MICHAEL MEISINGER

UA professor of music Daniel Asia has been commissioned by the Fromm Foundation to write three new compositions. The commissions will premiere around the nation this season.

Monday October 29, 2001

Arizona Daily Wildcat

UA professor of music Daniel Asia is no stranger to compositions. Throughout his musical career, he has been commissioned to compose for groups ranging from the American Composers' Orchestra to the Koussevitsky Music Foundation.

Recently, Asia was again commissioned - three times.

These commissions by the Fromm Foundation - comprised of two private patrons and the College Band Directors National Association - requested that Asia compose music to be premiered this season.

Included in this array is Asia's violin sonata titled "Sonata for Violin and Piano."

After making its world premiere during November's Sonic Boom Festival in New York City, this piece will make its Midwest premiere in April with its Southwest premiere to follow soon after.

Mark Rush, associate music professor at the University of Arizona, will perform in "Sonata for Violin and Piano" in its Southwest premiere.

Rush said he has been working with Asia at UA since 1994.

"I have done a lot of his music, (and) my wife has done a lot of his music also," Rush said. "(Asia) is highly respected and a very active composer; he has played nationally and internationally."

Rush said Asia's composition for the violin sonata was put together after the two collaborated about putting together a consortium.

"I had been talking to Dan (Asia) about doing a violin sonata; we had been talking about a way to make this happen," Rush said.

Rush added that applying for consortium grants allows composers to gain exposure on a national stage immediately, following the completion of his or her composition.

"(Composers) get a national stage immediately (through consortium grants) by having three different violinists and pianists involved in (one) project," he said.

Moreover, he said, the grants allow for the aforementioned widespread geographic diversity - performances in New York City, Minneapolis and Tucson for this particular piece.

Rush said Asia completed the composition of "Sonata for Violin and Piano" at the close of last semester.

"(He) worked on it through last year and this year, and he basically finished it at the beginning of the summer, end of the spring," Rush said.

Following the premiere of his violin sonata is January's "Songs of Transcendence," March's "A Lament" and April's "String Quartet No. 1."

Asia's other recently commissioned work includes the July 2002 premiere of a piece composed for a brass quintet and, later, a piece for a wind ensemble that includes a choral arrangement.

According to a press release, the wind ensemble piece was drawn from Jewish sacred texts.

"Based on sacred texts, as well as poems inspired by sacred subjects, Asia's wind ensemble and chorus work is a commission from a consortium of 30 university-based wind ensembles from around the country," a press release stated.

The piece will premiere in Minneapolis in March 2003.

Asia's music has been played in various parts of the United States as well as in the major venues of London. The widely appreciated composer also serves as music director of the Arizona Contemporary Ensemble (ACE), according to his Web site, www.danielasia.com.