The music of Curtis Rumrill explores the intersection of literary form and modern chamber music. His works with writer, naturalist and visual artist Zachary Webber tell darkly comic stories of animals in desperate or violent predicaments. He is also the composer of instrumental chamber music with and without electronics, works for tape, and studio compositions (multi-track fixed media works composed on acoustic instruments played primarily by himself).
In September 2017 NAT 28 will premiere his new work The Domestic Beasts of Vinland Char for soprano and eleven instrumentalists. In October 2017 Kamratōn will premiere his new work In this Styrofoam Room for soprano and chamber ensemble. Ensemble Dal Niente featured his piece The Parasite, and Her Sister on their 2015 tour of Latin America. Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble premiered in 2016 and will take on tour his recently completed concert-length work, The Passion of the Wilt-Mold Mothers, and will give it a studio recording. His music has been premiered and performed by, among others, Tony Arnold, Thomas Rosenkranz, Aiyun Huang, Jordan Dodson, the Syracuse University Contemporary Music Ensemble, Lisa Cella and Juna Winston. Alia Musica has treated both Sex Poem for Lightbulb by Beetle and Rover to studio recordings.
He has been performed in the United States and internationally, including Vienna, Austria; Basel and Baden, Switzerland; Maccagno, Italy; Panama City, Panama; Bogota, Colombia; Mexico City, Mexico; Boston, MA; Bowling Green, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Syracuse, NY, in venues including the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Teatro Amador and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Panama, the University of Pittsburgh; Syracuse Univerity; Bowling Green State University; and Boston University. Works of his have been included in the Pittsburgh Festival of New Music, JazzWerkstatt Wien, Vienna Roomservice Festival, Numu: Neue und Unentdeckte Musik, the soundSCAPE Festival, and Alia Musica Presents.
The Passion of the Wilt-Mold Mothers
2016 (sop, sop, sop, mezzo) performed by Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble 42’00”
Prelude
Part I, Where the mold comes
Interlude I
Part II, Which describes an unpleasant dream, and other things
Part III, A plea for the impossible
Interlude II
Part IV, The part about the eating
Part V, Hymn and soliloquy
Chamber Works with Voice
Songs of an Unnamed Kingdom – 2019 (cl, tbn, sop, sop, sop, mezzo, perc, vln, vc) performed by Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble and Eco Ensemble 15’00”
In this Styrofoam Room – 2017 (fl, ob, cl, sop, vln, vc) performed by Kamratōn 8’00”
The Long Hibernation – 2013 (sax, perc, sop, pno, vln) performed by Ensemble Dal Niente 15’00”
Sex Poem for Lightbulb by Beetle – 2012 (sop, fl, gtr, perc i, perc ii) for soundSCAPE Festival, Liz Pearce, soprano10’00”
The Parasite, and Her Mother – 2015 (perc, sop, pno) for Aiyun Huang, Tony Arnold and Thomas Rosenkranz 7’30”
Rover – 2016 (fl, sax, vln, sop i, sop ii, pno, perc i, perc ii) for Tony Arnold and Alia Musica 22’30”
The Parasite, and Her Sister – 2015 (perc, sop, e gtr, vln, vc) performed by Ensemble Dal Niente 15’00”
The Haddock – 2012 (fl, bari sax, trm, perc i, perc ii, pno, sop, vln, vc ) Liz Pearce, soprano 13’30”
Instrumental Works with Electronics
The Triptych Part I – 2012 (trombone and tape) with Juna Winston 8’30”
Lupe Prometió a la Virgen – 2011 (trombone and guitar pedals) performed by Juna Winston 9’30”
Instrumental Chamber and Solo Works
She Was a Municipal Band – 2010 (saxophone quartet) 5’15”
Tra le Stella – 2011 (solo guitar) 6’30”
For Mother – 2011 (solo flute) 4’30”
Il Missionario – 2010 (fl, snare) 2’00”
Eyeballs Big – 2005 (fl, sop sax) 6’45”
Sketch for Guitar – 2004 (solo guitar) performed by the composer 4’45”
Tape Pieces
The Triptych Part I – 2012 (tape only) 8’30”
The Triptych Part II – 2014 (tape only) 11’00”
Bear on Hi-Hat, Roach on Snare, Kitty on Purr, with a Squeeze-Box Solo by Yours Truly – 2011 (tape) 3’00”
Memory, the Deformer – 2011 (tape) 7’30”
I’ll Go Charging up that Hill, Again – 2010 (tape) 3’20”