Smoke: Music of Marc Mellits
Whether you call it visceral or rockin’, the music of Chicago-based composer Marc Mellits is never less than smokin’ hot. In this album of ensemble works, New Music Detroit (NMD) not only finds the groove, it shakes it.
SMOKE is the culmination of a long and fruitful relationship between NMD and Mellits:
“Marc is one of our oldest friends and collaborators so it was only natural to feature his music on our first official album. We were especially excited to record ‘Smoke’, which was commissioned and premiered by NMD” says Artistic Director and percussionist Ian Ding.
Marc Mellits echoes that sentiment: “My good friends New Music Detroit are able to combine finesse with raw power in this wonderful new recording of my works; I am absolutely thrilled with the results of our long and warm collaboration.”
The four works – three of which have not been previously recorded – display Mellits’ unique spirit and virtuosity in an album that spans a full spectrum of emotion — an eclectic combination of driving rhythms, soaring lyricism, and colorful orchestrations that all combine to communicate directly with the listener.
—
New Music Detroit, founded in 2006, is a collective of musicians dedicated to performing groundbreaking musical works from the late-20th century to the present day. A highly flexible ensemble with a cast of core members and prominent guest artists, NMD performs new and adventurous classical music in a wide variety of settings, for a wide variety of people.
NMD strives to collaborate with the most exciting creative voices of our time and regularly gives performances of rarely-heard works by today’s major composers. Through innovative programming and risk-taking, virtuoso performances, NMD continues to explore new ways of bringing the best of new and experimental music to the City of Detroit.
—
Composer Marc Mellits is one of the leading American composers of his generation, enjoying hundreds of performances throughout the world every year, making him one of the most performed living composers in the United States. From Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, to prestigious music festivals in Europe and the US, Mellits’ music is a popular mainstay on programs throughout the world.
