jeffrey dennis smith

composer - musician

 
WHY IS EARTHA KITT TRYING TO KILL ME?: A LOVE STORY

a new one-act opera by composer Jeffrey Dennis Smith and librettist David Johnston, based on Johnston’s one-act comic monodrama about a mysterious – and unlikely – murder suspect.

Written for tenor Keith Jameson, the opera is a tour de force love story and mad scene all in one, as a man shares his bizarre confession concerning the fate of a hot, young, art world star.

Smith’s score blends elements of jazz with an edgy contemporary sound, creating an energy that propels the story forward. His music evokes the vivid experiences of the lead character, bringing the audience along for the ride—even though we never leave the interrogation room.

Development Workshop performance

presented by American Lyric Theater

Sunday, January 11th, 2015

(le) poisson rouge


     Video of full performance


     Excerpt:  “So I have to meet him”


     Excerpt:  “Let’s talk about today”


     Excerpt:  “Stay sharp. Be awake.”

an art song for mezzo soprano and chamber ensemble (violin, clarinet, piano, guitar and cello).

Lyrics by Scout Storey

A TREE AND A SWING

Performance by:

Katherine Pracht, mezzo soprano

Jacqueline Jove, violin

Christine Kim, cello

Noriko Nagao, clarinet

Anna Mnich, guitar

TIGER DANCE for marimba soloist and percussion ensemble

recently released on CD by marimba soloist Scott Herring and the University of South Carolina Percussion Ensemble.  Contact Dr. Herring directly to order a copy.

ALL SYSTEMS GO

marimba duo commissioned by the Iowa/Hungary Percussion Project

World premiere:  May 30, 2013 Zoltán Kodály Music School, Kecskemet, Hungary

U.S. premiere:  August 29, 2013

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

OPENING REMARKS

marimba quartet performable on three or four marimbas.  

World premiere:  November 2001

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

THE GEORGE PIECE brass quintet
LIGHTNING MAN

Inspired by actual experiences, the musical LIGHTNING MAN tells the story of National Park Ranger and seven-time lightning strike survivor Roy Sullivan.  As Roy struggles to regain control of his life in the aftermath of the strikes, he is relentlessly pursued, seduced, toyed with, adored, tortured and repeatedly struck by both love and Lightning, appearing to him in the form of four very different but equally dangerous women, who may or may not also be his wives and ex-wives. The score illuminates Roy’s journey as he attempts to strike back against a force of nature.

Music by Jeffrey Dennis Smith

Book by Maggie-Kate Coleman

Lyrics by Shoshana Greenberg

Additional Lyrics by Katya Stanislavskaya

and Janet Allard

“Come Out and Play”

Alysha Umphress with Alyse Alan Louis and Amy Linden

“Polarity”

Alyse Alan Louis

“Can’t Shut Out the Storm”

Joe Cassidy

BOWES ACADEMY

a short film produced by MINORapocalypse Films that includes an original song by composer Jeffrey Dennis Smith and lyricist (and film director) Greg Emetaz.  The film premiered at the 2014 INTERFILM Festival in Berlin.


For more info click here for the Bowes Academy Website.

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