Composer Spotlight-John Allemeier

Get to Know...John Allemeier

The vast array of instrumentation possibilities means that the chamber music category often yields really interesting works with great colors. This is definitely the case with John Allemeier’s Bolamkin for alto flute, vibraphone, and piano. Plus, we love the alto flute! John has composed a fantastic array of chamber works including the flute with really cool combinations and colors. You can hear recordings of many of them on his SoundCloud page and website.
 
Q&A with John…
 
What about new music for the flute appeals to you?
As a composer, I am drawn to the flute because of its versatility and agility.  The flute has virtuosic technical ability combined with boundless potential for lyricism.
 
Describe your musical background and current activities.
While I was trained as a composer for concert music, a major component of my creative work for the last few years has been writing music for modern dance.  Writing music for stage performances has fundamentally changed how I compose for the concert hall.   Throughout my career, some of my best performers were flutists and my success writing for flute is due to their patience and willingness to work with me.
 
Do you have any upcoming events that you would like our friends and followers to know about?
ASSEM3BLY (featuring the amazing Lindsey Goodman) just released a CD on Albany Records that features my composition Bolamkin (for alto flute, vibraphone, and piano).  This recording features some incredible performances and great chamber music with flute.
 
What advice can you give to flutists about approaching new music in practice?
Be patient with the composers and fearless with their music.
 
More About John…
John Allemeier’s music has been described as having a “sweet sense of mystery” by Fanfare and as being “rapturous” by the American Record Guide.  His music has been performed by Ethel, Loadbang, Boston New Music Initiative, Charleston Symphony, ASSEM3LY, Beo Quartet, Due East, Duo XXI, Kassia Ensemble, Low and Lower, Madison Park String Quartet, Terminus Ensemble, and on venues such as the Charlotte New Music Festival, TUTTI New Music Festival, the International Double Reed Society, International Clarinet Society Conference, International Society of Bassist Convention, Piccolo Spoleto, the 5th Annual Festival of Contemporary Music in San Francisco, and the Spark Festival in Minneapolis.  He received his Ph.D. in Composition from the University of Iowa, his MM in Composition from Northwestern University, and his BM in Performance from Augustana College.  He is currently Professor of Composition and Music Theory at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  More information is available at www.johnallemeier.com.
 
If you liked Bolamkin…
 
Deep Water for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, timpani, and piano
Pieces of Silver for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion
Santana Mix for flute, cello, double bass, and percussion
Solstice for flute, sax, violin, cello, and double bass
Songs of Earth and Sky for flute, ceramic pots, and berimbau
Those Voices flute, bass clarinet, violin, viola, and cello