1920) Igor Stravinsky: Premiere of Pulcinella, in Paris, France.
– (1915) Claude Debussy: Premiere of Jeux, in Paris, France.

Tomorrow’s events:
newsfeed

Latest changes: [→ more]

Henry Brant (30 Apr)
Philip Cipriani Hambly Potter (29 Apr)
Carl Adolph Preyer (29 Apr)
André Prévost (29 Apr)
Joseph Rheinberger (29 Apr)
Anton Webern (29 Apr)
Bartolomé Calatayud (25 Apr)
Rodrigo Rodriguez (23 Apr)
Thomas Simaku (23 Apr)
Josué Bonnín de Góngora (22 Apr)

Best visited: [→ more]

[Page views per month]
Wolfgang Amadeus (Amadé) Mozart [2529]
Antonio Vivaldi [2417]
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky [1774]
Ludwig van Beethoven [1202]
Johann Sebastian Bach [1170]
Johann Nepomuk Hummel [1125]
Antonio Salieri [1110]
Gustav Mahler [1101]
Johannes Brahms [1097]
Georges Bizet [1045]
Newsletter/free member account

Member login

Username:
Password:
[Forgot your password?]
How to add your sound and image files.
Picture of Michael Abels.
(sent by Kurt Brown)

Composer news: [→ more]

Sibelius plaque unveiled in Berlin 24 Apr 2008
Lost Bach composition found back 22 Apr 2008
Lloyd-Webber gets Outstanding Achievement Award 9 Apr 2008
Pulitzer Prize for David Lang 8 Apr 2008
Dutilleux receives prestigeous award 4 Apr 2008
Harlap to receive “Life Achievement Award” 20 Mar 2008
[→ submit composer news]