Composer Spotlight-Stephen Lounsbrough

Get to Know...Stephen Lounsbrough

Composer and violinist Stephen Lounsbrough primarily writes music for large ensembles. Fortunately for flutists, he wrote Purple and Yellow for flute and mallet percussion for a friend. Maybe he should write some more chamber music!
 
Q&A with Stephen…
 
Who are your favorite "new music" composers and why?
I love and am influenced by the music of post-minimalist composers such as John Adams and Arvo Pärt. The simplicity of means as well as the pulse that so often permeates this kind of music appeals to me. I also am fascinated by composers such as Edgar Meyer and Judd Greenstein that blur the lines of "serious" and folk or world music to create beautiful, exciting sounds.

What are your favorite “new music” pieces and why?
That's a hard question! My taste is so broad, that it's hard to narrow down favorites. One favorite is the violin and piano version of Pärt's "Fratres". Its simplicity of means, almost so simple it's laughable, and yet its simultaneous complexity of sound is so compelling. John Luther Adams' "Sila" also fascinates me with its expansive sound and the physical connection of music to performer.
 
Describe you background and activities.
I began primarily as a choral arranger and experimenting in works highly derivative from the Baroque style. Once I began to compose more seriously, I moved toward what I would describe as a mix of post-minimalist and post-romantic styles. Purple and Yellow, for flute and mallet percussion, was written for two friends as part of my Master of Music Composition Recital at Central Michigan University. I have recently completed a choral commission, a wind ensemble commission, and am working to orchestrate my sonata for Double Bass and piano.

More about Stephen…
 
Stephen Lounsbrough is a graduate of Central Michigan University from which he holds a Master of Music Composition and studied with David Gillingham. He also holds a degree from Faith Baptist Bible College in Sacred Music. Other composition teachers he has studied with are William Dougherty and Scott Harding.
Lounsbrough has received a number of honors for his works. In 2012, “Oh, the Depth of the Riches,” was selected as scholar division winner in the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble Composition Contest and premiered by the ensemble. Recent honors include being awarded runner-up in the Duluth Symphony Orchestra Composers’ Competition (Red Sky) and winning the ACDA CMU Chapter Choral Composition Competition (“REMINISCE”). Lounsbrough just completed a commission by the Salt Lake Vocal Artists to compose Invocation for choir, piano, and singing bowls. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/LounsbroughMusic/ , www.stephenlousbrough.com , or listen at https://www.youtube.com/user/stephenlounsbrough
 
If you like Purple and Yellow…

Maple Leaf on the Ground
Instrumentation: Open instrumentation for 7 or more performers
Duration: c. 6 minutes
Year: 2015
(The composer envisioned this piece including the flute.)
 

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